Rear Light Panel Swap.

[Steve S.]

Hi Folks,

Just a quickie whilst I await developments(or not) on the thermistor front. I've just swapped my rear light panel for an uncracked one from the scrappy. Unfortunately it came from a "less posh " car and hasn't got the chrome number plate area surround. I've had a look at the original and it looks pretty well fixed. Does anyone know whether it's possible to remove it without damage, or failing that,how much does the O/E version from VW/ Ford cost? Thanks in anticipation.

Steve S.

[Guest BagPuss]

Don't think it is removable, they have a black surround version as well.

 

Thats the one i'm after (chrome) but none of the scrapyards around here have any Gal's ;)

 

Have seen them on ebay but thats not that often and when they are they go for silly money.

 

Can't remember but I seem to have a figure of

[Steve S.]

Hi Bagpuss,

Blimey...

[Guest BagPuss]

Hey Steve,

 

Yep thats the one I'm after but I think its a complete unit, hence the

[Guest BagPuss]

Just emailed the seller to ask about cracks / damage and it got damaged today and is too late to end the auction apparently, so I wont be bidding :rolleyes:

 

Damn!

 

Ouch it went for

[Steve S.]

Dear Bagpuss,

Blimey!!!.....again!

Steve S.

[Ghia-X]

It is possible to remove the chrome trim but you have to be very careful with it .

 

My 98 Ghia X 4x4 had a broken rear panel from a previous owner and I replacd it with an earlier GLX panel without the chrome. (Cost me 25 quid from a local breakers)

 

To remove it use a very sharp knife and slide it between the chrome and the panel . The chrome part is held on with that double sided foam tape , so you can cut through it if you take your time.

 

Once you get all the way around , the chrome should come off and you can clean the rest of the foam tape easily . Be careful not to pull to hard as you ease it off or it will break .

 

When its clean , re-tape the chrome and put it on the car .

[Steve S.]

Dear Ghia-X,

Thanks for that, I wondered what held it on.I'll have a bash at it this afternoon!

Cheers,

Steve S.

[Guest BagPuss]

Right gonna have a word with bloody Ford then, they said it was a complete bloody unit...Arghhhh!!!

 

Therefore having to buy the complete light cluster.

 

:D

[Steve S.]

Job done!!! As Ghia-X said, you just need a sharp knife (Stanley), run it round the o/s of the trim, use your fingers and thumbs to push it away from lens.. a little at a time and off it pops! Used thumb nail and sharp chisel to scrape rest of tape off, clean sticky off with wire wool and petrol. Use proper body shop double sided tape`in the groove where the old stuff came out of...about 1/2 hour.

Bagpuss, if you had an old light unit, I hope you kept it????. Mind you I suppose there's a few cracked ones out there with a decent chrome bit on that you can pick up for a lot less than

[Ghia-X]

Dear Ghia-X,

Thanks for that, I wondered what held it on.I'll have a bash at it this afternoon!

Cheers,

Steve S.

 

No problem , glad to be of help :rolleyes:

 

 

 

Bagpuss Ford are correct , the chrome only comes with the Ghia rear panel , its not available as a seperate part , so if you want chrome it costs you big

[Guest BagPuss]

Bagpuss Ford are correct , the chrome only comes with the Ghia rear panel , its not available as a seperate part , so if you want chrome it costs you big

 

Ah that would explain it then.

 

Just have to keep a look out.

 

Cheers