Rear taillight lenses and seals install problem

[azasadny]

I'm replacing both rear taillight lenses and the seal that goes with them on my '74 911. I'm having a very difficult time getting the seals on, is there a trick to this? I'm sure someone out there has found a better way to get these things installed. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. BTW, I got the parts from our friends at PP. Ordered the parts on Monday and they were delivered to my doorstep today (Friday). Thanks in advance!

[89911]

You need to use a seal adhesive ala rubber cement. Place the cement on the seal and then push it onto the fixture and remove. Let is set for a few minutes and then replace. Do it in sections.

[Harlan Chinn]

3M makes a rubber seal and weather strip adhesive that works well

[nostatic]

I disagree. I installed mine without any adhesive at all. The seals have a groove that fits over the edge of the light assembly. I removed the assembly (pull the drain plug...that held me up), pulled the old seal off, scraped the old adhesive and crap off the metal, then slowly worked the new one onto the assembly. If you take you time and seat it carefullyl, it will stay in place without any adhesive. Then slide it back in and put the lens on.

While you're in there, clean out the road crud that accumulates behind teh assemblies. And be careful on how tight you crank the lenses...you don't want to crack them.

[Harlan Chinn]

Then I must wonder why the factory glued them on in the first place?

[nostatic]

because it is likely faster to install.

[azasadny]

Guys, thanks for the good advice. I think I'll try the adhesive route as I bought a tube of the adhesive and haven't used it yet. thanks again!

[azasadny]

Thanks for the advice, I used 3M trim adhesive and the seals fit really well. Unfortunately, I found a small 6 pin relay socket behind the passenger side rear taillight assembly without a relay in it and I'm wondering what it's for. do I need to replace it and if so, what type of relay is it? It has six evenly spaced pins around the edge of the socket. I "lost" my rear right side taillights and license light this summer after driving through a tornado, could the raly have fallen out and now caused the lights not to work? I have replaced the bulbs and fuses and that didn't help. I didn't see a similar relay on the left side of the car behind the driver's side rear tail light assembly. I'm confused....

[azasadny]

Guys,

I'm an idiot! Jim Sims helped me out (another post) and he was 100% correct. I hooked up the taillight assy to the harness at this "relay" which is really a socket-type connection and all is well. Thanks for not calling me names and letting me do it myself...