Clearing 95-96 ES 300 tail lights
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,472
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From: Ohio, USA
I have a slightly cracked taillight I pulled off my '96 sitting in my basement, so I have a light I can experiment on. I went down the other day, and saw that the outermost lense has tabs every few inches holding it on. I tried prying the tab with a screwdriver, and promptly broke it. Unless there's another way, or you are willing to break the tabs in the process, and simply glue the outer lense back on at the end, it's a risky job.
There's more amber on the 95-96 than the 92-94, but the hard part (to me) appears to be opening the light, not removing the amber plastic.
There's more amber on the 95-96 than the 92-94, but the hard part (to me) appears to be opening the light, not removing the amber plastic.
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Kansas
Thanks, I've seen pics of the 92 cleared. I was just wondering if anyone had already done it to a 95-96. I have read posts about how to do it, but I don't remember exactly how right off hand. Can you open it in a similar manner you would open the headlights? I can't remember.
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Kansas
I found this old pic of my car and decided to mess around with it. This may be what it would look like cleared. It took me less than 5 minutes to do this, so it isn't very high quality, and remember, this is an old pic of my car.
Last edited by The_Hitman; Oct 22, 2002 at 01:46 PM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 893
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From: Chicago
I strongly considered clearing the tails, but averted from doing it.
1. It seems risky, and few have successfully done it.
2. On the 92-94 it looks smooth, but on the 95-96 i would be skeptical, it wouldn't look 'white clear' like the 00-01 ES, but different.
3. SAFETY!!!...not sure how the [1] bulb would illuminate the entire bar.
Instead, I red-out the amber signal....RECENTLY, I also RED-OUT the reverse light to give an "ALL RED" look. I still don't like it, so my next move is to smoke them with 35% tint.
1. It seems risky, and few have successfully done it.
2. On the 92-94 it looks smooth, but on the 95-96 i would be skeptical, it wouldn't look 'white clear' like the 00-01 ES, but different.
3. SAFETY!!!...not sure how the [1] bulb would illuminate the entire bar.
Instead, I red-out the amber signal....RECENTLY, I also RED-OUT the reverse light to give an "ALL RED" look. I still don't like it, so my next move is to smoke them with 35% tint.
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There is still a clear lens that is behind the orange, so the bulb should still illuminate the whole signal; at least in 92-94, I would assume 95-96 lens would be similar. So that would take care of that concern. I'd still like to know how they'd look cleared with an orange bulb. I'm still considering giving this a shot over the winter.
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Chicago Lexus Club Moderator
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Illinois
Here is the clear bulbs in the turn signal.. I will try to get picks at daytime.. These are kind of hard to see. The second pic is what it looks like when you clear out the clear piece of plastic frombehind the colored piece. The bulbs just look like circles then, no light reflecting across the bar..
Adam
Adam
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Kansas
I was unsure if there would be a clear piece behind the orange on the 95-96, like there is on the eirlier models. I may try it sometime, who knows when I'll find the time though.
Chicago Lexus Club Moderator
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 808
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From: Illinois
I think that there most likely is a piece behind the lens for those years because the light reflects all the way across the lens just like the earlier years. You should try it sometime, but GO SLOW!!!!!!!!!! Thats all i can tell you.
Adam " lexist "
Adam " lexist "
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