Removing the rear light lens?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,219
Likes: 8
From: Washington State
Removing the rear light lens?
Theres a lot of dust inside my rear left lens. How can i take it off and clean it? Or do i have to break a part to get in there?
Thanks
Geoff
Thanks
Geoff
---------------------
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,029
Likes: 0
From: Kamloops BC Canada
Well, if you get a big enough hammer....
No, I beleive if you take out the retaining screws, the light lens is actually glued on, and you must break the seal without cracking the lens itself...
Someone with these type of taillights give me a hand?
Jeff
No, I beleive if you take out the retaining screws, the light lens is actually glued on, and you must break the seal without cracking the lens itself...
Someone with these type of taillights give me a hand?
Jeff
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
umm, that tail light assembly is a sealed unit.
You really shouldn't be taking it apart. You will only end up with more moisture/dust after you can't get it to seal back together properly.
I've heard of people baking it at 200 degrees for 15 minutes to loosen the glue, but you will probably either end up with a browned lens or a pile of goo. I would not recommend it; I'm pretty sure I tried and was sorry I did.
You really shouldn't be taking it apart. You will only end up with more moisture/dust after you can't get it to seal back together properly.
I've heard of people baking it at 200 degrees for 15 minutes to loosen the glue, but you will probably either end up with a browned lens or a pile of goo. I would not recommend it; I'm pretty sure I tried and was sorry I did.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,219
Likes: 8
From: Washington State
No, series 3.
Damn. Well, on my 85 gs (the car i'm selling) both lenses have at one point fallen off and been caulked back on. The gsl-se that i'm getting as soon as i sell the GS, is having upcoming problems similar to this.
I was also hoping to try the "clear" light mod to the lights, see if i liked it. Why must they seal it damnit! hehehe
Thanks guys.
Damn. Well, on my 85 gs (the car i'm selling) both lenses have at one point fallen off and been caulked back on. The gsl-se that i'm getting as soon as i sell the GS, is having upcoming problems similar to this.
I was also hoping to try the "clear" light mod to the lights, see if i liked it. Why must they seal it damnit! hehehe
Thanks guys.
Trending Topics
Clrear Tailights Procedure
Clear Tailights Procedure
Pictures and details courtesy of Danny C and his Turbo GSL-SE
I don't feel like making this a web page so here it is...
The taillights are made up of two main pieces - the lens and the plastic housing. In order to make the taillights clear you need to separate the two.
First thing to do is completely remove the two taillights. On one taillight it was easy for me because the whole lens actually fell off in the car wash. The
other taillight wasn't too bad. The glue that holds the lens to the housing is old and dried up. I pried the two pieces apart very gently.
I remember using a screwdriver from the backside of the assembly and prying it between the two. You have to be careful because you can either break the lens or you can scratch the inside of the lens (which shows up on the outside). There is probably a
better way, but I don't know of it.
Once you have the two apart you can see that there are 3 reflectors/filters inside - yellow (turn signal), red (brake light), and clear (reverse light). I removed these three reflectors completely.
I cleaned up my lights and re-assembled them without the reflectors. I used black silicone RTV to glue and clamps to hold the pieces together and let it
dry overnight.
Since you have removed the color reflectors from the lights you will need to buy red brake bulbs and yellow turn signal bulbs. I got mine from carparts.com. I also removed the rubber trim that goes around the taillights and the center panel. I think it looks better without it.
I haven't had any water leakage problems or exhaust fume problems, so I am guessing that the rubber is just for aesthetics and for a backup water/exhaust fume seal.
dANNYc
Re: Re: Clrear Tailights Procedure
Originally posted by error402
What are those fittings under the licence plate? Fuel lines? I know it's a GSL-SE but I don't remember the lines running that far back. ~shrugs~
-Error402
What are those fittings under the licence plate? Fuel lines? I know it's a GSL-SE but I don't remember the lines running that far back. ~shrugs~
-Error402
More Info on the car - Here
Full Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Jackson, MI
Getting those light lenses off is a pain in the ***. I had a Wal-Mart shopping cart come *UP* a hill and roll into the back of my RX four hours after I had it on the road after storing it for the winter (ok, I lie...I was fixing it during the winter :P ). Cracked the plastic lens and orange reflector beneath. It ended up working kind of nicely because they gave me an insurance check for $200. I spent $100 buying an entire car w/ the lens out of a yard and pocketed the other half.
