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DIY : remove taillight tint

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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 12:11 AM
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Default DIY : remove taillight tint

You will need the following tools:

Dual action polisher or a buffer, 4 microfiber towels (these will get really messed up), 1 can of lacquer thinner, 3M Rubbing Compound, Meguiar’s Plast-X and your choice of wax

What the taillights looked like before and after



Apply a small amount of the lacquer thinner onto the microfiber towel and work it into a circular motion on the tail light. When you start to feel resistance between the towel and the tail light, apply more thinner until you have completed the entire tail light



After you have completed removing the tinted surface from the taillights take your polisher/buffer and apply a small amount of 3M Rubbing Compound to the surface of your taillights. Turn on the machine and slowly work it into the lights. Allow time to dry (5 minutes) and remove with a clean microfiber towel. Complete this step at least three more times, for a total of 4 coats

Take your polisher/buffer and apply a small amount of Meguiar’s Plast-X to the surface of your taillights. Turn on the machine and slowly work it into the lights. Allow time to dry (5 minutes) and remove with a clean microfiber towel. Complete this step at least three more times, for a total of 4 coats



Wipe down your taillights really well using a clean microfiber towel



and redouts them , i very like the way redouts look on my tail lights



- If you have quite a few cuts on your hands or fingers from everyday activities like me, you may want to wear plastic gloves or surgical gloves. When the thinner gets in your cuts, it burns.

- It is VERY important that when applying the thinner not to get any of it on the plastic mounting tabs of the tail light. If this does occur, you may notice some discoloration (not a big deal) but if you get the thinner and plastic in contact numerous times….it could begin cracking apart or even break altogether.

- Give yourself a break every once in awhile when performing this task. The smell of the fumes could get to you and cause you to get dizzy or become lightheaded


Last edited by TOMMYPHAM; Oct 24, 2010 at 10:04 PM.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 12:29 AM
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Great write up I did the same to my headlights when I decided to take to paint off
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 01:11 AM
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this requires some in-depth knowledge.

Post pic of ur car with it on.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 02:55 AM
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the problem with painting your taillight/headlights, when you want to remove them, you remove the UV coating. your tails are gonna turn yellow in a short amount of time.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 02:58 AM
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Nice write up!
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 06:27 AM
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Thanks for the nice write-up! If i ever want a new look, i know how to get rid of the black-out now!
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 06:50 AM
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I guess I'll tell you guys a way easier way to do this. I learned this from back when I used to build model cars and I wanted to strip the paint off the body of the cars if I did
not like the way the paint job came out on them.

BTW: this works on anything plastic that was painted.



1. Buy a cheap container that will submerge just the lense or whole light. Also buy the cheapest brake fluid you can find buy enough of it to fill the container

2. Take the lights/or plastic piece and strip it of any electrical devices light harnesses and such.

3. Leave the item in the brake fluid over night and in the morning you will see all the paint bubbled up. The brake fluid acts like a paint striper but it does not harm the plastic in any way.

Edit: Forgot to add that once you remove the light from the brake fluid you can remove the paint with a garden hose with a small amout of water preassure and a soft brush.

Last edited by B16da9; Aug 9, 2010 at 07:30 AM.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 07:06 AM
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Originally Posted by B16da9
I guess I'll tell you guys a way easier way to do this. I learned this from back when I used to build model cars and I wanted to strip the paint off the body of the cars if I did
not like the way the paint job came out on them.

BTW: this works on anything plastic that was painted.



1. Buy a cheap container that will submerge just the lense or whole light. Also buy the cheapest brake fluid you can find buy enough of it to fill the container

2. Take the lights/or plastic piece and strip it of any electrical devices light harnesses and such.

3. Leave the item in the brake fluid over night and in the morning you will see all the paint bubbled up. The brake fluid acts like a paint striper but it does not harm the plastic in any way.
Interesting, this is worth a try, maybe on a model car first.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 07:31 AM
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Originally Posted by 516IS
Interesting, this is worth a try, maybe on a model car first.
On a model car this works great. I'm actually am about to do it to a 2IS model as I got the actuall 1G1 paint pumped into a spray can.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 11:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Jetfire
the problem with painting your taillight/headlights, when you want to remove them, you remove the UV coating. your tails are gonna turn yellow in a short amount of time.
i think we can use this
http://www.autogeek.net/dia-plastic-liquid-armor.html

Last edited by TOMMYPHAM; Aug 9, 2010 at 01:27 PM.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 11:33 AM
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Were these the ones in the classifieds not too long ago? LOL
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by TOMMYPHAM
i think we can use this

that will work, but it won't be as good as an actual coating. unless you get it resprayed with a UV coating, just be prepared to apply that stuff every so often or risk having yellowed lights which you have to use plast-x each time to restore.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 12:43 PM
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On my Integra I have the JDM one piece headlights. What I did it i wet sanded and polished to like new condition. I then took them to a body shop to have them sprayed with a layer of clearcoat. Hell it's been a couple of years now and my headlights on my Integra look good as new.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 01:41 PM
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Originally Posted by iSuxeL
Were these the ones in the classifieds not too long ago? LOL
u right LOL
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Old Aug 10, 2010 | 09:37 PM
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Originally Posted by heyarms
Thanks for the nice write-up! If i ever want a new look, i know how to get rid of the black-out now!
i like the way blackout look too but it illegal here
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