Has anyone had the SSE tail lights apart? (the ones with the black plastic lines in behind) I want to open one up to see about putting an overlay on the inside, but I dont want to risk breaking them because theyre the only set ive got. I have a set of SE tails, but theyre constructed a little differant, and I want to experiment with the type of lights I am going to be using. Should I try it? or should I just wait until I find an old broken pair from the junk yard?

If your careful you can get them apart ok,when you put them back together they have to be sealed well or water gets inside.The SE are pretty well the same as far as taking lens off.Also if you have any slight cracks be very very careful.

This the Randman HAS done. Cleaned them up and all...

Hit him with a pm and the topic.

When I took my LE'* apart to remove the clear outter part cause it was unglued and had a few small cracks....I wanted to get it off in one piece so I could save it and maybe restore it sometime....yeah, that wasn't gonna happen.....just a slight pressure and that thing shattered. So, I ended up having to break it off in chunks, and fourtnately I really liked how it looks off of there so it was not really a big loss, but if you're gonna try and save yours just be careful and easy with it...more than i was at least

Heat gun was used for sure by Randman....I remember he borrowed mine... (it'* got a little kick to it.)

Hmm ill send randman a pm. The clear plastic part of my lenses is already removed, so I dont have to worry about it cracking anymore. They look like theyre glued together, so would a hair dryer work? or do i need an actual heat gun? also, what should I use to seal it back up?

That'* more a question for him. I saw parts and pieces while drinking beer.

Actual heat gun was used. Blow dryer might work...compared to this heat gun...a blow dryer is like setting the tail in the freezer.

Actually, I borrowed Bill'* heat gun to remove the hot glue from an engine harness. The tails were done outside on a warm summer day. There are three parts to the tails: outer, inner and lens. The outer consists of the black stripes and clear lens, the inner is the structure where the bulb sockets are inserted and the lens is the red, clear and amber sections.

The lens is sandwiched between the outer and inner pieces so you don't really deal with it until the tail light is separated. The inner and outer pieces are held together with butyl rubber and 4 tabs. I began by removing all of the butyl I could with a flat blade screwdriver, awl, and various other instruments... whatever it took to scrape off the access. Next, I very carefully pried one tab up and left the screwdriver in place to prevent the tab from locking. With another screwdriver, I lightly pried and worked the two pieces starting right next to the tab and working my way outwards from the tab. After working it for a couple of minutes, I could remove the screwdriver from under the tab and work my way to the next one. I took my time and did not force it at all. This is the key, especially the tabs.

If I was to do it again, I would probably use the 90* pick (see below) to further break the seal between the inner and outer pieces. This can help eliminate any damage.


Do you need a heat gun? No, unless you're attempting this when it'* 30*. Can it help? Definately. This will make the butyl rubber more plyable and the two pieces will separate easier. Don't waste time with a hair dryer. You'll just end up with a warm tail light.

What did you up to seal it back up after? And how was the red lens constructed? do you think it could be replaced by a clear piece or a white piece easily?

You could probably use butyl sealer , behind the lens is the black plastic lines and then your 3 colored lenses that just pull out, if you wanted to and made a piece fit im sure you could but they do curve a bit.