tonylop33

Ok PJ owners help me out. Take a look at your taillight assembly.

I ordered Web Electric (http://www.webelectricproducts.com/products.htm) sequential turn signals for my PJ. In trying to remove the taillight assembly to swap the wiring, it appears I need to remove the chrome trim that is glued around the taillight and rear panel.

If this is the case it will make replacing burned out bulbs a pain. You will need to re-glue the trim pieces every time a bulb burns out.

The trim can be seen in the below picture.

karman

Those cars are so nice the bulbs shouldn't ever burn out.

tonylop33

Just talked to Saleen tech. The trim needs to come off. Not the greatest design.

adrenalin

Wow, that really sucks that they overlooked something like that.

tonylop33

Okay another tech rep emailed me and said:

"You can remove the rear tail light from the vehicle with out removing the chrome trim around the tail light. This is possible, it just takes some "time" and "finesse". The holes for the tail lamp in the body will be elongated to allow this. "

I emailed back to ask which way the holes should be elongated. I could used a dremel tool to make the hole have enough slack to slide the assembly toward the center and that might work?

I'll keep you posted.

Here is the area I am thinking gets elongated to pull this off. (Pic courtesy of CelticNut)

05GT-O.C.D.

I'm normally not a fan of LED's, but if I had to take that out once, then I'd take both sides out and replace them all w/ LEDs so I wouldn't have to mess w/ it again. (in theory)

tonylop33

I am not sure I can run LEDs with the sequential kit that is the whole reason I stated looking at the taillights.

05GT-O.C.D.

Yeah, I read your first post a few days ago and forgot about it when I just posted. I'm pretty sure sequentials could still be done w/ LED's, but I think you'd need a load equalizer, or something like that and I'm hardly the expert to ask. Good luck, stupid design for sure. If holes need hogged out to change a taillamp, it should've been done before the car was sold. Bummer. Good luck.

tonylop33

Here is what I got from Saleen tech.

(My questions)
Ken,
The holes are not currently elongated are they? I did not seem like it when I tried to remove the taillight. I assume I would have to elongate them. Which direction would I elongate them...I assume horizontally toward the center of the trunk. How much gets elongated..1/4 inch?
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!

(The response)
Tony,

The holes may or may not be elongated depending on if someone has remove the tail lamp before. Elongate them just like you said horizontally and toward the center of the trunk, 1/4 inch is good.

Thanks,


Here is what I might try to do this weekend; elongate the holes in the direction shown in this picture.

(Not sure why this does not come across as a picture?)

karman

Personally I think you are at the point where you should sit back and think about what you really want most here.
I wouldn't want to be hogging out holes on a collector car just for sequentials.
How much would it cost to replace the trim?
Why not wait until one of the bulbs burn out and you have to take it all apart anyway?
Even if you drag the holes, are you sure there will be no trim damage?
How about other ideas like...
Can you cut the studs enough to get the lights out and still re-attach them?

tonylop33

I thought about cutting the studs down. I don't think it will work because the assembly needs to move toward the center of the car to get it out without removing the trim. Cutting the threads won't accomplish that. Unless I cut them totally off, but then I don't think they are designed to be replaceable. I may have to see if I can find a stock unit to check.

I intended to keep the car for a while so odds are that a light will burn out. I have seen a lot of 05 and up mustangs with burned out taillights. I don't want to have to remove the trim every time. That being the case, I might as well do it now and get my sequentials installed too.

I am reasonably handy and have worked on and modded my cars often. I am comfortable elongating the holes by 1/4 inch.

Hopefully all goes well.

karman

Good luck.
Who am I to question.
I pulled the whole front bumper & grill off at 4000mi. because I didn't like the haze on the foglights.
Heck, I only had the car 4hrs. before I installed my sequentials.

tonylop33

One of these days the mod bug will leave me and I will be able to leave a car alone...okay who am I kidding. lol

tonylop33

Okay I elongated the holes and with patience and persistence I can now get the taillights out without removing the trim.










A plastic interior trim removal tool helps keep the rubber weather strip flat to slide it past the trim. This is the tool I used on the edges nearest the corners of the light.




You can hardly notice once the nut is back on.

05GT-O.C.D.

Good job. Glad that worked out for you.

karman

Good job.
It sounded like you could handle the job.
Its too bad they couldn't have designed it to be easier.

woodpkr89

So I saw this post a little late in the game and now I need to reinstall the top pice of chrome. What type of adhesive would y'all recommend? Thanks