Appearance & Detailing Interior & Exterior Appearance Modifications

"dent" in the taillight

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-25-2006, 12:20 AM
  #1  
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
SS4Luck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sterling Heights, MI
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default "dent" in the taillight

My car is on jack stands right now becuase im getting new wheels and i decided it would be a good time to clay bar/wax/detail the hell out of my car and as i was doing my spoiler and noticed that there was this dect in my taillight, just my driver side one. as far as i understand plastic doesnt dent it just shatters... so would this be like heat warp or something? any help would be great



Old 05-25-2006, 12:21 AM
  #2  
Moderator
iTrader: (103)
 
nhra-trans-am's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 3,249
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts

Default

Yes, that is heat warping. Happens more often from taillight blackout covers, but can happen even without them
Old 05-25-2006, 12:22 AM
  #3  
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (33)
 
_JB_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 3,731
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts

Default

Looks like it melted to me. Did you ever have any covers on it?

If someone hit it with a door, it would be cracked.
Old 05-25-2006, 12:26 AM
  #4  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Scotty-Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Ever had taillight blackouts on it? Maybe a previous owner did? (if you bought it used).

But yes, heat from the actual taillight bulbs cause that, mainly when the heat is trapped inside a blackout.
Old 05-25-2006, 12:53 AM
  #5  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (9)
 
SleeperZzZ28's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Abilene, Tx
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

yup those look like the typical blackout dents
Old 05-25-2006, 01:09 AM
  #6  
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
SS4Luck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sterling Heights, MI
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

no the car has never had taillight covers or blackouts of any kinda, i was getting ready to have them smoked is why i was looking at them today actually
Old 05-25-2006, 01:23 AM
  #7  
FormerVendor
iTrader: (32)
 
dragonZ28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

That problem is a normal inconvenience in our cars. But as said above, you have a 3,000,000,000,000% higher chance of having that happen with blackouts over the taillights, but it can happen without them.

Just go to a junkyard and pick up some that are in good shape. Your car is too nice to be driving around looking like that
Old 05-25-2006, 07:53 AM
  #8  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (5)
 
Scotty-Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Ebay also sells some in great condition for cheap every now and then. My buddy just picked up one from an 02 in new condition for like $40.
Old 05-25-2006, 09:39 AM
  #9  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
 
todddchi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Holy crap that's really bad. If you've never used blackouts before, I'd do some checking when you swap to new lights to make sure you have the correct bulbs back there.

I've seen very small dents develop in lenses w/o blackouts, but nothing like that, not even close.

Might have popped in too hot of a bulb by accident.
Old 05-25-2006, 10:02 AM
  #10  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (13)
 
Mike02Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 1,709
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

I had them on my passenger side taillight and I never had blackouts on my car. Looked almost identical to yours. Maybe the former owner had them on my car and yours but my original owner came back as a 67 year old women so I doubt she would have put blackouts on unless it was used by her grandson or something. Tail light housing are pretty cheap and a snap to replace. Check ebay.
Old 05-25-2006, 11:16 AM
  #11  
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
SS4Luck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sterling Heights, MI
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

yea the guy i bought mine off of was about 35 and i dont think he ever drove this about 3k rpm he loved this car.. it just pisses me off cuz saturday im buying new rims and there goes my money and im only 17 in highschool with no job and money isnt easy to come by... o well gotta start saving
Old 05-25-2006, 11:31 AM
  #12  
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (4)
 
Tudds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

so don't buy rims and stop complaining
Old 05-25-2006, 11:52 AM
  #13  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (2)
 
meissenation's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Macomb Twp, MI
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

I'd just leave it, personally. Its not that noticable except to you and a select few, and most of the FBody friends that would notice it know about the warping as it is.. it's an issue that's been posted on here repeatedly over the past year. Get the rims, worry about the taillights way down the road, it's not a big deal. Hell, slap some covers on them and it'll hide it. They'll make it worse, too, but hey the covers will hide the dent and then a year or so down the road when you are done with the major stuff you can go back and replace the taillights.
Old 05-25-2006, 01:36 PM
  #14  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
 
todddchi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Check the bulbs. There are bulbs that will fit but that have different wattages. To get that bad of a dimple it really seems to me there's a good chance the wrong bulb is in there.

And you can't really expect any sympathy at all being 17, no job, and having an SS.
Old 05-25-2006, 02:25 PM
  #15  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (13)
 
Mike02Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 1,709
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by Tudds
so don't buy rims and stop complaining
Way to be supportive! I bet that helps him out a lot.

Just go to a junkyard. Probably 25-50 bucks for a set. Not going to break the bank on those.
Old 05-25-2006, 07:09 PM
  #16  
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
SS4Luck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sterling Heights, MI
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by todddchi
And you can't really expect any sympathy at all being 17, no job, and having an SS.
haha thats exactly what my dad tells me... im going tomarrow to the dismantler and seeing whats up...
Old 05-25-2006, 10:23 PM
  #17  
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
pcgamer4life's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by todddchi
Check the bulbs. There are bulbs that will fit but that have different wattages. To get that bad of a dimple it really seems to me there's a good chance the wrong bulb is in there.

And you can't really expect any sympathy at all being 17, no job, and having an SS.
Or having a car at all, for that matter..
I've been working since I was 14 (17 now) and I could just barely afford my v6 when I bought it.
Old 05-25-2006, 11:41 PM
  #18  
11 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (10)
 
SS4Luck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sterling Heights, MI
Posts: 2,215
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

i worked for mine, i bought it for 18k with 15k miles on it.. i paid 14 of the 18 worked for 6 years at my friends dealership to get that money plus some bonds and random forms of money... well worth the savings



Quick Reply: "dent" in the taillight



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:33 AM.