Brake light restoration/repair question

[AkulaX1]

I pulled out a lamp today because I want to fix the hanging plastic as you can see on the 2nd picture on the left hand side from the inside and remove chrome parts and paint them black while I'm at it. I noticed there could be a problem though. It seems that the lamp is most likely filled with gas because there is no lamp replacement on the inside surface and there is only that box which could be a coil or something. Does anyone know anything about this that could help me out? Should I even bother doing it? If not were can I buy a lamp? I am having hard time finding it anywhere period.

 

[chicken]

its a neon tube inside and the box is the ballast

 

[lscmkviii]

Advice=If it works, dont mess with it!

 

[BAD97LSC]

the piece hanging is the diffuser. you are in for a huge suprise if you try and take that apart to fix it, more power to you if you do, but the only way you are getting inside it is to cut it open from the backside. you cannot take it apart by simply unsnapping some stuff here and there, that light is sealed and was never intended be be open ever again.

 

[AkulaX1]

Chickenviii so if I open the lamp up in 2 there will be another tube inside filled with gas right?

lscmkviii I agree but I really can't stand by and watch the looks being ruined by that

Jaie97lsc I noticed in youre signature that you are part specialist. Would you happen to carry LSC back light and if so how much are you asking for it?

 

[whiplash15]

Really I applaud your willingness to try to fix it BUT,,, If a new one were available, WHICH IT ISNT, they cost about seven hundred dollars ($700).
First, Dont open it. Second, Dont take the chrome off it. Third, If it works, dont fix it.
To paint the chrome black (which I can certainly understand) mask it carefully and paint it in place.
Look thru the lens, and if there is no broken glass in the bottom most likely, the neon tube is ok. If there is broken glass in the bottom, there is NO REPAIR.
Then if there is no broken glass, and it doesnt light up, msg "glitchm@hotmail.com" and buy one of his home made ballasts for about eighty dolllars ($80). It is an easy fix. The light is supposed to light with the lights and get brighter with the brake lights.
If it doesnt light up or just flashes once when you apply the brakes Glitch's ballast will fix it. I have never heard of one of them going bad.
Good luck. (I have repaired several of them)

 

[lscmkviii]

From what I understand, the lights work and the ballast works. The concern is, what looks like a drooping piece of plastic on the upper left side internaly. Its not worth it man! If you are serious about the looks then sell the one you have (without the ballast) on ebay and look for a different one on ebay. I see them there all the time. Good luck!

 

[jgnwi]

My local dealer told me 900.00 for the part. Mine does not work at all , and at some point was unhooked before I got the car. The dealer hooked it up and said it smoked and had to be replaced. Can I find some way that is a little bit cheaper the\n 900.00 to fix it?

 

[AkulaX1]

OMG that is ridiculous for a peace of what appears to be plastic lol I never that it was this ridiculous....

Well I think I figured out a way to fix this without taking it apart. The strip that hangs down appears to be just a soft plastic part or cloth that is hanging down because there is nothing that supports it. So maybe if I can drill a whole in there and put in the fishing wire trough it and lift it up... if it's ok to make few holes in the back of the light that is?

 

[Scorpio1118_2000]

Or you can try to replace it with LEDs, they say its been tried with no success but Iam thinking about having a friend of mine try to make it work.
He made a custom set of taillights for his Harley so he might be able to make this work.
But like the others said if it aint broke dont mess with it, find one thats broke and try to make it work.

 

[whiplash15]

The problem with drilling thru the top as you drew it is that the neon tube is in the way. you might try drilling from the bottom, and using a stiffer wire to push it back into place. If you end up buying a ballast from Glitch, his instructions show how to drill vent holes in the bottom anyway.

 

[lscmkviii]

Yeah^ do not drill in from the top! Bottom is okay.

 

[AkulaX1]

Well I didn't open up the light yet nor did I drilled it. Still trying to figure out best way to go with this. But I did manage to clean it and polish it for both front and back and ohhhhhhh i'm loving it!!! Still waiting for good weather to paint all that chrome though.

Let me know what you think guys

 

[Goddard-MarkVIII]

what did you use to clean it?

 

[AkulaX1]

what did you use to clean it?

I sand it down with 4 grades starting from 800 to 1000 to 1200 i think and 2000 and then I used Mcguires plastic polisher

 

[timkustom]

As others have mentioned DO NOT open it unless you are prepared.

I HIGHLY recommend getting a hold of glitch as also mentioned above. He has some papers on how to fix your sagging diffusor. It might be hanging too much to save though.

I'm in the process of getting my light to work. The inverter would not fix mine. I had it tested at a neon shop and the wand would not light it. I just got another light assembly that I'm going to start working with.

Hopefully I have some good news to report soon.