Tail light screwed up

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Neb1373

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So I installed a hitch/wiring this week, had to remove the tail lights of corse. The driver side didn't want to come out and I broke the top tab. Big whoop. Everything worked on the plug and on the jeep tail lights when I tested it all out. Went to pick up a trailer today and my left brake light was out on the jeep??? When I jarred out the tail light a semicircle piece of plastic in the tail light housing had come loose and was resting on the bulb itself and popped the bulb. Does the back of the taillight come off? The large gray piece that holds the sockets? Will I be ok removing this 1/2 melted piece? Why the hell was it in there in the first place?
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Marlon_JB2

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This is a common KJ problem. Sadly I have NO clue how to fix it, but here's what we did on the '05 KJ, took the bulb out, then siliconed the top of the semicircle piece of plastic, then stuck it to the tail light lens, let it sit for a little bit, that stopped the piece of plastic from falling on the bulb, blowing it out. :)

It has worked for dang near 2 years now.

Basically you are using silicone to stick the piece of plastic to the lens.
 

Ken

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Same thing happened to me on my 05 I am going to try and reach in there with some pliers and see if I can remove the plastic piece maybe bust it up in small enough pieces to remove it .
 

Neb1373

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I'm gonna try the same. And might as well do both sides while I'm At it. You will probably have to use some metal scissors or wire cutters to get it cut up which is always fun. I did something similar on my miata.
 

Neb1373

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On my miata I took out the amber housing in the headlights and I probably did screw up the hole but they were 1157 sockets which are not real picky so everything went back together just fine.. I wish the large plastic socket housing could pop off or something. Maybe in the oven? I don't know. I got some led bulbs for now so I can still drive it and not worry about the tail light catching fire or anything.
 

Neb1373

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Ok. Led isn't working. Led is larger than the hole and will not fit. Baking time :).
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theroofable

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I had this problem and it took me 35 minutes of snipping to remove it. Not sure what the purpose of having them in there is, but it is a very very hard plastic. Hard to cut since the hole is so small, good luck!
 

Ken

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Me again Just did mine yesterday and I used a small cheap pencil type soldering iron and reached in and melted the plastic into small enough pieces to get out the hole. That said be careful that you do not melt a hole through the lens .
Worked great .
 

Neb1373

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Hmmm. That sounds like a good idea. Not real stressful on the hand. I may have to invest in one so I dont use my dads for melting a bunch of plastic. Thanks a lot for the idea. Although it may sit with the white spot and the led for right now until I get the time to get around to it.
 

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