Anyway, I managed to get the lens off of the junker's light assembly with no problem because the glue was all cracked and nappy. No such luck getting the busted lens off my car's though. I tried using a screwdriver and ended up busting the thing into a million pieces during the process of getting it off (true, I wasn't being THAT careful because I never planned on keeping it, but I wasn't trying to break it really either.). I used clear house siding silicon caulk or something to glue the new lens in place and it looks like it's worked perfectly...at least no moisture leaks yet (I guess the cold of winter will be the true test).
My bottom line opinion? I'm REALLY not sure I'd mess with it if you don't have a spare. Plastic is pretty unforgiving...
Anyway, I managed to get the lens off of the junker's light assembly with no problem because the glue was all cracked and nappy. No such luck getting the busted lens off my car's though. I tried using a screwdriver and ended up busting the thing into a million pieces during the process of getting it off (true, I wasn't being THAT careful because I never planned on keeping it, but I wasn't trying to break it really either.). I used clear house siding silicon caulk or something to glue the new lens in place and it looks like it's worked perfectly...at least no moisture leaks yet (I guess the cold of winter will be the true test).
My bottom line opinion? I'm REALLY not sure I'd mess with it if you don't have a spare. Plastic is pretty unforgiving...
Full Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Jackson, MI
I'm not sure if you could do an exacto knife because I think it's a lipped joint...you'd only get half the glue.
Also, be careful of the clear taillights. The picture posted above look good, but there was another butchered RX7 that looked horrible with them. I think you can only get away with it if you have darker colors...
Also, be careful of the clear taillights. The picture posted above look good, but there was another butchered RX7 that looked horrible with them. I think you can only get away with it if you have darker colors...
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: n/a
Originally posted by The Martyr
wait thats right...isn't the SA lens actually held on by screws? If you've got an SA it should be pretty obvious.
wait thats right...isn't the SA lens actually held on by screws? If you've got an SA it should be pretty obvious.
Rotary Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 775
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From: Springfield , mo
i have found those rx-7 pannels here and there they are nice i never kept one i always sell them.one question though has anyone ever thought to use the led brake lights and turn lights. i think those would be the finishing touches on clear lenses. what do you think?
jr
jr
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,219
Likes: 8
From: Washington State
Originally posted by geikiganger
I'm not sure if you could do an exacto knife because I think it's a lipped joint...you'd only get half the glue.
Also, be careful of the clear taillights. The picture posted above look good, but there was another butchered RX7 that looked horrible with them. I think you can only get away with it if you have darker colors...
I'm not sure if you could do an exacto knife because I think it's a lipped joint...you'd only get half the glue.
Also, be careful of the clear taillights. The picture posted above look good, but there was another butchered RX7 that looked horrible with them. I think you can only get away with it if you have darker colors...
thats the car the rears are going to be clear on. Waht do you think?
Those are somw sweet wheels . I have taken my tail lights apart without a knife or anything, I just pulled and it came apart. Then I used some silicone adhesive/caulking and put it back together. Works great, no leaks
~T.J.
PS - Dont mind the Mountain Dew bottles
. I have taken my tail lights apart without a knife or anything, I just pulled and it came apart. Then I used some silicone adhesive/caulking and put it back together. Works great, no leaks ~T.J.
PS - Dont mind the Mountain Dew bottles
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,219
Likes: 8
From: Washington State
NO CLUE about those wheels. Honestly, and if you can help me identify them, PLEASE DO!
They were put on 2 owners ago, who got them from a friend. She didnt even know what type of wheels they are.
They look so sweet htough. 16", w/ 205/40/16 BFG Euro T/A tires.
They were put on 2 owners ago, who got them from a friend. She didnt even know what type of wheels they are.
They look so sweet htough. 16", w/ 205/40/16 BFG Euro T/A tires.