tinting tailights...

[joker_sf2099]

Well I have already tinted my two main rear lights but I haven't got around to doing the top brake light. Can anyone tell me how to get the top brake light cover off? thanks

 

[celly]

You can't on the 98-01. It's pretty much a sealed unit and not at all user-replaceable without doing a LOT more work than you bargained for. I did the research when I was thinking of doing the same. Just mask off your whole rear end with newspaper and lots of masking tape and do the tinting that way.

 

[99stocksport]

try this http://www.southernxplorer.com/howto.php?id=20

 

[celly]

try this http://www.southernxplorer.com/howto.php?id=20

He was asking how to do the high mounted brake light (3rd light), not the tails themselves.

As an aside, those are the instructions I followed to do mine. Anabolic Frolic's most excellent instructions used to be on FXN until they killed the link.

 

[MONMIX]

I got a "cover" ( actually it is a sticker ) from e-bay it says
Xplorer
Pretty cool.

Search Ford Explorer third brake light on e-bay

 

[aldive]

I got a "cover" ( actually it is a sticker ) from e-bay it says
Xplorer
Pretty cool.

Search Ford Explorer third brake light on e-bay

Can you post a picture of it?

Thanks ....

 

[joker_sf2099]

thanks for all the replies. I guess i'll just mask it off and do it while its on there. The suckie thing is I have to wait till spring since its still pretty cold out here.

 

[celly]

I did my tails long before I finished up with the 3rd brake light. It's a nice touch, but the trails by far have a more dramatic impact. It can wait.

 

[TJM623]

not to mention ur screwed if it rains...i wouldn't do it go with the sticker.

 

[celly]

not to mention ur screwed if it rains...i wouldn't do it go with the sticker.

Huh? Why would rain hurt anything? Nightshades dries in an hour, if that. I think he just doesn't want to work in the cold AND the paint would probably adhere better in warm weather.

 

[00XLS]

try this http://www.southernxplorer.com/howto.php?id=20

Thanks for posting this, saved me work from looking for it.

 

[heyitsben5]

hey yea jsut mask it of thats what i did it worked great good luck

 

[the_tool_man]

Hi joker:

You CAN remove the CHMSL and tint it properly. It's not really that hard. I've done it, so I know. It does take some time, and you'll probably need a helper. Here are the steps:

1: With the rear hatch closed, open the rear window.
2: Have a helper hold rear window while you remove the e-rings that attach the window shocks to the glass. Don't lose these! They tend to fly off and dissapear.
3: Pull the pins from the glass shocks and lay the shocks against the hatch.
4: Remove the two screws holding the glass onto the hinges and remove the glass.
5: Open the rear hatch.
6: Remove the two screws attaching the pull strap to the hatch liner.
7: Go around the outside of the liner and carefully pry it away from the hatch. If you take your time, it should pop loose. If you rush it, you will break the mounting tabs for the liner.
8: With the liner removed, look inside the hatch above the window opening. You will see the electrical connector and the three nuts that attach the CHMSL.
9: Disconnect the electrical connector.
10: Remove the three nuts and the CHMSL can be pulled out.

To assemble, reverse the steps above. It sounds harder than it is, especially if you have a helper. I removed it during my lunch hour at work in less than 30 minutes. If you were going to mask it and paint it, you'd have to remove the rear window anyway, so you may as well do it right.

Regards,
John.

 

[TJM623]

Huh? Why would rain hurt anything? Nightshades dries in an hour, if that. I think he just doesn't want to work in the cold AND the paint would probably adhere better in warm weather.

I see, I didn't no the dry time i figured it was like 24 hours or sumthin in that case GO FOR IT

 

[celly]

Hi joker:

You CAN remove the CHMSL and tint it properly.

If you were going to mask it and paint it, you'd have to remove the rear window anyway, so you may as well do it right.

Regards,
John.

John:

You have provided excellent instructions on how it's done. I didn't go near the task because it's way more work than I wanted to do and I'm not that mechanically inclined. Helper or not, I didn't want to screw around with all that. My experience is that those folks who are mechanically inclined tend to grossly oversimplify just how easy something is, just because it's simple to them. I've fallen into that trap more than once and end up spending way more time than I wish to trying to get things back to where they were before.

That being said, you don't have to remove the window to mask off the light, at least I didn't. It looks surprisingly great on mine and I cut all sorts of corners to get it done. Two coats of Nightshades and a couple coats of clearcoat to boot.

If you're really **** and a perfectionist (I'm far from it), then I'd say go that route. I don't see the point for such a small detail. Mine really does look great and I had it done in no time.

 

[the_tool_man]

John:

...you don't have to remove the window to mask off the light, at least I didn't. It looks surprisingly great on mine and I cut all sorts of corners to get it done. Two coats of Nightshades and a couple coats of clearcoat to boot.

Just curious, how did you get the part of the taillight that slopes behind the glass? I didn't think you could get paint in there with the glass in.

If you're really **** and a perfectionist (I'm far from it), then I'd say go that route...

Guilty.

But in my defense, I was also working on a defective rear wiper motor, and had to have the hatch liner out anyway. If it weren't for that, I'd probably still have a bright red CHMSL.

Regards,
John.

 

[wpurple]

Trying not to be a wise a&&, but why do you want to tint the rear lights?
The last thing I would want is someone rear ending me case they didn't see my dull lights in time. (Especially here in CT where everyone drives like maniacs)

 

[TJM623]

search for celly's elite registry, he's got his tinted there not as dark as those black plastic things just a little to make it difference

 

[TJM623]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127698 there's a picture of what it looks liked tinted, not enough for someone to not see your lights.

 

[celly]

Just curious, how did you get the part of the taillight that slopes behind the glass? I didn't think you could get paint in there with the glass in.

No need to tint the part behind the glass because it's behind the glass. Not really visble when glass is closed anyhow.

Honestly, I don't remember how I managed, but it worked fine. I really did a half-assed job and it looked great when I was done. OK, not that visible in this pic, but best I can do right now.