jimmycofc

I just bought a 1996 LS400 that has a broken left tail light. There's a chunk about the size of a half dollar out of the amber plastic. I put some tape over it to keep water out but would prefer a better repair. The pieces from the hole are inside between the amber lens and a clear lens behind it that looks like a diffuser. I think I could epoxy it all back together if I could do the work from inside the lens.

I had no trouble getting the light out of the car, but then I couldn't figure out how to separate the lens from the body of the light without doing a lot of damage. I couldn't even figure out what is holding the pieces together. There are six small rectangular holes in the edge of the body that have lugs from the red parts of the outer lens in them. Some gentle prying around these holes made me think that the parts are glued together as well as snapped together. There's a rubber gasket on the upper half that also appears to be glued in place.

Is it possible to disassemble this thing sufficiently to make a repair, or am I going to have to buy a whole new unit? One way to look at it is that buying a replacement after tearing this one up is no worse than buying a replacement before tearing this one up.

Any expert advice would be much appreciated.

cobalt91

Junk yard.

dc893

ebay.......

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

just get an undamaged lens off the interwebs or at your local jyard!

the lens can come off the housing but putting it back together is a chore on its own! if you want to try, use a heat gun to soften the edges and you can try to pry the lens apart.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

Welcome and congrats on the LS.

The least time consuming is to buy one from that auction site or local junk yard. Don't be to concerned over scratched ones, they buff out easily unless heavily gouged/scratched. Tail lights don't get much wear unlike the front lenses.

jimmycofc

That seems unanimous. Am I correct in believing that '95 and '97 tail lights will work in my '96??

thanks

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

yes .