Taillight repairs
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Taillight repairs
Well, I didn't expect that changing a light bulb would cost me $500.00, but it looks like that's going to be the case. I had a burnt out rear turnsignal bulb, so when I unscrewed it, the plastic for the lens is broken...it appears some aggressive past install cracked both sides.
Between this mishap and the cracked sport back seat, I'm beginning to wonder about Porsche plastic! Are all 996 rear lenses the same? Hope I can find a newsed pair...
Between this mishap and the cracked sport back seat, I'm beginning to wonder about Porsche plastic! Are all 996 rear lenses the same? Hope I can find a newsed pair...
Last edited by CincyScott; 12-01-2012 at 04:15 PM. Reason: Can't type
#5
You have two other options, well one now and maybe another in the future... Fix your tail lights - search here for how others have fixed theirs and/or when available, replace with full LEDs.
#6
My passengers' side is broken like that, and it's never been removed from the car. I suspect poor design, manufacturing or initial installation. I would guess most of these wil eventually crack like this, so we are all going to need to learn a repair vs replacement, or we'll be replacing them periodically for the rest of our lives.
#7
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
It looks like super-glue will do the job, as I look at it more closely. Once I can search on a non-mobile device, I'll do that as well. Am I on the right track with glue?
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#9
#10
Pro
If you are looking at gluing:
Best glue I've ever come across for plastics is Ambroid Pro-Weld. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg Yes it's made for model cars but I've used it for many a thing, including repairing a shattered interior door panel. It got so cold here the plastic got brittle and as I shut the door I ripped out the entire handle (crappy 4 banger). Never had an issue for many years thereafter. It ends up breaking down the plastic to a liquid/gel state allowing both sides of the the fracture to bond back together. Evaporates quickly so multiple attempts might be needed to bond the parts back together. You'll know when it works as the pieces you push back together sort of form a little bead like an actual weld. Doesn't work with all plastics.
Best glue I've ever come across for plastics is Ambroid Pro-Weld. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg Yes it's made for model cars but I've used it for many a thing, including repairing a shattered interior door panel. It got so cold here the plastic got brittle and as I shut the door I ripped out the entire handle (crappy 4 banger). Never had an issue for many years thereafter. It ends up breaking down the plastic to a liquid/gel state allowing both sides of the the fracture to bond back together. Evaporates quickly so multiple attempts might be needed to bond the parts back together. You'll know when it works as the pieces you push back together sort of form a little bead like an actual weld. Doesn't work with all plastics.
#11
Scott:
Avoid superglue - it has no shock resistance. As soon as you tighten... "crack". Epoxies will be stronger, but as Lordpantsington noted - don't work with all plastics. Plastics are very difficult to stick to because they are all a bit different and contain petroluem.
If you could fashion a stainless "tab" with a screw hole which you can attach to the back of the lense, I can send you tape which will bond extremely well to the tab and back of the lense. Tape can be anywhere from .015-.025-.030-.045-.062" thick; your choice.
I sell 3M tapes and adhesives.
Good luck - I noticed mine is cracked as well.
Avoid superglue - it has no shock resistance. As soon as you tighten... "crack". Epoxies will be stronger, but as Lordpantsington noted - don't work with all plastics. Plastics are very difficult to stick to because they are all a bit different and contain petroluem.
If you could fashion a stainless "tab" with a screw hole which you can attach to the back of the lense, I can send you tape which will bond extremely well to the tab and back of the lense. Tape can be anywhere from .015-.025-.030-.045-.062" thick; your choice.
I sell 3M tapes and adhesives.
Good luck - I noticed mine is cracked as well.
#15
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
I hate to say JB Weld