I need help with taillights on an ’85 GSL-SE. I recently bought the car and started to re-store different areas of the car with the taillights being so dirty looking that I just can't stand the current looks. I’ve seen what some of you have done with your taillights and I would like to at least be able to get the dirt out of them.

Does any one have a way to take the taillights apart without breaking the lens? Would you know where I could purchase new lenses in case I crack the ones I have? With my luck, and since the sun has done a good job in drying the plastic out, I’m afraid I will be looking a buying new lenses.

Thank you all for any help or advice…

nicholj@rjrt.com

 

Look in junkyards for the taillights.

 

Thanks for the reply, however, at the junkyard I will find what?… the same situation or, similar to the one I currently have on my hands.

What I’m looking for is someone…and I know they are out there… that has taken these lights apart - (with out braking them - that can share the ins-and-outs of how to do it!!

On the other hand, if they break, then, I know you 7-heads out there know of places that sell the lenses.

This is what I'm after……

 

I had the same problem with my SE... Unfortunately, I wasn't as thoughtful as you and ended up chipping mine when I tried to take them apart... The clear outside lenses are sort of hot glued onto the outer part, and then there are tabs that hold it all together that really aren't meant to come off.. IF you can get them off without breaking just hot glue them back together, otherwise, I'm pretty sure mazdaTrix sells just the clear covers. I know Victoria British sells the whole assebly, but it's 400$, so you don't want to go that route...

 

Thanks! I guess I'll give it a shot....

 

Try using a heat gun to warm the glue up, I cracked a lens on my -SE trying to do it cold.

 

So what did you land-up doing after you cracked the lens? Did you have to buy a new one? Where did you get it from?

Thanks!

 

I sold the car. I was trying to fix part of the back up light inside that was messed up before the guy bought it. I just left it alone before I broke it any further.



51-161D-FA01.....LENS TAIL LIGHT.......81-85 LEFT............$ 136.71

51-151D-FA01.....LENS TAIL LIGHT.......81-85 RIGHT...........$ 136.71

Be careful with those things!

 

I pretty much did the same thing... I cracked it before I got it all the way off, but it was far enough out where I slip the red lens out, cleaned it and shoved it back in. There is still about a two inch chip on the edge of the light.. I'll get one to replace it someday, but not for $400... Money will to go 1)suspension 2) engine 3)looks..

400 for looks while still having a worn out suspension is a misallocation of funds in my book

 

I found a good tail light at the junkyard after 3 tries. A lot better than breaking the ones that were on my car if you ask me.

 

Here in South Texas, most of those covers are falling off on their own. I kinda figured it was just age, but maybe it's the heat. I had the opposite problem, I had to glue mine on so I wouldn't lose them.

Kerry

 

Mine came off with some careful prying with a small flat head screw driver. Glued them back on with clear silicon adheasive. No problem.

A great place to find good used parts is www.thepartstrader.com
Just place a wanted add.

I don't understand what the pole is for.

Mike

 

Greetings All,

I am doing a project his weekend that might help with the looks of your taillights. At most music stores (ones that sell instruments or do PA rentals) thet sell colored "gels". These are the colored sheets of plastic that go over the spotlights that you see at concerts. They are very thin and flexable but also very durable. They come in a wide variety of colors and usually in sheets about 18"x18". I am going to trim the sheets to fit the red leses and slip them in. I am going to try purple first, which will (or should) give the lights a deep ruby glow. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Vladu

 

i don't believe the purple lights are legal.

 

If you broke a lens, then you could go to the junkyard and get another set. Hopefully you learned something by breaking the first set, and you know what not to do.

 

jimmyv13,

I do not know if you have taken one of these taillights apart before but I can tell you, from resent experience, they are not ease. The reasons being these cars were not build with the best materials. Moreover, since the materials (i.e., lenses, plastic parts) have been exposed to the UV light they have dried-out and are EXTREMELY brittle. So your idea of going back to the junkyard to procure another taillight that is in the same or worst situation since it has been exposed to the ambient for longer time is not going to guarantee success. Nonetheless, I’m grateful to you and everyone that has responded and I will probably land-up doing it again with one found in a yard.

For those of you that are in the same situation with the taillights and would like to keep these cars as original as possible, I’ve been told to use a heat gun to break the seals and to be careful when breaking the melted seals that are in the body of the taillight. Again no guarantee for reasons previously mentioned.

Now, I’m also interested in getting some advise on the gas shocks that hold the glass in the rear. I have an ‘85GSL-SE that has the rear windshield wiper and uses a rig that I’ve never seen to send the electrical signal to the rear wiper. This gas shock is different since it has wires and the electrical contacts. I need to find who sells them at a price that is reasonable ( not more than the car is worth).

Again, thank you to all of you for your advice and help!!!

Condores.