Bonneville Club :: Clearing taillights for 2000-2005

CLEARING THE TAILS

Tools needed:

- Dremel tool
- Variety of cutting tools for dremel tool
#542 Carbine Cutting, Shaping tool
- Silicone II Caulk
- Amber turn signal bulbs
- Grey spray paint (cheaper the better)

1. Start by removing the tail lights from your car by following the directions in your owners manual under "changing tail light bulbs" Remove all bulbs from the assembly. REMEMBER WHERE EACH ONE WENT.

2. Remove the piece from the trunk.
2a. Start by removing the nuts that hold the center piece in place.

(total of 6 nuts to be removed)

2b. CAREFULLY pry the center piece up equally on the right and left side. You will see a "tab" holding the upper right, and upper left portion of the piece to the rear of the trunk. Use a long screw-driver to "pop" this tab out. You will pull the black and white sections completely out, so a little bit of force may be needed.

With all three pieces now removed, lets start on the center piece.

3 You will use the dremelling tool to cut around the upper "triangle" of the back of the center piece. Follow the groove that is already there, and cut at about a 45degree angle. (WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES)
Cut down far enough so you can see the inside of the piece. For the bottom of our triangle you want to cut slightly below the groove that is already there.

4 After you have three cuts pry away the backing so you can see into the amber section.

5 If you cut correctly, you will be able to pull the amber piece out, if not you will need to use a pair of wire cutters to "break up" the amber piece. Careful you dont let any part of the amber in the red section of the light.

6 Repeat for the other side.

TAIL LIGHTS

7 Tape up all the light holes on the back of the tail light assembly except for the turn signal hole.

This will prevent debris from entering each section.
8 Using the same tool cut around the "triangle" created by the turn signal section. For the "bottom" part of the triangle you will see it is very difficult to get our cutting wheel in that section. Use an engraving bit, or other "long" cutting piece to cut away a little bit of this section. It is not entirely necessary to cut this part away since the amber is removed from the tail pieces as one chunk, pulled from the outer edge.

Cut along the groove that is already there and deep enough so you can either pry the tail piece up, or see into the opening.

9 After you can pry the assembly up high enough, pull the amber piece out. This is a thicker, harder material than what is in the tail piece and is very difficult to cut, it is easier to cut the opening bigger to allow the piece to come out as one big chunk.

10. Repeat for other light.

11. CAULK. Seal up the mess you just made. (figure it out) Wink I used cable ties to keep the center piece held together while I caulked it.

12. Bulbs: Thanks to MOS95B for the painting tip. Take two amber 3157 turn signal bulbs, and VERY LIGHTLY MIST THEM with gray paint. Just enough so that you can't see the amber as well..
Let them dry for at least an hour or two.

13. Re-assemble
Put everything back together, don't tighten the top most nut of the tail light assembly for 24 hours.

Done.