Euro Tail light problem
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,420
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Euro Tail light problem
I am not writing this to slam any vendor, since I did not address the problem with them in a timely manner. However, my Euro tail lights have are developing a 'film' over them that, on the worst one, is flaking off. I was wondering if anyone has had a similar problem and I would appreciate any ideas of how to fix it. It's making the rear of the car look shabby.
Thanks!!
Btw, they are much worse than the pix show.
Thanks!!
Btw, they are much worse than the pix show.
Last edited by chasboy; May 26, 2014 at 04:39 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Never seen that before, It looks as if someone cleared the lights and it is coming off.
Not an expert, But maybe you can try some ultra fine SP and then buff them?
Not an expert, But maybe you can try some ultra fine SP and then buff them?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,420
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Thanks Bill, your description is spot on. I was thinking about taking them out and putting them on my buffing wheels,but since the stuff flakes, and can be scraped with ones fingernail, I'm still undecided.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Ocala FL
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
I just tried some 3M adhesive remover-what you use before the 3M contact cement. Not sure of what it did, but I don't think anything is removed. It's MUCH flakier than I related earlier!
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Houston TX
That is weird. They may have to be sanded and then polished back out. Does your car typically sit in the sun? I have euro tails on my car as well that are quite old, but a quick polish restored them to like new before installing.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
I may take the worst one out and put it on my wheel and see what happens. I don't want to polish the flaky crap, so I have to see.
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That's worth a try. I had a set of those taillights on my '00 and never had them do something like that. Sure looks like something was sprayed on the lights and it is flaking off.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
I sanded the worst one, as low as 220 paper, progressively smoother, then buffed it on the wheels, surface is different than stock. After all that, some flaking/cracks are visible. I just wrote to the vendor.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
220 seems really course to be using, I was thinking 1500-2000 wet sanded.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
I started with 600, and it was not cutting the flakes so I worked my way down to wet 220, brought it back up to 2500. However after going up to the finest plastic grit for my wheels, some of the cracks began to show. I'm wondering if the plastic is delaminating?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Ocala FL
Any pics of them as they are currently? This one has me scratching my head...
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
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From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Chas, maybe the vendor coated them to cover the imperfections. I've had mine for at least 10 years and nothing like that has ever happened. I think sanding them is on the right track. If you need a super fine polish for the final step, use regular paste toothpaste, not the gels. It's great for polishing plastic.