3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
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Aussie Front Bumper Indicators..URGENT HELP NEEDED!
I've got a 1996 Vienta Grande and would like to change the front bumper amber coloured indicator lights to clear.
All clear front indicators only fit USA and European models, not Australian. Ive looked everywhere on the net and through shops.
What i need here is a step by step, comprehensive guide as to how i can DIY an own set of indicators using perspex or acrylic of some sort. I know it can be done, ive read breifly about it, but i havent been able to obtain a step by step guide as to how to do it.
Please let me know step by step as to how i can make my own set of indicators, using the original housing of the bumper indicators, just replacing the amber perspex with a custom clear one.
For a start, i dont even know how to remove the amber perspex off the housing, i tried with a screwdriver but couldnt get it off... i know thats a start.. can someone at least tell me how do you remove the amber lense off the housing without breaking it. If i can get it off, i know thats a start!
I ment the amber attachment that is clipped onto the housing. In know it comes off, there are little clips part of the amber part that clip onto the housubg but im having a hard time gettitng them off.
Any suggestions?
Or better yet, know how i am able to obtain an aussie set of clear bumper indicators?
Mate, have you checked to see if this will make your car unroadworthy? I don't think i've ever seen a car on NSW roads with blinkers not coloured amber, probably for the reason mentioned before.
Out of curiosity, why do you want to change them so badly?
As long as you put an amber coloured bulb inside the clear reflector, and it shines amber when indicating.. its legal.
I want to change them so badly because ive done my best to make my camry looking as neat as it can be.
Ive got a 96, Vienta Grande with all top of the line extras included. The colour is a very clear white with a very black tint on the windows. really contrasts well.
The body is super straight and it really is one of a kind.
The amber reflectors clash with the white/black neat look ive got going, they stick out like dogs balls. I really need to rid them immediatley!
it seems only american indicators are avaliable for the gen 3. problem is, they dont fit aussie camry's.
Is it possible to fit the american indicators, which are shorter in length by 5 centimeters, but same in height, and have the remainder of the hole patched up proffessionally?
Who would be able to carry out something like that?
The pics have been removed... I could probably get Phil to put them back up if you need them.
I've made my own as well... I'm in no way a handyman, but if I can do it, anyone can. I used a sheet of 3mm perspex... took the old amber lenses out using "force" and heat as well... as the lenses are held in with some crazy glue.
Trace the template of the old amber lens onto the perspex sheet (perspex sheets normally have a paper film stuck to both sides so they don't get scratched), so pencil on that was easy. I'd probably make it an extra couple of mm bigger than the template as when you're heating it up, the perspex CAN shrink. This also allows that if it is too big, you can use a file and shave the sides off for a perfect fit onto the original housing.
Some have used hot water on a stove to help bend the perspex... I just ended up using the oven at a low temp. As soon as you take it out of the oven when it's hot enough, you'll need to wrap it around the original amber lens to get the right shape... then let it cool down.
Once you got that down-pat, you'll need to somehow attach it to the original housing. In this case, you'll need to use sicaflex. I used silicone, but sicaflex (the really strong stuff) is much better. You'll fill in the grooves that go around the outside of the housing with either sicaflex or Selley's No More Gaps and then go around the filled in grooves with sicaflex and place the new clear lens on that. You'll probably need to clamp the corners down so it sits flush onto the original housing there. The housing is now complete.
To finish it off, you'll need to spray paint the border area where the sicaflex is viewable. The best way around this is to get a piece of tape and place that through the centre of the lens where you don't want paint to go and leave the borders all open to be spray painted. You can paint it whatever colour you like mate. I ended up going to Repco and getting a can of paint to match the colour of the car. I sprayed around 4 coats to give it a good look with about 1/2 an hour between each coat.
Hope this helps mate. Might see you floating around the Aussie forums :P
The pics have been removed... I could probably get Phil to put them back up if you need them.
I've made my own as well... I'm in no way a handyman, but if I can do it, anyone can. I used a sheet of 3mm perspex... took the old amber lenses out using "force" and heat as well... as the lenses are held in with some crazy glue.
Trace the template of the old amber lens onto the perspex sheet (perspex sheets normally have a paper film stuck to both sides so they don't get scratched), so pencil on that was easy. I'd probably make it an extra couple of mm bigger than the template as when you're heating it up, the perspex CAN shrink. This also allows that if it is too big, you can use a file and shave the sides off for a perfect fit onto the original housing.
Some have used hot water on a stove to help bend the perspex... I just ended up using the oven at a low temp. As soon as you take it out of the oven when it's hot enough, you'll need to wrap it around the original amber lens to get the right shape... then let it cool down.
Once you got that down-pat, you'll need to somehow attach it to the original housing. In this case, you'll need to use sicaflex. I used silicone, but sicaflex (the really strong stuff) is much better. You'll fill in the grooves that go around the outside of the housing with either sicaflex or Selley's No More Gaps and then go around the filled in grooves with sicaflex and place the new clear lens on that. You'll probably need to clamp the corners down so it sits flush onto the original housing there. The housing is now complete.
To finish it off, you'll need to spray paint the border area where the sicaflex is viewable. The best way around this is to get a piece of tape and place that through the centre of the lens where you don't want paint to go and leave the borders all open to be spray painted. You can paint it whatever colour you like mate. I ended up going to Repco and getting a can of paint to match the colour of the car. I sprayed around 4 coats to give it a good look with about 1/2 an hour between each coat.
Hope this helps mate. Might see you floating around the Aussie forums :P
Thanks for your tutorial mate, really appreciate it. I have sort of skimmed over those forums before and read that the only way to do it is a DIY, but im somewhat determined to try a new method.
The only reason whats deterred me from a DIY job, is the finished product dosent look 'original' While some look good finished, anyone who looks at it can tell its a DIY job and im trying to vear away from that image.
Would you happen to know the size of the USA clear indicators, as opposed to the Aussie amber ones?
From what i can see, now i may be wrong but, the height of the indicators look the same, its just the lenght. The USA ones seem a little shorter then the aussie ones.
Why i ask that is, i was thinking of buying USA ones, and fitting them on. Height-wise they should be spot on, lenghwise, they wont reach around the corner, so i was thinking isnt there some sort of panel beating place i could take my car to, and have them fill the remainder of the hole up?
That way, i could fit the USA ones, and keep the car looking 'original-like' I do realise this method would be a hell of alot more expensive, but i am not worried about cash at the moment.
Do you know if this method would be possible mate? is there anywhere i could take my bumper and have it filled a small bit, painted and blended in? or did i dream that method up somewhere? lol
Cheers
Last edited by GRANDE,GRANDE!!; 04-07-2010 at 03:40 AM.
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Aussie Front Bumper Indicators..URGENT HELP NEEDED!
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