|
|
| Tail Light Lens Replacement |
 |
|
Maaaaaaaaaaaan, FUCK! So, Tyler was driving behind me one day and told me, after we got where we were going, that my passenger side tail light lens was busted. And not just cracked like you could fake like it wasn't broken. It was busted out so that plain white light shone through when I braked. And you know what, I'd BET it was some dumb bitch driving some hyooooge SUV that wayyyyy to big for her to handle, since there were no marks on the bumper or anything else except the tail light lens. ALL YOU DUMB CUNTS WHO CAN'T DRIVE....DO NOT GET A GIGANTIC VEHICLE. IT MAKES PEOPLE LIKE ME HATE YOU. A really busted out tail light like this is especially conspicuous at night and will get you nice and pulled over, especially around here. So, with that in mind, I started asking around on the net for anyone who had a spare. By the way, this is a good time to point out that if you can't find a part you want in the junkyard (or are just too damn lazy to look), someone will probably have it on one of the message boards. Especially stock parts, since people tend to keep them after they install their aftermarket pieces. You may have to pay a bit of a markup, but maybe not. It all depends on the people you're dealing with. Andy, the same guy who sold me the stock TB I bored out and wrote up on this page, was nice enough to look for a second generation passenger tail light when he was at the junkyard around the time I was asking for one. He found one surprisingly quickly and sold it to me for a very reasonable price. Ahhh, time for another lesson: NEVER BUY ANYTHING YOU DON'T HAVE TO AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY WILL RIP YOU A NEW ASSHOLE RIGHT IN YOUR WALLET. Go to a junkyard or ask around. You can oftentimes even find BETTER products for CHEAPER prices in the aftermarket. That goes for most all cars, not just Saturns. Just FYI, the Saturn list price for a tail light lens is A HUNDRED AND THIRTY DOLLARS at the dealership here in Gainesville. Yeeeeeeaaaaahhhhh fuckin right!
|
Alright, now that I've ranted my piece, on to changing the lens. First, open up the trunk. When you look at the side of the tail light lens , you'll see two screws, shown in the picture to the right. To unscrew them, you'll need a 3/32" hex key. After you get those out, slide the lens out to the right and ti will be hanging from a mess of wires. In the center of the back of the lens housing, there's a big plug and socket connection. Bend the release mechanism up with your finger and pull the plug out of the socket. Now, take all four bulbs out of the back of the housing. To release a bulb, squeeze the plastic backing that connects to the bulb and twist to the right. You have to squeeze hard enough to get the locking mechanism to pass under the plastic block. You'll see what I'm talking about. It's rather simple. Just squeeze hard and turn to the right and you'll be fine....jackass. Make sure you get the rubber seal off with each bulb, too. Sometimes they stick to the housing, but you'll need them. They form a waterproof barrier between the back of the tail light housing and the inside of the tail light lens.
|
After all four bulbs are out of their housings, you'll need to pull the central plug off of the back of the tail light lens. It is connected by a small piece of metal that just squeezes really hard onto a plastic tab. You can see it in the middle of the picture to the right. Try to open the bend in the metal a bit and then just pull it till it comes off. You'll then have a bunch of wires and bulbs hanging off of the plug that look, to me at least, like a bunch of eyeballs after having been ripped out of someone's head.
|
The reinstallation is just the reverse of what you've done. Reattach the central plug first. Then, line the bulbs up in their sockets and turn to the left, making sure they lock back down into place correctly. Plug the electical connector from the car back into the central socket, line the lens up tightly into its place in the body panel, and screw the bolts back in. Booyah, baby. No more being hassled by the piggers. Ain't it a beaut? Sho nuff!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
