Tail Light Amber Removal How-To

[bugasm99]

Tail light amber removal process

Here is the short and too the point version. When I have time I will look for anything that is missing but this is what most people have used and it works. Also, any other suggestions are appreciated.

1) Remove the black circular plastic covers along the back of your trunk on either side. Behind these covers you will find a big plastic nut that holds the tail lights in place.

2) Remove the taillight by prying it out from the outside of the car. This can be done with a screwdriver covered with a towel. This is kinda tricky and if I remember it is easier to pry up the outside edge near the side of the car rather than the edge near the license plate recess.

3) Once you have the taillight is out take a dremel tool or some other small cutting device and cut the lense off of the housing. You will see a line along the lense where the red plastic is heat welded to the grey housing. Try to cut as close to this line as possible.

4) Once you get the lense off you will notice that the amber lense is actually completly seperate than the red/clear lense that you see from the outside. You should be able to just pop the amber lense out at this point. It make take some trimming, but should be fairly simple.

5) After you have the amber out it is good to replace the lense back where it belongs on the housing and mark it off before you begin to glue it back together. This will help out to make sure nothing slides out of place.

6) The easiest thing to use would be a 2 part epoxy such as JB Weld to glue it back together. When gluing it back together make sure that you do not leave any open holes along the seam. If water leaks into the lense it is a real pain to get out so it is best to try and prevent this from the beginning.

7) The lense should take a couple hours to dry and if you dont need your car right away i would say to leave them out as long as possible just to make sure everything is dry.

8) Reinstalling them is just the reverse if taking them out, it is a little more tricky but nothing too difficult.

9) Go buy amber 1156 bulbs from a auto shop since the bulb inside is clear and it will be extremely bright from behind.



Good luck and have fun with it.

[Basher]

Correction on #2: Pry on the licence plate side of the taillight. On these sides the light has clips, on the outer side it has hooks. No way you'll get it out if you pry there.

Nice how-to!

[gilligan]

P.S. they dont look as good as the ones with the white lens in them.

[SMG]

Gilligan, for once I agree with you dude.

Taking the amber lense out just ends up with it looking like a red and pink taillight, not red and white. The red reflects inside the chrome housing and creates a pinkish look, it's not that great looking.

Red and Whites are cheap enough these days that unless you're really hard-up for modding money that it's not even worth your time.

SMG

[gilligan]

Originally Posted by SMG

Gilligan, for once I agree with you dude.

Taking the amber lense out just ends up with it looking like a red and pink taillight, not red and white. The red reflects inside the chrome housing and creates a pinkish look, it's not that great looking.

Red and Whites are cheap enough these days that unless you're really hard-up for modding money that it's not even worth your time.

SMG

I'm catching on dude.

P.S. congrats on getting your MS back.

[SMG]

I knew you would!

Happy Holidays dude!

SMG

[Fowvay]

If done right they can look way better than the red and whites. Anyone that has seen the ones I do in person will agree with that.

[gilligan]

Originally Posted by Fowvay

If done right they can look way better than the red and whites. Anyone that has seen the ones I do in person will agree with that.

well....Put your lights where your mouth is and lets see them??? I wasnt aware you made custom lights tommy.

[Fowvay]

A very small sample of the 14 sets I have made. I wish I could show you how they look with them painted blue or green but they are on customers cars and they dont want me to show them

[bugasm99]

well, when i originally performed this back in 2000 the options were next to nothing other then the all clear tails. I just figured I would post it up for those who don't feel like spending a lot of money and would like to get the look.

[Toad]

I have bought the red/clears. I didn't know of this mid when I did that. I really really love how the modded ones look compared to the red/clear ones.

And Tom's modded ones with the inside lens painted black is the most awesome addition to this mod, it makes it look smoked, but it's still super bright when in use.

[Mr.Yellow]

Originally Posted by Toad

I have bought the red/clears. I didn't know of this mid when I did that. I really really love how the modded ones look compared to the red/clear ones.

And Tom's modded ones with the inside lens painted black is the most awesome addition to this mod, it makes it look smoked, but it's still super bright when in use.

can we get a pic of that, that sounds really cool.

[Toad]

/me pointss to the 2nd pic in tom's post.

There's also: The Saga of Bluenote

[Fowvay]

I am doing these for people on an exchange basis. I do charge for the labor and will need the stock tails in exchange for future customers.

Let me know if you are interested.

[Mr.Yellow]

thos look tight!!

[FallinApartBoy]

so what would they look like if i painted them vortex blue to match my car? anyone got pics of something besides black? yellow? blue? even red?

[Mr.Yellow]

Originally Posted by FallinApartBoy

so what would they look like if i painted them vortex blue to match my car? anyone got pics of something besides black? yellow? blue? even red?

i think the pic above of the blue beetle has them painted blue.

[Toad]

Originally Posted by MY1STNB

i think the pic above of the blue beetle has them painted blue.

Nope, the blue one's got black krylon fusion. I should know, i was there.

[FallinApartBoy]

i personally think that it would look really neat on top but would make it look almost black on the bottom with the red covering it up. so i have my tail lights out and ready for this mod. got some new cutting tools for my dremel and i will post pics tomorrow but im not doing the blue on the inside. that is my final decision but ill let you guys know how they turn out.

[sb_beetle]

I just completed this mod and went to get bulbs. I went with the Sylvania.

The correct amber bulb is 1156 as these are single element.

1157s are dual element (running and brake).

I used marine goop to reseal the lense to the housing. If I had to do it again (and I might) I will paint the remaining red ribs flat white so that you won't get the pinkish reflection.

A dremel and exacto knives are a must for this project.