tail lights

[echo7]

how can i remove the tail lights? theres a dead fly inside..

[echo7]

ok I evaluated the tail light and it looks like its a single assembly. I removed the bulbs but I cant reach it from there. Every bulb is enclosed..

I did not pull out the whole thing yet.. maybe anyone can giv some opinions.

can I post pics here so that I can show wwhere its located..

I now it doesnt affect anything,, it just me,, am annoyed

[Whelan]

Take the lamp off the car and tilt it so the bug will fall out through the opening. If all else fails take a heat gun, carefully using a flathead work a small area at a time to warm it up a bit, not enough to melt though, and pry it apart. Glue will separate and you can pull the lens from the backing.

Next get rid of the bug and to get a good seal again, warm up all the excess glue and scrape it off, use some good Silicone and really glob it in a thick bead. Wrap the light in a towel, get some clamps to hold it together for a FULL 24 hours to let cure. Then put back on.

I pulled the headlights on my Civic apart at least 2 or 3 times and never once had a fogging or water issue after this was done. I took them apart for angel eyes, removing amber lenses, etc.

[joemaniaci]

If you dont feel comfortable melting about your taillight, get some thin silcone tubing, rig it onto your vacuum cleaner by duct taping it to your hose attachment and just suck it out. You can get tubing from a hardware store, just ask for rubber tubing used in fish tanks.

[mistamatrix]

3 screws is all it takes to get it off. They're pretty small so be careful not to drop them. End result should look something like this...

[echo7]

hi guys, thanks for the suggestions.. heres is the pic of the damn fly.

The vacuum thing was a good idea but i think thereis no way I can access the fly location.. I wonder how he got there.

http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/noe...e2.jpg&.src=ph

[Toyo Tech]

Maybe you could take the tail light assembly off and use a metal coat hanger and try to fish it loose and shake it out???

Or remove tail light assembly and try to flush it out with water? Just make sure it's perfectly dry before you put it back in... I don't like this idea but it could work

I would recommend splitting the tail light as a last resort only. If you don't re-seal it perfectly when putting it back together your gonna get condensation. The risk is not worth it just to get out 1 little stupid fly.

[mistamatrix]

I forgot to mention that I've got a BEE in one of mine!

We've had someone attempt to 'bake' open the taillight like you can w/ the headlights. He failed. It doesn't seem to be held the same way headlights are.

[echo7]

hmm, in that case, there is no way I can get rid of the fly?

[MatrixXRS]

Originally Posted by echo7

hmm, in that case, there is no way I can get rid of the fly?

Try using the air gun to blow it in there and mabye you'll move it around and eventually it will come out.

[joemaniaci]

yes looks like you have no choice but to take it out, air gun, or vacuum it out, or both I guess.

[Auto]

mistamatrix vbmenu_register("postmenu_1466111", true); is that a different spoiler on the back of that matrix with the tail lights taken off? if so, where did you get that one and what model is it? I like it, I'm looking for one leaning more towards the scion xa look. can you help me out?

[mistamatrix]

It is the ATS spoiler. I got it from a group buy set up last year from Never Enough aka Brad.

http://www.neverenoughauto.com/index.php

It goes right over the stock spoiler. (if you wanna call it that)

[Auto]

One more question (for now) back on this tail light subject. I'm guessing you have an '03 matrix (i'm still new to this forum) is your tail light still stock? i have an '06, i like the clear tail lights that came stock on mine, but i like to have some color on my car. my car is white, and i would like for my tail lights to be all red, or i'm thinking about clear case with the black affect i saw somewhere in this thread or another post.

so again, my question is, is your tail lights stock? i'm not exactly sure what the stock ones look like on the earlier models of the matrix's. would the '03 lights fit on my '06? would you have any other suggestions on a all red (hopefully no yellow turn signal) tail light?
Thanks in advance if you reply.

[echo7]

hi, I saw some tail lights on ebay.. most of them are "Altezza" are these good brands??

to mista... is there a GTA store to buy matrix accesories... most stores in ebay are form US and I want to save shipping..

thanks