Cyclops Light removal

[ZOA NOM]

Anybody remove their cyclops light? I removed mine because it drove me nuts. I am in the process of installing an LED strip from JC Whitney in the same spot, which looks very nice, and is tucked up nice and tight against the top edge of the rear window, so it doesn't block the view. Here's my problem; I can't seem to get the old gasket or whatever that substance is under the old light, off the glass. It's like the stuff is baked on. Has anyone removed this stuff?

[KTL]

I'm with you on this one. I could not stand that light.

I'm guessing your light was on the inside of the window. Mine was mounted on the front of the rear spoiler/engine lid. Looks like a submarine periscope.

Anyway, try 3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover. It's similar to a painting prep solvent and removes tar, wax, grease, sticky stuff,........... without harming painted surfaces. I used it on the interior rear glass to remove some alumni stickers that some goof put in the rear window of my car.

[ZOA NOM]

I haven't used any goo remover yet, but it seems like this stuff is a solid piece that was baked on. I think the only hope is to scrape.

[KTL]

If it's baked on rubber, i'd still try the solvent. A good paint prep solvent was great at removing baked on rubber residue when cleaning the windshield channel of my car. Most of the stuff was urethane sealant, but some was rubber. Both came off rather quickly.

If you resort to scraping? I'd go with a brand new single edge razor blade and avoid the defroster lines!

[steve911]

I believe the third light is/was held in by double-faced tape. it probably appears 'baked' since after 14-15 years of sitting in the sun, it probably has been. You might first try using a razor to slice away what you can so you can get closer to glass, then use something like the 3M Adhesive Remover that KTL suggested. Be careful that you don't scrape too hard and goof up the rear window defogger wires.

I actually just went the other route and installed a high-mounted interior third light - I don't even notice its there and it helps to ward off inattentive drivers.

edit: just noticed that KTL beat me to the razor blade suggestion - faster fingers!

[RickM]

I asked the reverse of this question a while ago. I fitted a factory, against-the-window third brakelight on my '85. I resorted to using black double-sided tape. I quickly realized that the contact area (where the tape is) didn't look as clean as a factory installed light. From the rear of my car you can see the uneven adhesion of the tape and some small air bubbles (Well, upon a very close inspection).
Although Porsche may have used different methods for attaching 3rd lights my conclusion is that the substance you're trying to remove is not tape or glue but a semi-permanent black "paint" or coating. It very well may be baked on. This will show as a very even black from the outside regardless of what you use to adhere the lighj to the glass.

Wanna trade rear windows?

Seriously, you may want to talk to a winshield repair place that has done Porsches.

[ZOA NOM]

It almost seems like ceramic. If it get's to be too much work, I may just order two of the smaller LED strings and mount them outboard either side of the area. I like the idea of the third light, but I don't want to put something in that looks Mickey-Mouse. I may just leave it out altogether.

[porsche930dude]

how is the cyclops light attatched is it just the two bolts up through the lid? There was only 1 bolt in mine i removed it and it wont come off? maby they glued it down or somthing

[porsche930dude]

figured it out. it was painted down

[3.2 CAB]

I think the "black stuff" on the inside of some of the front and rear windshields is the same material as the ceramic boarder, or the black dotted matrix pattern, used on a lot of newish vehicles these days. It gives the windshield mounting surfaces something for the urethane sealant to adhere to better after curing, than just the plain glass surfaces.

I see that yours is a coupe, the "cyclops" that you are asking about, is it one of the ones inside the car, or one of the two different styles that mount on the engine lid? Tony.

[porsche930dude]

mines a coupe and it mounts outside the car half on the engine lid and half on the whale tail. it had two bolts up through the lid and a wire up the middle so 3 holes. Just gotta fix up the paint and cover the holes with somthing.