Azrael

iTrader: (10)

Specifically the honeycomb pattern tail lamps. I am referring to a regular honeycomb red and a tinted style.

I noticed recently that our car has two different style tail lamps on it. I am sure it was the previous owner replacing a cracked lamp, but to me it is annoying to have one of each. I was mainly curious as I have spent the last couple hours trying different searches to try and find an answer on how the tell the difference and if there is a different specific part number for each style? I have noticed that the Firehawk and CETA cars have the "tinted" version, while most other Formula's, Trans Ams, and the WS6 versions have the "untinted".

I am also curious how to tell them apart, so I can replace the absent "tinted" version on the left side of our car? Any help or insight is greatly appreciated.

Here is a picture of our car and what I am talking about, see the left light is a solid red under the honeycomb while the right light is tinted darker:

bj350hp

iTrader: (4)

98-02 are the same tail lights for all birds regardless of model.

Read post #9
http://www.ls1lt1.com/forum/4th-gen-...ight-lens.html

Edit:

Same basic info in this thread.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearanc...han-other.html

The Alchemist

iTrader: (19)

That's not a factory done tint on it. Chances are someone spray it with some type of night shades or something as they never made any different taillamps for the 98-02 firebirds. Same taillamps on the v6 firebirds up to the t/a, formula, ws6, firehawk... all the same exact taillamps.

Azrael

iTrader: (10)

Interesting, as I have seen some tinted and some without tint, as on our car. Even saw some on Ebay specifically listed as tinted that looked exactly like our passenger side light. Well, thanks for the information, this is our first Firebird; after two LS1 Camaro SS' cars.

Scrws6

iTrader: (5)

The right side has a leak and is losing the Chrome coating inside making it appear darker...

Azrael

iTrader: (10)

That makes sense, never considered that. Thanks, time to replace that side!

my bandit

iTrader: (10)

some t/as came with tail lights where one side is darker then the other. most of the ones ive seen though was the driver side.

Super-Bat

iTrader: (38)

This. All the info you need. Except on how to repair: http://www.ls1.com/forums/f36/how-re...rd-ws6-163800/
Did you not read through the links posted previously/quoted above?

Azrael

iTrader: (10)

They were edited in there, and were not in the original response. So how could I have read them?

His original response:

Thanks for the links guys, now I know it is the Passenger side that is bad!

MrMixnMatch

iTrader: (1)

Or you could just spray some tint on them both... Lol

I'd be very wary of the amount of light shining through the failing tail light + the tint though.

Azrael

iTrader: (10)

Aye, the problem that caused us to notice it was my wife following me (while I was driving the Hawk) in the Lightning and when we stopped she thought the tail light was out; it was that dim.

Kind of liked the "tinted", now damaged, look but would prefer to put the lightning back to original.

MrMixnMatch

iTrader: (1)

I finished tinting mine today. You can look at the thread in my sig for pictures. The lighting comes through as almost stock, since I only used 3 lights coats.

RyanSws6

iTrader: (72)

I replaced my Black 00 TA with tose "tinted" factory lights and I love them. I bought them from an fbod only bone yard a few years ago. I had them on my LT1 TA but loved them so much that before I sold the car I pulled them off and put them on the black TA.

From what I was told back then they made them for a year or something. Both my 30th and 01 TAs are the normal red color. From what I've seen the lights are rare.

'02 WS6

iTrader: (73)

^Hopefully that post is swimming in sarcasm....

Sail Hatan

Yea, otherwise you bought two junk lights. Mine drivers side one is shot. I would trade with someone who's passenger side is shot, of you want to have 2 "factory tinted" tail lights. And by factory tinted, I mean water logged.

RyanSws6

iTrader: (72)

I have no idea what you mean about junk. Mine never leaked or are water logged. I've had them for a few years. I really like how they look on a black car.

PontiacFan

iTrader: (104)

Wow, ..., So much mis-information again huh?
Factory tinted, ..., Ha-ha, ..., Not in this life.
As Hail Satan mentioned, ..., You most likely bought two tailights that had internal damage to the reflective background.
Not necessarily 'junk'. But they had some fading inside.

The only tint you'll find on them, is something that someone added later on in life using tinted clearcoat or VHT type product on the outside.
Yes, you can take regular clearcoat paint & add a touch of black to tint also.

I know a local guy who has this issue with his car & as soon as he finds a good replacement, we're gonna tear that shitty one apart & have to post up the photos to show it.

MasterTomos

iTrader: (15)

I've even heard the speculation that burnout smoke getting trapped in the tail lights can start to fade the reflective chrome inside. If you ever have your tail light out, and put your finger in the reverse light, you can easily remove the reflective material with your finger many times even.

Usually a pretty good indicator of what the condition of the interior (behind the red lense) of the light is going to be like by looking at the reverse light area. Usually if the tail light is dim, you can see the reflective surface in the reverse light fading as well.