I just made a set of clear Lanos HB tail lights

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TheGreatAndPowerfulOz
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I just made a set of clear Lanos HB tail lights

Post by TheGreatAndPowerfulOz »

I got an extra set of 2002 Lanos hatchback tail lights and decided to take them apart to make them clear.

Wow! That was easy! :) .... apart from chipping an edge on the main light on each side. :( ... superglue time!

The 2002 lights did not have anything to peel out, no black edging to remove or any intense labour at all.

The light assembly is in 3 pieces:
1) The black back piece that the lightblub sockets twist into.
2) A one-piece black edged plastic insert that has the yellow and red lenses built in. The reverse light is the same, but with only one clear lense in the black plastic surround.
3) The clear outter lense.

The change was easy and the lights can be returned to stock condition again; this is not a permanent change if you get tired of the clear lights.

1) Remove the tail light assembly from the car.
2) With a small (#0) Phillips (cross head) screw driver, remove the 2 small screws from the back of the lense assembly that hold the lense in place.
3) Use a heat gun to warm up the edges of the black housing.
*THIS TAKES TIME* Spend at least 10 to 15 minutes heating this up. If you do not make it warm enough, you can break off the clear plastic edges of the lense, as I did by finding out the hard way.
4) With a flat blade screwderiver, very carefully pry all around the edges between the clear lense and the black rear housing until the lense is seperated from the back. The black sealant will be gooey and stretch in lots of strings like bubblegum.
5) Lift out the black edged lense insert.
6) Press the lense back into the black housing. Make sure the black gooey sealent does not get on the sliver reflector inside the lense housing because it is not easy to remove and makes the sliver reflector look dull grey.
7) When the lense & housing are back together, put the small screws back in to hold the back & lense together.

No more coloured lenses.

:)

I'll take pics in a few days and post them.

Cliff
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AcingTeam
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Post by AcingTeam »

waiting for pics....
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bluesheepbrian
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Post by bluesheepbrian »

Hey guys here is a how to from clubwoo

http://clubwoo.host.sk/forum/viewtopic. ... 74fe58aab9
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Post by Wolf-Spirit »

tbh i i was also doing that but i dont have pacience enhough... i wanted to try putting em in a oven to warm em up and then pry em loose... but i have no clue on what temp that bubblegum thing starts to get loose

but anyone maybe got a idea as to how much temp the outher plastic could take? i mean on what temp does plastic start to bend/melt?
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Post by TheGreatAndPowerfulOz »

I had thougt about putting them in the oven, too, but I decided since I had nothing else to do at work last night, I would go in the lab in the back & use a heat gun to take them apart.

If you are going to put them in the oven, I would think about 160F (71C) for about 15 mins would do nicely.

Cliff
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Post by mocpac »

I think the correct temp is 215f. For 15 min. In a metal plate. And to seal them back do the same.

I opend my fron lights with a heat gun too.
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Post by TheGreatAndPowerfulOz »

Ok ... it is 2:15am and i just got to my parent's house. Tomorrow (ok, later today - LOL), after I wake up, I'll get pics and post them on here. :)
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Post by TheGreatAndPowerfulOz »

Ok ... I couldn't leave you all THAT long without a pic. :)

Here is the first, which was taken at night, so the pic is not very good.

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I'll get more after I wake up.


Cliff
Last edited by TheGreatAndPowerfulOz on Sun Oct 24, 2004 5:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by TheGreatAndPowerfulOz »

Here are several more pics of the clear rear lights :)

The one called lensechip.jpg is where I pried the edge of the lense with a screwdriver and a piece broke off. I repaired it with super glue and it is only noticable if you are looking for it.

http://www.totalglobaldomination.org/im ... oo/lenses/


Cliff
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AcingTeam
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Post by AcingTeam »

That looks hot, but I got a question for you though:

When you brake, are brake lights red or clear?
Same thing with blinkers (orange or clear)?

Thanks a lot.
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Post by Wolf-Spirit »

hmm did you read my mind tbh? i was planing to do the same thing... using those leds that hit in normal socket but i couldnt find ones that where white but gave red light???? did you find em then??? and where? :)

Also your blinkers you should get some of those (err dno how to say it), Well the are grey/chrome if not used but light up orange would get that orange glow out :)

but again very nice... but now its gonna look like i stole your idea :roll:
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Post by TheGreatAndPowerfulOz »

Yes, the red brake lights are LEDs that fir into normal light bulb sockets and light up red when turned on, but are clear when off.
Yes, those are regular orange glass bulbs for the turn signals.
No, I am not going to keep the red LED lights as they are not bright enough and I can not find the yellow or clear LED bulbs to match in ANY of the stores around where I live.
Also, after a quick search, I could not find the clear LED bulbs on line, but was only able to find the red and yellow.

As for the titanium coated bulbs that light up the right colour but look lisver when they are off, I have been looking for those and will buy them. I was even looking for them the same day I bought the LED red bulbs.

Where did I get the LED bulbs?
They were $17.75 (after tax) at Auto Zone.
I am thinking about taking them back and using that money to get the silver bulbs.


Cliff
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Post by TheGreatAndPowerfulOz »

bluesheepbrian wrote:Hey guys here is a how to from clubwoo

http://clubwoo.host.sk/forum/viewtopic. ... 74fe58aab9
When I log in to ClubWoo, this is what I get when trying to get to that link:

"The topic or post you requested does not exist"
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KnightWalace
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Post by KnightWalace »

you should make a business out of it... "Hi send me you're taillights, and i'll make them Altizzle's" lol.
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Post by AcingTeam »

or buying stock tailights, and making them custom, and then selling them for twice the price on eBay or something... hehehe
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