Dim brake light/tail lights

[jef855svo]

Has anyone found a cure for the "not so bright" tail lights and brake lights? My lights seem to work fine, but they just seem dim compared to other cars. Is there a brighter bulb that might fit the tail lights? Has anyone else notice this problem?

[90lx86svo]

I bet the reflective paint on the tail light housing is dirty and old. Gently pull the lenses off and look and the silver part on the housings. You can clean them off and repaint them with silver spray paint. The "chrome in a can" stuff works pretty good, though it never looks like the can cap does. I did my LX and SVO and it it alot brighter now.

Bud

[jef855svo]

Originally posted by 90lx86svo
I bet the reflective paint on the tail light housing is dirty and old. Gently pull the lenses off and look and the silver part on the housings. You can clean them off and repaint them with silver spray paint. The "chrome in a can" stuff works pretty good, though it never looks like the can cap does. I did my LX and SVO and it it alot brighter now.

Bud

Do you actually break the seal when you seperate the lens from the housing? What is the best technique to seperate the two pieces? Thanks again for your input!

[90lx86svo]

Originally posted by jef855svo
Do you actually break the seal when you seperate the lens from the housing? What is the best technique to seperate the two pieces? Thanks again for your input!

There is a non-hardening ribbon seal around the lights. You can gently pull the lenses off the housings, slowly working around. I would do it in a warm garage so the sealant is more pliable. If you need new sealant you can get it at a body shop supply.

[jef855svo]

Originally posted by 90lx86svo
There is a non-hardening ribbon seal around the lights. You can gently pull the lenses off the housings, slowly working around. I would do it in a warm garage so the sealant is more pliable. If you need new sealant you can get it at a body shop supply.

Thanks for the info, I will make sure the lights are warm before attempting the removal.

[GAboySVO]

The tail light lense are also held in place by spring steel clips. You will want to get new googy gasket material when you put them back together. Ford dealers still carry them.

I used a gloss white patio furniture paint to redo my tailights and it really brightened them up over the stock silver. The paint is flexible and less prone to cracking or peeling.

[90lx86svo]

Originally posted by GAboySVO
The tail light lense are also held in place by spring steel clips. You will want to get new googy gasket material when you put them back together. Ford dealers still carry them.

I used a gloss white patio furniture paint to redo my tailights and it really brightened them up over the stock silver. The paint is flexible and less prone to cracking or peeling.

The only way I have found to get the little clips from Ford is with the sealant.

[jef855svo]

Thank for the great advice! I pulled the lens covers off, and sure enough, they were really dirty and faded. I am not sure if i will use the "patio" white paint or chrome paint, but atleast I have a solution to my problem. Thanks again.....SVOCA rocks!:p

[turbizzy]

Anyone try those LED replacement bulbs for brake lights? I have some. They are very hard to see during the day time and at night the brake lights aren't that brighter than the tailamps (same buld, dual filament type cept LEDs with resitors). I do like how fast they respond thouigh and how at night the tailights look like red eyes and light up in the very center of the lense instead of the whole thing turning red. Wish they made them bighter (add more LEDs)