Opening Tailights
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Opening Tailights
I've tried putting my APC tail lights in the oven for about 6-7 mins at about 275f and i still am having issues opening them... if i try to pry them open they'll crack or break...
what should i do? i want to paint the insides...
thanks
what should i do? i want to paint the insides...
thanks
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From: boston, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 0 yeha, I did it but it took forever, they were matrix ones, for the sedan, so i had to do four of the damn things, it too sooo long i haven't even put them on yet....It took like 1 hour each, in the oven then pry away for a couple of mins, I mean really, only a couple of mins or they'll crack, two of my lensed cracked just on the edge, so it wasn't noticiable cuz I painted a border around the clear lens, otherwise they would've looked all hacked up from prying them open.......just BE PATIENT and take youyr time
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From: Chelsea, Michigan
Rep Power: 0 Ok, if you see my profile you can see that I have "chrome" Alteeza's for a sedan.
I am just starting this today, but the first one I cracked open (with no cracking necessary), I baked it in the oven for 7-8 minutes at 275 degrees (you can go up to 300 if you want I'm sure, but it isnt necessary). I used a screwdriver, and any sort of knife (the exacto like knives work the best). With the flat head screw driver you just wedge it in between and pry upwards, if this doesnt work or is too hard, use the knife to cut away some of the glue and try again, if it doesnt work again, stick it back in the oven, this doesnt take much strength or time to do, it took me 5 minutes to open it up not counting baking time.
Also, if you want to, you can easily pop the red "reflector/filter" and clear (backup light) "reflector/filter" by softly wedging a thin screwdriver in between it and the plastic and lightly prying upwards.
After I cracked them open, I shaved off all the silver ("chrome") because it's just a thin layer of silver plastic.
Then paint and you are done.
I am just starting this today, but the first one I cracked open (with no cracking necessary), I baked it in the oven for 7-8 minutes at 275 degrees (you can go up to 300 if you want I'm sure, but it isnt necessary). I used a screwdriver, and any sort of knife (the exacto like knives work the best). With the flat head screw driver you just wedge it in between and pry upwards, if this doesnt work or is too hard, use the knife to cut away some of the glue and try again, if it doesnt work again, stick it back in the oven, this doesnt take much strength or time to do, it took me 5 minutes to open it up not counting baking time.
Also, if you want to, you can easily pop the red "reflector/filter" and clear (backup light) "reflector/filter" by softly wedging a thin screwdriver in between it and the plastic and lightly prying upwards.
After I cracked them open, I shaved off all the silver ("chrome") because it's just a thin layer of silver plastic.
Then paint and you are done.
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From: Chelsea, Michigan
Rep Power: 0 I'm almost positive that it is the same procedure. You might want to turn up the temp to 300-325 with stock tails and bake for 8-9 minutes. Then, the easiest way to do it is to pry it open at one of the flat corners and go around the tail light from there (do not pry the rounded part, if you pry everything else, then you just pull and it comes right off).
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From: Chelsea, Michigan
Rep Power: 0 Here are a few
Here is two pics. The cover is not on yet, and I have to clean out the clear piece because it has some super glue inside it (I actually dont know how it got there). I painted inside the pieces, so that the silver underneath the red and clear is black.
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From: Chelsea, Michigan
Rep Power: 0 Here is the second, much better quality photo.
Oh and one thing about taking out the red and clear piece (or just big red piece) before you paint is that you should be careful about breaking the tabs, if you pry up quickly the tabs break and you wont be able to glue it back in conventionally.
Oh and one thing about taking out the red and clear piece (or just big red piece) before you paint is that you should be careful about breaking the tabs, if you pry up quickly the tabs break and you wont be able to glue it back in conventionally.
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Rep Power: 0 hey nuffsed, are you going to close them with the same plastic cover? cuz i think rider just left his open... well post some pics with the finished result...
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From: Markham, Ontario, Canada
Rep Power: 0 i'm planning on closing the inside lights... and leaving the outers open... (i have sedan tails... so they are 4 piece... but the inside ones have an exposed bulb if i leave them open..)
pics will be up soon... i just need to seal them up and they will be done...
pics will be up soon... i just need to seal them up and they will be done...
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for the guys that wanted to do the LEDS its really not that hard if you dont mind getting out a dremel.... I opened up the back of my stocks and flush fitted my LED lamps right into the OEM location ... works great and is bright as heck Registered!!
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From: Chelsea, Michigan
Rep Power: 0 Wow, you are a much better painter than I am. I couldnt find a sterile area that would be well ventilated, so I had to do it in a dirty area, plus, my spray can was running out at the end and I had no extras (I can't afford another right now), so I just used it as is, it looks alright. Not that clean, but in time I will fix that.
As to leaving it open, you have to have some good paint and be a good painter to have confidence that the paint won't chip, etc. But when I clean it up I might try that.
Here is a pic
As to leaving it open, you have to have some good paint and be a good painter to have confidence that the paint won't chip, etc. But when I clean it up I might try that.
Here is a pic
Last edited by blackcivic28; Jul 8, 2003 at 06:00 PM.
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From: 562/909, California, US
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by evol
for the guys that wanted to do the LEDS its really not that hard if you dont mind getting out a dremel.... I opened up the back of my stocks and flush fitted my LED lamps right into the OEM location ... works great and is bright as heck
for the guys that wanted to do the LEDS its really not that hard if you dont mind getting out a dremel.... I opened up the back of my stocks and flush fitted my LED lamps right into the OEM location ... works great and is bright as heck 
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From: Chelsea, Michigan
Rep Power: 0 Here is another pic.
BTW, I am getting the silver strip along the back in black, so it should look a lot nicer.
Oh and about flat black, maybe it would look better, but I got the matching black from factory paint and sprayed down two coats, then I used a clear coat for 3 coats. So maybe flat black would look better, but I'm stuck now (and if I wanted to leave the plastic out then I would need clear coat).
Also, my camera sucks, so the color is distorted a bit, if you see my car in person, you would see that the color of the car matches the tails almost exactly.
BTW, I am getting the silver strip along the back in black, so it should look a lot nicer.
Oh and about flat black, maybe it would look better, but I got the matching black from factory paint and sprayed down two coats, then I used a clear coat for 3 coats. So maybe flat black would look better, but I'm stuck now (and if I wanted to leave the plastic out then I would need clear coat).
Also, my camera sucks, so the color is distorted a bit, if you see my car in person, you would see that the color of the car matches the tails almost exactly.
Last edited by blackcivic28; Jul 8, 2003 at 06:04 PM.
