Removing real tail lights

[kazuo]

Okay.

I've got a S13 coupe, and I'm trying to get the rear tails off. Is there some sort of magic trick required for this? I know there's a bunch of long bolts located inside the trunk with some washers or whatever on 'em... I took them all off (all the ones I saw, anyways, there was a ton of 'em), and the stupid lights wouldn't come out. They won't budge at all, not even an inch.

Is there something I'm missing here? Any hints are appreciated. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[240 2NR]

If you have removed all the nuts, then the only thing keeping those suckers on there is a 1/4" bead of gasket. The FSM recomends (and it's probably right, I removed mine on a 40 F degree day and it was a PIA) that you heat the gaskets up to 180 F degrees. If I were you, I'd just warm up some water on the stove (warm but not boiling) and pour it behind the lights. It should be enough to get you started. In anycase, just pull them off. They'll be slow to budge but they will come off. Then try to get as much of the old gasket off before installing new lights and I hope you bought some new gaskest to replace the ones your are ripping up or you *will* have leaks. THe gasket you tear off is as good as worthless.


Can I ask why you are pulling the lights? 180sx swap? That's why I pulled mine. If not, I've got some stock lights that look brand new, that would make a good replacement (gaskets included). If you are interested, PM me.

Edit:: whoops, I missed that it was a coupe

[kazuo]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (240 2NR @ Aug. 15 2002,06:22)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">If you have removed all the nuts, then the only thing keeping those suckers on there is a 1/4" bead of gasket. The FSM recomends (and it's probably right, I removed mine on a 40 F degree day and it was a PIA) that you heat the gaskets up to 180 F degrees. If I were you, I'd just warm up some water on the stove (warm but not boiling) and pour it behind the lights. It should be enough to get you started. In anycase, just pull them off. They'll be slow to budge but they will come off. Then try to get as much of the old gasket off before installing new lights and I hope you bought some new gaskest to replace the ones your are ripping up or you *will* have leaks. THe gasket you tear off is as good as worthless.

Can I ask why you are pulling the lights? 180sx swap? That's why I pulled mine. If not, I've got some stock lights that look brand new, that would make a good replacement (gaskets included). If you are interested, PM me.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I'm pulling them off cus I was too lazy to take them off when I repainted the car, so I got a little overspray on 'em. ;P

In any case, yeah, I don't think I'm going to pull them off now, cus I have no replacement gaskets to get them back on... more trouble than it's worth. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

The overspray isn't noticeable unless you're looking real hard; I'm one just one of those cats who hs to get it as perfect as it can possibly be. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

Just out of curiosity, my local Nissan Parts Dealer would have the gaskets, right? How much do those suckers run?

[240 2NR]

Well if you like them perfect, the ones I removed were. &nbsp;They had about 48k miles on them and aside from left over gasket material would pass for new.

I would assume Nissan dealers have the gaskets, if not it's just a roll of black sticky gasket material. &nbsp;I'm sure some shops would carry it. &nbsp;Less than $20 is my guess. &nbsp;Sometimes stuff is really cheap and other times it's stupid $$$$.

[kanekz]

I just took mine off my S14 for the 97-98 tails. &nbsp;Easy stuff. &nbsp;Take the bolts off and start pulling of the tail lights...gently and slowly. &nbsp;You will need force though. &nbsp;Not sure about the S13, but its just black silicone for me. &nbsp;Honeslty, you really dont need to seal them back up. &nbsp;I didnt and neither did my friend with the S13 and they dont fog up or anything. &nbsp;If you want, just go buy a tube of black silicone at Kragen,PepBoys,etc. &nbsp;probably $2-3 a tube. &nbsp;

BTW: I took them off in SoCal on a pretty hot afternoon.

[MarketPlayer]

Hey man...How do those new tails look?

[HippoSleek]

kanekz - keep in mind when giving advice like that that what doesn't fog up in S. Cal. may in the swamps that some of us live in. &nbsp;The difference b/n 25% and 90% humidity is huge!

[240 2NR]

The gaskets fit between the back of the lights and the body of the car. &nbsp;It's function is to both secure the lights (as evidenced by how hard it is to remove them) and to keep water out of your trunk. &nbsp;So the fact that they don't fog up says little about how well it works to not replace the gaskets. &nbsp;You may want to check beneath your trunk carpeting to make sure you in fact don't have any water penetration.

Also I think it's a bad idea to recomend cutting corners in an install, let someone decide for themself, but don't annouce that leaving out the gaskets will not lead to leaks as gospel. &nbsp;Personally I see no point in saving $5 and 5 minutes on a $400+ mod &nbsp;that you have to live with for the rest of the time you own the car.

[HippoSleek]

Oh - THOOOOOOSE gaskets &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blush.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':blush:'>

Mark - who's never imagined taking off his taillights.

[blink0r]

You don't need to buy replacement gaskets. I took mine off and swapped in some tinted tail lights. When you're putting the tail lights back on, just put lots of silicone sealant around the inside of the tail lights (if you look you can tell where silicon usually is). It works the same as new gaskets and its a lot cheaper. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>