Yes Pete... thank you...

Then how do you access the reflectors in order to clean them?

On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 6:12 PM Pete Sicilia <pete@coffeepot.org> wrote:

> The parts that diagram references don't seem to match the diagram.
>
> The 251-945-112-A looks like the lens assembly... I could be wrong, but
> I'm not sure that the colored front comes off from the black backing.
>
> https://carparts4sale.com/media/rh-tail-light-lamp-genuine-hella-vw-vanagon-t3-80-91-taillight-251-945-112-cp028599/
>
> The 251-945-258-A part looks like the bulb holder...
>
> https://carparts4sale.com/media/rh-tail-light-lamp-bulb-tray-holder-vw-vanagon-t3-80-91-taillight-251-945-258-cp028601/
>
> On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 5:32 PM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> my problem is to remove the #1 from the #2 on this diagram... uhhh...
>>
>>
>> https://www.vwpartsvortex.com/v-1989-volkswagen-vanagon--syncro--2-1l-h4-gas/electrical--tail-lamps
>>
>> On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 5:19 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Ahhh, previous owner....now that makes sense....well intentioned of
>> > course!  But lens is on the outside, the reflector and bulbs are on the
>> > inside.  Heck....I haven't disassembled mine in 3 years or more, so
>> kind of
>> > foggy on the details, others will chime in.  If original, a
>> no-brainer.  So
>> > there is something funny going on in your situation.
>> >
>> > On Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 05:08:09 PM PST, Dan N <
>> > dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> > Yes... the taillight assembly. There are 2 parts - the black plastic
>> bulb
>> > holder, the colored plastic assembly with the reflector glued to it. I
>> > can't remove the reflector to clean or improve it. It seems to me it's
>> > glued together either by the factory or the previous owner.
>> >
>> > thanks
>> >
>> > On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 4:53 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> > You mean....on the taillight assembly?  These just come apart....like
>> when
>> > replacing bulbs.  I must not be understanding the question.  Helpful
>> hint:
>> > do a thorough job of cleaning light bulb sockets with steel wool; next,
>> > apply a thin coating of Vaseline on both light bulb and socket, this
>> will
>> > prevent corrosion for years to come.  Works every time.
>> >
>> > On Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 04:44:08 PM PST, Dan N <
>> > dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> > sooo I have a question... How do you separate the silver reflector from
>> the
>> > colored lens?
>> >
>> > thanks
>> >
>> > On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 4:26 PM Pete Sicilia <pete@coffeepot.org>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > > Sounds like a great idea. I'll just have to clean off the krazy glue
>> and
>> > > duck tape first 🤣
>> > >
>> > > On Sat, Feb 18, 2023, 4:09 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
>> > > wrote:
>> > >
>> > > >  For repair, you can go a long way with 2 part Epoxy Putty.  Slice
>> off
>> > a
>> > > > hunk, knead it, apply it, form it.  All surfaces super clean with
>> > Rubbing
>> > > > Alcohol before you attempt of course, but you will be surprised by
>> your
>> > > > cleverness and workmanship.  This stuff has abundant uses around
>> > Vanagon.
>> > > > Especially old brittle plastic parts.
>> > > >
>> > > >    On Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 03:59:16 PM PST, Jim Felder <
>> > > > jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > >  I don't remember where, I guess busdepot.com, but I bought brand
>> new
>> > > > replacement lenses a few years back for a reasonable price. If you
>> are
>> > > > trying to replace the molded plastic tray with bulb holders, that
>> might
>> > > be
>> > > > more difficult.
>> > > >
>> > > > Jim
>> > > >
>> > > > On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 5:42 PM Pete Sicilia <pete@coffeepot.org>
>> > wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > > Well I finally finished the aluminum tape around my led backup
>> > bulbs. I
>> > > > had
>> > > > > done one side a few weeks ago and did the other side today.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Everything was easy until the very end today. As it turns out, my
>> > fears
>> > > > > about cracking old plastic were well founded.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > I meticulously cleaned and taped all around the lens housing and
>> > behind
>> > > > the
>> > > > > bulb and as I was giving the entire housing one last cleaning with
>> > > simple
>> > > > > green, the whole thing slipped/shot out of my hands and cracked on
>> > the
>> > > > > pavement... snapping off the retaining tabs.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > I got down on my hands and knees and fished the housing and the
>> > broken
>> > > > > parts out from under my wife's Touareg, cleaned them again and
>> > applied
>> > > > > first krazy glue, then some strategic strips of duck tape for
>> > > > > reinforcement. I waited a few mins, then carefully clipped the
>> light
>> > > > > assembly into the housing and reinstalled everything.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Everything is working for now... but man I sure have a way of
>> > snatching
>> > > > > defeat from the jaws of victory sometimes
>> > > > >
>> > > > > In related news, does anyone have an extra right tail light lens
>> > > assembly
>> > > > > that they'd be willing to part with?
>> > > > >
>> > > > > On Mon, Jan 30, 2023, 8:48 AM Pete Sicilia <pete@coffeepot.org>
>> > wrote:
>> > > > >
>> > > > > > Do you have any particular brand of tape you recommend? Or is
>> > Amazon
>> > > > > > cheapo sufficient?
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > 1PCS Premium Silver Aluminum Tapes (3.9Mils), 2'*65 Feet Foil
>> Tape,
>> > > > Metal
>> > > > > > Insulation Tape, Heavy Duty Duct Tape with Adhesive Backing for
>> Hot
>> > > > Cold
>> > > > > > Air HVAC Ductwork, Dryer Vent, Heat Resistant, Repair
>> > > > > > https://a.co/d/hILxB3m
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > I've never opened up the light casing. Are there any things to
>> look
>> > > out
>> > > > > > for? I'm a little leery of cracking old plastic.
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > Thanks!
>> > > > > > Pete
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > On Thu, Jan 26, 2023, 12:19 PM Jim Arnott <jrasite@eoni.com>
>> > wrote:
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >> Someone asked for pictures so I opened up a tail light.  Delete
>> > the
>> > > > pop
>> > > > > >> bottle. Line the backup light window with alunim air
>> conditioning
>> > > > tape.
>> > > > > >> Install big, bright LED. Put it back together. Might take you
>> an
>> > > hour
>> > > > > >> including the time in the hardware store buying the tape.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Ranks right up there with changing the engine to an I4 as far
>> as
>> > > > > >> improvements go. BIG improvement.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> Jim
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >> > Years ago, I bought a couple 6 LED external light to use as
>> > backup
>> > > > > >> lights. Then I read a post about fixing the existing lights. It
>> > was
>> > > > > fairly
>> > > > > >> simple. I used the below mentioned LEDs and then created a
>> > reflector
>> > > > > using
>> > > > > >> a 16 oz plastic soda bottle lined with aluminum air
>> conditioning
>> > > tape
>> > > > > and
>> > > > > >> fit it into the stock tail light assy. NOW I can see backing
>> up.
>> > > Took
>> > > > > about
>> > > > > >> an hour and worth every second of time invested.
>> > > > > >> >
>> > > > > >> > Jim
>> > > > > >> >
>> > > > > >> >> On Jan 21, 2023, at 9:18 AM, Pete Sicilia <
>> pete@COFFEEPOT.ORG>
>> > > > > wrote:
>> > > > > >> >>
>> > > > > >> >> In related news, I just upgraded my back up lights (1156) to
>> > > > these...
>> > > > > >> >> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H54SP6O
>> > > > > >> >>
>> > > > > >> >> So far so good... although I'm always on the lookout for
>> > brighter
>> > > > > >> options.
>> > > > > >>
>> > > > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>>
>