solution to the ugly taillights

[beirouty]

i understand if you like it but lets say you dont, what can you do to make them better ?

change them ? or paint them ?

and is painting them legal ? ( sorry for the question but i never done it )

[switchlanez]

Wait for the kouki (mid-generation refresh/facelift) version for revised tail lights. Toyota does it on every car they make.

[mockngbrd]

i much preferred this ass



but the only solution i can think of is to remove the clear covers and spray all the chrome bits to a flat black

[Mari0]

Originally Posted by mockngbrd

but the only solution i can think of is to remove the clear covers and spray all the chrome bits to a flat black

You can actually just spray paint the tails from the outside in red, like so:

FROM:

TO:

(not my car)

That's what I'll be doing...

Edit: As far as legality goes, pretty sure you can have all red tail lights in America. I've seen plenty of Acuras with them and I know unlike Europe, you can have red blinkers in the back.

[blacknbean]

ez fix



http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2366

[iff2mastamatt]

If I get one in white, I might leave the tail lights as is. However, I would like to smoke them out if I did it legally.

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by beirouty

i understand if you like it but lets say you dont, what can you do to make them better ?

change them ? or paint them ?

and is painting them legal ? ( sorry for the question but i never done it )

You are in the UAE so you would need to check your countries rules and regulations. Here in the USA, such laws vary from state to state.

[Longhorn248]

I'm going to decide between three options:

1. Smoke tails
2. Paint chrome bezels black
3. Paint inside of lenses with clear red

If the US version shows up with red tails then I'll probably just leave them for a while.

[Guff]

Don't you need to bake the tails to take them apart? I know you have to for some headlights (I've only done it on a Supra), and it's kind of a pain in the ass because you have to re-silicone the whole thing and it can get messy.

[Longhorn248]

Originally Posted by Guff

Don't you need to bake the tails to take them apart? I know you have to for some headlights (I've only done it on a Supra), and it's kind of a pain in the ass because you have to re-silicone the whole thing and it can get messy.

Either bake, or use a heat gun around the edges (I prefer this method, less chance of melting the housing). If you only do it once you shouldn't need to replace the sealant since you can just remelt it and push the housing back together. If you end up doing it multiple times it may be a good idea to purchase new sealant and replace it.

[xc]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

Wait for the kouki (mid-generation refresh/facelift) version for revised tail lights. Toyota does it on every car they make.

He's right, i would wait till the next year to wait for toyota to make more changes. but if i get as soon as it comes out I'm tinting the taillights

oh i also don't like the signal lights next to the fog lights

[Dark]

You can just do sticker work, so you won't mess up the taillight.

[RRnold]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

Wait for the kouki (mid-generation refresh/facelift) version for revised tail lights. Toyota does it on every car they make.

That's what I'm waiting for. I don't plan to buy the first year b/c I know a couple yrs later they'll make some small suttle refinements.

Originally Posted by Mari0

You can actually just spray paint the tails from the outside in red, like so:

FROM:

TO:

(not my car)

That's what I'll be doing...

Edit: As far as legality goes, pretty sure you can have all red tail lights in America. I've seen plenty of Acuras with them and I know unlike Europe, you can have red blinkers in the back.

I would be careful with spraying the outside. In the other thread, I mentioned using Testors transparent candy apple red and that is what most folks use to match the red lenses but unless you clear coat them, the paint will weather quickly.

It will match but I recommend cracking them open and painting the inside of the lense rather than the outside.

In the US, it's mandatory to have a clear reverse light and red brake lights. Turn signals can be either amber or red.

[Longhorn248]

Originally Posted by RRnold

That's what I'm waiting for. I don't plan to buy the first year b/c I know a couple yrs later they'll make some small suttle refinements,

For any product out there you can always sit and wait for something better down the road.

[RRnold]

Originally Posted by Longhorn248

For any product out there you can always sit and wait for something better down the road.

True but with Toyota, it's what they do in between is what I'll wait for.

Case in point, look at the current Tacoma. I have the 05 (1st year released) and in 08/09 they changed it with the blacked out headlights and LED taillights and offered some of the stuff standard that were options when I bought mine. Now in 2012, they completely changed the front bumper and the interior got some small but nice changes.

[Mari0]

Originally Posted by RRnold

That's what I'm waiting for. I don't plan to buy the first year b/c I know a couple yrs later they'll make some small suttle refinements.



I would be careful with spraying the outside. In the other thread, I mentioned using Testors transparent candy apple red and that is what most folks use to match the red lenses but unless you clear coat them, the paint will weather quickly.

It will match but I recommend cracking them open and painting the inside of the lense rather than the outside.

In the US, it's mandatory to have a clear reverse light and red brake lights. Turn signals can be either amber or red.

Thanks. I might just do that. As far as painting them on the inside, is it the same process with the sanding, the paint and the clear coating? Or?

Also, aren't the reverse lights on the FR-S at the bottom of the bumper (not on the tail light), so it wouldn't be illegal if you paint them since only the lights, brakes and blinkers are in that housing? I don't know. I could be totally off.

[5oo]

I think a red-out style vinyl overlay would be the easiest solution. Fairly easy to install/uninstall without having to crack open the taillight. Cheap too, they're usually <$50.



Check out all of his work. http://s2.photobucket.com/profile/BlueBatmobile2005

[Longhorn248]

Originally Posted by Mari0

Thanks. I might just do that. As far as painting them on the inside, is it the same process with the sanding, the paint and the clear coating? Or?

Also, aren't the reverse lights on the FR-S at the bottom of the bumper (not on the tail light), so it wouldn't be illegal if you paint them since only the lights, brakes and blinkers are in that housing? I don't know. I could be totally off.

Since the paint is on the inside of the housing it's not exposed to the elements and you won't see the surface finish so you wouldn't necessarily have to sand and clear coat.

[Snoopyalien24]

I want these kind of results

Blacked out



Red

[Aki]

Here's smoking only the chrome portion:

[BootpTraphik]

Depending on how the tail lights are assembled, it may be easy or hard.

For example, many people are getting into blacking out the chrome parts in the tails of the Genesis. Unfortunately you cannot bake the tails, you literally have to cut or dremel around the housing from the back to crack them open. Then you have to paint, then reseal and let cure. The Toyota's tail lights might be easier, but who knows.

There are a few options I see for the FT-86. You could crack them open, by whatever means, and paint the bezels and accents whatever colour you desire.

You could use something like VHT Nite Shades to spray tint the tails to your desired colour and transparency. The VHT coat is applied externally, so no need to crack or "bake" them open.

The other option is to use a Lamin X or equivalent tint film and tint them out to whatever level/shade you want.

In my case, I would crack the tails on my car open, but it is a lot of work. I have been considering just getting some tint film and doing it that way. Remember to know your local laws for tail light modifications and tint limits.

[Snoopyalien24]

Originally Posted by Aki

Here's smoking only the chrome portion:

ooooOOOO