Problem with Custom Dynamics HMT Broken Wire

[eddieshep999]

My Custom Dynamics HMT light has stopped working

I have traced it to broken wire somewhere near the rear trunk connection into the light
If I move the trunk lid connection is broken and the light fails once the lid is closed connection is made and it works this may only last for a short time and I want to do a permanent fix



My questions are



How can I remove the HMT Light as its stuck with 3M double sided tape without damage to the trunk lid



Can the HMT Light be opened up to allow new wires to be soldered or connected inside



Can anyone suggest a way to get the light back to working normally



I suspect the opening and closing of the rear trunk lid has caused the wires to break inside and I may try to use stronger wires as the original ones seem very thin



Any help appreciated

Update - HMT Light fixed see later post - #7 - Thanks all

 

[Bob Denman]

I don't have one... so please take this with a grain of salt! pps:
You SHOULD be able to take a VERY thin-bladed knife, and get it just in under the HMT...
Work it under the light so as to separate it from the tape.
Once it's loose; just clean the tape off with whatever method you find works best! :thumbup:
Now; as to the rest ofyour questions... :dontknow:
But Good Luck!

 

[CyncySpyder]

Ahh yes, this drama again. I'll have to dig for a bit, but we dealt with this very issue over the winter two years ago and I was able to fix it myself, and so far, 2 years later, its still working.

I didn't have to remove ours, but did have to take the trunk door off to get better access to the wires, used a couple of posi-taps with a sort of set of extention wires connected, and then connected those to the wires further down the line, where they wouldn't be pinched by the opening and closing of the trunk door. Then we wire tied it all so it couldn't come loose, and yes, its a jury-rigged deal, but it was the best way to get it working on my own.

I'll see if I can find the pics for you, as I'm sure they'd help alot more than my mere words. Big question, is if you can see exactly where the brake/pinch in the wire is, and that will lead you to which best route for you to take. Mine was very close to the housing, so I had only about a 1/2 inch to work with. Was frustrating, but able to be done.

 

[SpyRyd]

My Custom Dynamics HMT light has stopped working

I have traced it to broken wire somewhere near the rear trunk connection into the light
If I move the trunk lid connection is broken and the light fails once the lid is closed connection is made and it works this may only last for a short time and I want to do a permanent fix


My questions are

How can I remove the HMT Light as its stuck with 3M double sided tape without damage to the trunk lid

Can the HMT Light be opened up to allow new wires to be soldered or connected inside

Can anyone suggest a way to get the light back to working normally

I suspect the opening and closing of the rear trunk lid has caused the wires to break inside and I may try to use stronger wires as the original ones seem very thin

Any help appreciated

Eddie,

CD recommends spraying the glue area with WD40 to soften the adhesive. Let the WD40 work for at least 20 minutes. Use fishing line (I used dental floss) inserted between the light and the trunk lid to cut the softened adhesive. This is the procedure I used to remove CD ChannelZ lights. I haven't used this procedure on the HMT light.

Sorry I cannot offer any answers to your other questions. Rather than try to repair the light, recommend you contact CD to see if they will replace the light. Good luck!

 

[Marker]

I found a can of "3M activated tape remover" at a local hardware store. The 3M double sided tape uses 3M automotive adhesion promoter 4298 . This promoter activates the tape to really stick. I found in a local hardware store a 3M product spray to remove this tape with activator 4298. I have not tried it.

My lens started to come apart from the housing , so maybe you can take a razor blade and score along the lens where it is glued to the chrome housing to separate . I crazy glued my lens back on and it is sealed now , no water is getting in.

I hope this helps.

 

[Doc - Riverside]

Eddie

WD-40 and let it soak in, Then use heavy duty dental floss or nylon lacing tape. Most important is take your time working the HMT off. Repeat WD-40 as needed as you gain more free space to let it soak in. Once you have the HMT off use the WD-40 to remove the tape from the HMT body. This will expose the screws so you can take it apart and fix the broken wire. I have had several of these various LED products fail like this because of poor solder jobs when the were made. It can be fixed. Make sure you clean every thing good with alcohol to remove the WD-40 before you put it back together.

 

[eddieshep999]

UPDATE - Problem resolved Ref Custom Dynamics HMT Broken Wiire

I didn't have to remove ours, but did have to take the trunk door off to get better access to the wires, used a couple of posi-taps with a sort of set of extention wires connected, and then connected those to the wires further down the line, where they wouldn't be pinched by the opening and closing of the trunk door. Then we wire tied it all so it couldn't come loose, and yes, its a jury-rigged deal, but it was the best way to get it working on my own.
.

Thanks Dave for posting this

I decided to remove the Trunk door with the HMT light still connected
I was able to attach the wires to a Battery and by slowly moving the wires I traced the break about 2" from the HMT Light
I did as you suggested - Re stripped the wires to expose the + and - leads (Wires so thin this is not easy)
I then used Posi-Taps to insert a new length to reconnect to the Rear light fitting Posi-Taps

I used single core PVC thinwall cable for the + and - it was 32/0.20mm 16.5 amp suitable for Side and Tail lights, Reversing and rear fog lights

For Info - Thinwall cable - High performance has thinner insulation, It is multi strand copper cable which is insulated with thinner high performance hard grade PVC- This offers good resistance to abrasion and cut through
This type of cable is now original equipment on most new vehicles

I put the HMT Posi-Tap end under the Trunk door between the Top and Bottom pieces and also zip tied the new extension cable inside, This means the new extension will take the strain of opening and closing the Trunk Lid and if it should break again it will be easier to just replace it with a new extension
Just remove the Trunk lid and reconnect a new lead to the existing HMP Posi-Tap Which goes to the light and will not have been strained due to the location
I also double sleeved the new lead just to give extra protection

The HMT Light is now working and its thanks to all those that posted helpful hints on this forum