Taillight rebuild questions...

markmalin · markmalin's Garage

Hi all. I was going to replace the taillight lenses and seals on my 85 Carrera, but it turned into a can of worms. I've got a few questions:

- do you glue the seal around the edge of the taillight (the seal for the lens)?
- Any advice on securing those mirrored plates behind the bulbs? They're loose on both tailights - I think these are in the chamber brakelight bulb is, but I'm not sure
- What do I use to seal the back cover to the taillight enclosure? It seemed like rope caulk, can I just use that?

Thanks!
Mark

kimlangley7 · 12-20-2021, 04:58 PM

Mark: I spent a couple of weeks restoring my rear tail light assys this year. It started out with just the seals - and morphed into a full up restoration.

First > do a search on You Tube for "Greasy Fingers" - he's a German ubber - wrench - who knows his way around the 911 - shows him doing a restro on his taillights.

sealing the rear plate to the main body - I used a silicon puttty that I rolled into a rope. In addition I got a rubber gasget that fit around the rear plate. So I had both the rubber gasget and the putty to prevent water ingress into the assy.

kimlangley7 · 12-20-2021, 05:08 PM

almost complete - I also added a layer of ALU foil to the top of the light assy as a sacrificial layer where the dirt/crap collects on top of the assy - as our cars don't have fender liners to prevent crap kicked up by the tires from depositing on everything back there...

It was a labor of love - I built a blast cabinet so I could do a good job of cleaning everything..

I learned alot from this task

Best of luck

kgl

markmalin · markmalin's Garage

Holy cow! That looks new! Thanks for the information. I want to get the car back on the road (Winter is our best driving weather in AZ), so I may just do my best to clean it all up and put it together. Thanks for the tip on the silicon putty. Did you just get that at home depot or somewhere like that?
Mark

kimlangley7 · 12-20-2021, 07:13 PM

I maybe could have found it at Home Depot or other store - but I've found that Amazon is the bes

t source - you get multiple choices of "silicon putty".. at different quantities , and prices..

kimlangley7 · 12-20-2021, 07:18 PM

What I started with

kimlangley7 · 12-20-2021, 07:22 PM

My kgl design of a sacrifice AL foil layer to protect the real component - I'll see how it works in 10 years or so when I pull the tail lights again..

911obgyn · 911obgyn's Garage

I have used aluminum duct tape as a bodge to hold stuff together, and as reflector surface in taillights. Just to get them working.

markmalin · markmalin's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 911obgyn

I have used aluminum duct tape as a bodge to hold stuff together, and as reflector surface in taillights. Just to get them working.

I've got a bunch of that stuff - the one reflector is rusted and I was thinking of putting that on the surface, and then using it to hold them in place.

kimlangley7 - I'd love to do it like you did! but...I don't have time just now, so I plan to sand off the rust, paint the backs and get it sealed up.

BTW - How do you get that tailight "pigtail" wiring harness off? I disconnected one side from where it mounts to the engine bay wall, but it seemed like it was still attached inside so I plugged it back in.

theiceman · 12-21-2021, 05:46 AM

a couple of threads to add to the wealth of knowledge here .

Tail light gasket replacement

..and in todays " you have got to be kidding me " section, rear light housing

digitaldgp · digitaldgp's Garage

If a bulb socket was loose after cleaning, I used folded tabs of Aluminum foil smeared in dielectric grease to tighten the fit. Worked great.

kimlangley7 · 12-22-2021, 10:16 AM

BTW - How do you get that tailight "pigtail" wiring harness off? I disconnected one side from where it mounts to the engine bay wall, but it seemed like it was still attached inside so I plugged it back in.

Mark : to disconnect the plug at the rear of the assy - you have to disconnect all the connections inside the assy. then lubricate the rubber plug with rubber conditioner - have to remember - you are dealing with 50+ year old rubber - have to get it supple again. I took and olt T shirt - soaked it in rubber treatment stuff . then wrapped it around the plug and let it sit for a day or two - let it soak into the plug .. use a narrow flat tip to pry the plug out

kgl

kimlangley7 · 12-22-2021, 10:33 AM

Mark : you have to disconnect all the wires inside the assy - then pull them through the plug hole. take pix/notes of what wires go where before disconnect.

BE CAREFUL / of removing the rear panel - ie - use kroil/PB Blaster to loosen the screw that holds the panel on - I broke two bolts - had to do some dremel work to fix >> see "suggested video in my first post .

kgl