Tail light chrome trim repair ?

[kjphilippona]

My father was not the best at detailing his cars, just water an a brush. So the bumper and drivers side tail light chrome trim is heavily discolored from exhanst fumes over the years. I was able to clean up the bumper with chrome polish but did not attempt anything on the chrome fearing to damage it further. Any suggestion it as to what i can do the clean it up if possible ?

[Oiluj]

Not much. You can try a bit of chrome polish, but they are likely to be pitted. There are places that will re-plate the plastic trim pieces, but it's expensive, about $75 per part.

[bavarian06]

does that trim piece come off? it seems to be held on by a plastic screw and washer. i tried to remove the washer but too afraid of snapping off the screw.

can anyone confirm thats how its removed?

[KAL7467]

U can remove it and if the clips break just epoxy it back on

[Zs-ondabrain]

does that trim piece come off? it seems to be held on by a plastic screw and washer. i tried to remove the washer but too afraid of snapping off the screw.

can anyone confirm thats how its removed?

1) you need to pull the whole taillight assembly.

2) remove the center clip carefully from the backside. 50/50 chance that the plastic post will break off. Try Needle nose pliers on the clip while pressing the rear plastic inwards, to get as much plier as possible onto the clip.

3) Run the assembly under hot water for about 3 minutes then pry the lens from the rear plastic assembly. It will slowly pull apart, as the glue has softened.

4) once seperated, you'll see how the chrome trim is attached to the lens. press the chrome trim peice into the lens while using needle nose pliers on the inside to grab the 2 or 3 clips holding the trim on. I use a twisting/pulling motion to remove the clips.

for reassembly, simply use a small deep socket to press the clips back on with even pressure. You can reheat the adhesive hot water, a small butane torch if you keep it moving (this is the way I do it and a heat gun is too hot over too big of an area, and may melt and distort the rear plastic assembly.

I've done this about 20+ times with excellent results. You can easily clean the lens with hot water and dish soap to remove the exhaust fume stains. Then you can Polish and clean the lense more thoroughly with Maguires Cleaner Wax.

The Chrome trim peice can be cleaned with warm water, dish soap and 0000 steel wool, Don't scrub it, just use a little pressure to wash years of crap and exhaust away.

Dave

[ZCurves]

My father was not the best at detailing his cars, just water an a brush. So the bumper and drivers side tail light chrome trim is heavily discolored from exhanst fumes over the years. I was able to clean up the bumper with chrome polish but did not attempt anything on the chrome fearing to damage it further. Any suggestion it as to what i can do the clean it up if possible ?

It doesn't matter that he wasn't the best at detailing, he obviously had great taste in picking them out.

[kjphilippona]

That he did :classic:

[bavarian06]

1) you need to pull the whole taillight assembly.

2) remove the center clip carefully from the backside. 50/50 chance that the plastic post will break off. Try Needle nose pliers on the clip while pressing the rear plastic inwards, to get as much plier as possible onto the clip.

3) Run the assembly under hot water for about 3 minutes then pry the lens from the rear plastic assembly. It will slowly pull apart, as the glue has softened.

4) once seperated, you'll see how the chrome trim is attached to the lens. press the chrome trim peice into the lens while using needle nose pliers on the inside to grab the 2 or 3 clips holding the trim on. I use a twisting/pulling motion to remove the clips.

for reassembly, simply use a small deep socket to press the clips back on with even pressure. You can reheat the adhesive hot water, a small butane torch if you keep it moving (this is the way I do it and a heat gun is too hot over too big of an area, and may melt and distort the rear plastic assembly.

I've done this about 20+ times with excellent results. You can easily clean the lens with hot water and dish soap to remove the exhaust fume stains. Then you can Polish and clean the lense more thoroughly with Maguires Cleaner Wax.

The Chrome trim peice can be cleaned with warm water, dish soap and 0000 steel wool, Don't scrub it, just use a little pressure to wash years of crap and exhaust away.

Dave

wow, great write-up, thanks!