Exterior trim advice anyone

"R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet" (r-saldana)
06/12/2015 at 13:30 • Filed to: None

My side indicators, due to age of the plastic or whatever no longer willingly stay in their cutouts in my front fenders. I have wrapped them in electric tape around the edge that mates with the fender, but they still pop out pretty much everyday. Any advice on how to keep them in the fender permanently? Note the connections are fine and the signal operates well, it just seems that the fender may be recieving too much airflow and the indicators blow out of the fender and dangle by the connector.

DISCUSSION (26)

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 13:37

What type of vehicle? Maybe you could try a dab of silicone to adhere the reflector to the bumper better? Or, you could put a little dab in front of the reflector so it give a little lip that the reflector can't pop out of?

Patrick Nichols > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 13:39

I feel like this is the automotive equivalent of walking around with your pockets inside out

Patrick Nichols > Patrick Nichols
06/12/2015 at 13:39

but sorry no advice

yamahog > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 13:43

What car and what were the OEM fasteners? Snap fit or some sort of replaceable clips?

deekster_caddy > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 13:47

Pics?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > yamahog
06/12/2015 at 13:51

Kinja'd!!!

I believe this is what we’re dealing with. Disco. Just kind of pops in with a nub on the housing.

Kinja'd!!!

Sadly, knowing what the problem is doesn’t really help much.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > yamahog
06/12/2015 at 13:54

Driver side still has its clips (they are part of the plastic backing that holds the bulb, reflector, and board) but they are pretty worn out. I had previously taped them around the edge to created a little larger diameter, but mi esposa in her infinite wisdom tore of the tape because one time after I made this change they fell out again, and she broke the clips on the passenger side indicator.

Kinja'd!!!

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > deekster_caddy
06/12/2015 at 13:54

In my reply to hog, I posted some pics from ebay.

deekster_caddy > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 13:58

If I’m seeing this right, the end of the housing hooks into a recess in the body somehow, and the other end pops in and it’s all held in place by friction? Pics of the metal where it’s supposed to go in? Maybe something’s been bent and needs to be bent back...

NoneOfYourBiz > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 14:00

Your side marker lights?

Yep, sure do have a trick for these.

In the flange/cut-out these press in to, put in a very small button head screw. It should act as a “catch” depending on how your position lights are interface with the cutout.

You may have to experiment with where the screw goes, or make a small divot in the light fixture itself for the screw to “click” in to.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > deekster_caddy
06/12/2015 at 14:02

To my knowledge there was never any metal, and I will boot up my RAVE manual to verify in a moment.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > NoneOfYourBiz
06/12/2015 at 14:03

Do you by chance have any images of this fix? This iswhat they look like out of the car.

Kinja'd!!!

deekster_caddy > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 14:04

what kind of vehicle? More pics would help.

yamahog > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
06/12/2015 at 14:06

Really, no serviceable clips, LR? Booo.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > yamahog
06/12/2015 at 14:07

“You’ll replace the whole cheap shitty plastic housing and like it!” - Lucas

NoneOfYourBiz > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 14:11

Kinja'd!!!

THIS. This “lip” or “flange” contacts part of the body of your car. What I’m saying is you can add a tiny screw to this (or the corresponding body section) and a small “divot” in the opposing part so they have a more positive lock.

If the body panel it clips in to is small enough, you don’t even need the divot; the screw will act as sort of a clip on its own. Add another on the exact opposite side of the marker light to secure from both top and bottom.

So, in this photo, you’d have one at the 12 o’clock, another at 6 o’clock. (image upload error or I’d show you what I mean with a poorly made MS Paint drawing)

Kinja'd!!!

You’re just going to press this back in place; the added friction from the screws against the bodywork will likely be enough to keep it in.

While you’ve got these out: replace the bulbs with high power, 360-degree, LED bulbs. You’ll never ever need to open this up again for a burnt out bulb.

yamahog > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 14:11

If the mating slot on the fender is still intact, I would hit up eBay for a new indicator.

If not, time to get crafty... If it’s rear loaded maybe fab up a flange on the indicator and use some gorilla tape or epoxy to the b side of the fender? Still kind of crappy but beats electrical tape.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > NoneOfYourBiz
06/12/2015 at 14:15

Would I need to remove the fender for that?

any way you could maybe put a dot or circle on the area where I should put said screw?

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > yamahog
06/12/2015 at 14:17

Yeah the electical tape I just wrapped around the edge to create a few more millimeters of surface for traction on the clips

NoneOfYourBiz > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 14:18

See modified reply above.

BTW: this happens to the marker light assemblies on just about every car I’ve ever seen. The plastic gets brittle over time, a retainer clip cracks and they don’t want to stay in without modification or replacement.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
06/12/2015 at 14:18

I am not convinced that a brand new set would actually even hold or last very long, this all points back to me buying all new exterior trim and 3M wrapping it so it stays in good shape for life.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > NoneOfYourBiz
06/12/2015 at 14:23

Dudimous, seriously thanksamous. Would you care to receive an epic gif dump? Or any corresponding specific gif of your choosing. I have many very high wuality F1 gifs from r\forumla1

BlurpleToyotaDishwasher > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 14:27

A bit of double sided tape around the rim of it helps a little, but isn’t waterproof. To be honest, it’s probably easier to just get some aftermarket replacement ones.

Official ones look pretty steeply priced compared to the earlier parts-bin ones, but there’s a bunch on ebay for not much.

NoneOfYourBiz > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 14:29

LOL! Just take pics of the process of fixing this (step by step) and post it up on Oppo’ for everyone. ;)

Careful when pre-drilling (use a Dremel if you’ve got one) so you don’t put cracks in the plastic. Screw doesn’t need to be tight going it; you can use plastic cement to keep it from backing out. You just need the head sticking up to act as a retainer.

BlurpleToyotaDishwasher > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 14:33

I had a similar problem years back on my 214 (same parts bin one as the earlier Discoveries, similar clips), in the end I just replaced the thing and it was fine for the rest of the time I had the car.

boxrocket > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
06/12/2015 at 18:10

Either get a replacement, or use a silicone-based adhesive (so that it’s clear, stays affixed, yet flexible enough to flex with the body). RTV, generic "glue-all", etc. Get a mid-grade brand, not too cheap, not top expensive.