Rear light removal

peterweston · Post by **peterweston** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:43

I'm confused, not difficult I know. One half of my rear light cluster lens has decided to part company from the assy and is lying in some ditch somewhere and I have received the a replacement from our good friend Mike @ Lotusbits. Mike says the rear bumper has to be removed to change the light unit but on the Lotus Part manual is states " 1. Remove rear number plate, boot floor, rear lamp covers (inside boot)............" My question, does the lenses detach from the plastic moulding or are they impossible to separate ?

Regards

amarshall · Post by **amarshall** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:47

The lenses are glued to the rest of the lamp assembly and the securing bolts are pretty well hidden between bumper and body.

I think a few on here have had the pleasure of removing the rear bumper to change a lamp unit - it seems to be the only way. (and is the main reason I still haven't done mine - 2 years after I got the replacement...)

The covers in the boot are mainly cosmetic and allow access to the lamp holders.

peterweston · Post by **peterweston** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:37

Thanks Angus. I may take the sort cut and try and remove the section I need from the repalcement and glue it into the exisitng assembly. Bit of a bodge I suppose but the prospect of trying to remove all those bolts Yikes

amarshall · Post by **amarshall** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 12:01

The bumper is pop-riveted...removal is easy - drill 'em out. Refitting builds biceps like Popeye's though...

jimmybondi · Post by **jimmybondi** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 13:08

Peter,

Do a proper job and remove the bumper!
IIRC, the bumper is held in place by 4 large screws and tacked to the body with about a dozen pop rivets from underneath.
Drill out the pop rivets and undo the 4 nuts from the inside of the boot, that's it.
While the bumber is out and half of the lens gone, it might be a good idea to thoroughly clean (and repaint if needed) the reflectors from decades of road dust! It made a hell of a difference on mine

I have replaced the pop rivets with self tapping screws....

mds666 · Post by **mds666** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 21:02

do it right and you will only need to do it onece... while your there drill the drain holes in the right place and fill the old ones...

Sooty · Post by **Sooty** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 07:39

Make sure you remove the spare wheel though! I know through experience whilst drilling out the pop rivets the centre one is directly in line with the tyre. Ouch! Drilled thruogh the tyre side wall

Wayne

Redlotus · Post by **Redlotus** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 13:06

Reading this it now looks like my new rear lights will have an extended self life. I had thought that replacement would be a 5 minute job just like the headlights i replaced recently. Should have know better

You have all now put me off and i will wait until i respray the bumpers as i just can not live with the car being off road in case i want to drive it.

jimmybondi · Post by **jimmybondi** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 13:36

Redlotus wrote:...as i just can not live with the car being off road in case i want to drive it.

Shouldn't take more than one or one and a half hour to remove, change lights and reattach the bumper...or is this still too long?

Redlotus · Post by **Redlotus** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 22:47

Problem is its never one and a half hours. I always find two more jobs while i have bits off and before i know it i have a lot of bits in boxes and no car, either that or depressed at what needs doing. ignorance is bliss sometimes.