Rattles and Tails
 

Hey guys, I very recently purchased my first FR-S, and have been following it since the stubby legacy was driven by Subaru. I'm familiar with the foggy tails, and I've seen a thread or two about rattles, but they didn't reach any conclusion.

So, I'm going to post a few videos regarding the tails, and some strange vibrating noise coming from behind the radio.

My question on the tails is, how do they normally break? I don't think mine are normal.

The question on the rattle, is kinda obvious.

I'll be posting another video later with another vibrating noise my car seems to make mostly when driving between 3-5k RPM.

Anyway, here's the videos.

There are some curse words in the videos, if you're watching at work.

https://youtu.be/QhTw7JewNZ4

https://youtu.be/k0zaUFvZkrQ

https://youtu.be/bB1dF3Pir9w

Cooling fan in head unit is shot.

Taillight fasteners may have backed out at first. Gotta peel back the trunk liner.

Link to service manuals in my sig.

So, I already bought a new set of Tom's tail lights, should I just be able to replace them without any problems?

Not necessarily. Depends on what caused/allowed the initial separation. Again, need to pull back the liner and look.

That's how you pull the tail lights, pull the trunk liner back? Cool. I was wondering because of all the leaves and gunk that ends up in there that I don't want blocking the drains.

Ok so, I'll be checking the tails out later this week, as I'm kinda busy.

Anyway, here's the videos on the engine vibration at 3-5k RPM.

https://youtu.be/Wr_YyaBmfuc
https://youtu.be/BnJgf_G8ORY
https://youtu.be/9YRcqwUg7I4

If the condensation is inside your OEM tail-lights, you should be fine to just remove them and install the Tom's without the issue returning.

It seems like the condensation issue was caused by a faulty seal on the light unit itself, so once that unit is removed, the issue should not come back. Tom's seem to be sealed very well and do not have this issue.

I just removed my Tom's yesterday after 3 years on the car to replace with a different set, and I had zero condensation issues with them.

The tail-light swap takes all of 20 minutes max. Peel the carpet back, remove four 8mm bolts, detach harness, and remove the light. Do the reverse to install, and you're done. Takes no time at all.

With the Tom's, you have to replace the relay too, with the one supplied with your Tom's, but that doesn't take long either (it's near the fuse panel under the dash).

Good luck!

Ok so I peeled back everything, and I didn't really find anything worth noting, but I installed the tails, and I gotta say it looks amazing.

Almost happy the stock ones broke tbh.

Only PITA as I've seen on the forums was the relay mount, but after enough persuasion it decided it was time to go.

Love these tails.