maczi Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Hi, I've got flaky silver paint on the inside of my gen2 tail light. As much as I'd like a new LED set I can't justify £700 at the moment so it looks like I'm going to have to refurb the unit. It looks like to respray it I will have to break the glued joint between the outer clear plastic and the black main housing. Has anyone ever opened up their tail light like this? Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extanker Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 this should be entertaining Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryb Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Hi I have just opened up my front spotlights for a clean and reseal, it is probably the same sealing compound. I found gentle heat from a heat gun ( hot air not flame ) applied all round the exterior combined with easy prying yielded success. The rear light is much bigger so I guess it's going to be a lot more difficult. Just giving my experience. Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windymiller Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Just now, barryb said: Hi I have just opened up my front spotlights for a clean and reseal, it is probably the same sealing compound. I found gentle heat from a heat gun ( hot air not flame ) applied all round the exterior combined with easy prying yielded success. The rear light is much bigger so I guess it's going to be a lot more difficult. Just giving my experience. Barry Hi Barry, This sounds like exactly what I need to do with my internally corroded front nearside fog lamp too. What did you reseal yours with? cheers, Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 As with all sealed lights, heat gun and prying to remove. To reseal, there's two options: 1) Heat up the sealant and put the headlight back together (provided there is enough sealant left). 2) Clean up the mating surfaces and apply fresh silicone sealant. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windymiller Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 8 minutes ago, Aaron said: To reseal, there's two options: 2) Clean up the mating surfaces and apply fresh silicone sealant. Would that be as in bathroom / window frame type silicone sealant?🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryb Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Hi Jason I used Pinflair Glue Gel, but any clear silicone sealant would do. Barry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlosRich Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Maybe better to use a hot glue gun to reseal it, then go over with clear silicone sealant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founder Beanoir™ Posted January 2, 2021 Founder Share Posted January 2, 2021 Most lights are sealed with butyl rubber, hot glue gun isn’t the best idea as it goes hard and brittle with cold temperature. https://www.amazon.com/Sealant-PROMOTOR-Sealants-Installing-Windshield/dp/B07CTQ67X9/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=butyl+rubber+sealant&qid=1609625303&sr=8-5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagicalShannon Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 I don’t think you can split the tail lights the usual way. The cover and housing are fused together rather than sealed. you might need to cut it off using a dremel all the way around and then reseal the usual way as people have mentioned with sealant. Another option for cutting open is using a blade attachment on a soldering iron. Alternatively, the tail lights are produced by ULO and the OEM unit can be picked up from Design911 for a good price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted January 4, 2021 Share Posted January 4, 2021 3 hours ago, MagicalShannon said: I don’t think you can split the tail lights the usual way. The cover and housing are fused together rather than sealed. you might need to cut it off using a dremel all the way around and then reseal the usual way as people have mentioned with sealant. Another option for cutting open is using a blade attachment on a soldering iron. Alternatively, the tail lights are produced by ULO and the OEM unit can be picked up from Design911 for a good price. Care to elaborate on the fusion? There's only some form of adhesive and plastic welding that could chemically join two pieces of plastic together (at least that I'm aware of). Unless, of course, they are one piece? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagicalShannon Posted January 4, 2021 Share Posted January 4, 2021 9 hours ago, Aaron said: Care to elaborate on the fusion? There's only some form of adhesive and plastic welding that could chemically join two pieces of plastic together (at least that I'm aware of). Unless, of course, they are one piece? separate pieces chemical bonded I think. I didn’t think you could use heat to separate them when bonded though. Happy to be corrected. When I had mine off to do similar there was no evidence of a sealant, the join looks to be a chemical bond, which might be why they separate on their own with too much sun flexing the lens shape Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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