Replace tail light lens only

RACHEL LEATHERMAN

MEMBER
1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
225,000 MILES

How is it done? I do not need to replace whole unit, just the lens. I cannot get the lens to un-clip off of main part.

Thursday, August 31st, 2017 AT 4:57 PM

5 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,014 POSTS

If you are trying to remove just the red outer lens from the unit that holds the bulbs you cannot. They are fused together into one piece.
The rear circuit board can be removed and its gasket (item 6) but the rest (3) is one piece and replaced as such.

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Thursday, August 31st, 2017 AT 5:31 PM

RACHEL LEATHERMAN

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Eagle eyes GM080-L000L GMC driver side rear lamp lens. Here is the lens we received. How could we buy a lens only, if it does not come apart for the body of the light? There is a gasket in between the two. It looks like the lens clicks into the body of the light. Appreciate your response. Do you have another suggestion?

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Thursday, August 31st, 2017 AT 5:46 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,014 POSTS

The OEM taillight is not designed to come apart. The lens is bonded to the reflector assembly. The clips hold the lens on while the sealant cures. The only way they would come apart would be to cut through at the sealer and try not to damage the reflector assembly. Prying will break the reflector. Not something a shop will waste time on, the lens is about $20.00 and a complete lamp is about $25.00 so wasting a couple hours changing just the lens when water has probably damaged the reflector already just does not work out.

Good luck with it. Personally I would just replace the lamp assembly.

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Thursday, August 31st, 2017 AT 8:06 PM

RACHEL LEATHERMAN

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks for your response and advice. We might give up and order the complete like you said. Thanks again.

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Friday, September 1st, 2017 AT 7:42 AM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,014 POSTS

The only way I have ever cut apart an OEM was using a dremel tool with a small wheel. That was to use a section of a lens for something else. 99% of the time it is cheaper overall to just buy the replacement lamp. These days you can opt for a replacement with LED's in them and not worry about a blown bulb.