Rear Center Taillight

[JW]

I am contemplating on changing out my rear center taillight and was wondering if you need to change the gasket for the center only(if this is possible) or if you have to replace the gaskets for all the lights at the same time? I am not sure if they are each individual or come as one piece. SOS has the set of gaskets, but this is where the question comes in, do I need to change all the gaskets just to change the center light? The car is a 91, so I would assume that it would be somewhat brittle with age, so this is what brings me to this question.

Joe

91 NSX Re/Black
09 VW Jetta TDI White

 

[Tangoman]

I am contemplating on changing out my rear center taillight and was wondering if you need to change the gasket for the center only(if this is possible) or if you have to replace the gaskets for all the lights at the same time? I am not sure if they are each individual or come as one piece. SOS has the set of gaskets, but this is where the question comes in, do I need to change all the gaskets just to change the center light? The car is a 91, so I would assume that it would be somewhat brittle with age, so this is what brings me to this question.

Joe

91 NSX Re/Black
09 VW Jetta TDI White

The center taillight does not have a gasket because its sealed. It comes out by removing 4 nuts and you are good to go. You can leave the other two lights in if you want to.

 

[JW]

Thanks, Tangoman. That will definitely make the job pretty easy and alot cheaper without having to purchase the gaskets.

Joe

91 NSX Red/Black
09 VW Jetta TDI White

 

[Tangoman]

No problem - just make sure when you tighten those nuts down that you stop at snug. There are no gaskets to compress so it will snug up quickly and if you overdue it you'll pull the studs right out.

 

[JW]

No problem - just make sure when you tighten those nuts down that you stop at snug. There are no gaskets to compress so it will snug up quickly and if you overdue it you'll pull the studs right out.

Thanks once again for that important piece of information, as it is another cost saver for an inexperienced do it yourselfer like myself. This site still impresses the hell out of me with all the knowledge and helpful tips that are passed around!

91 NSX Red/Black
09 VW Jetta TDI White

 

[JW]

Well I got my center tail lens and I go to put it in and cannot figure out how to remove the four little pins with the phillips heads. I did a search on wiki and the guy said to unscrew the four phillips screws. Well, I tried and they just turn and they don't become loose. I do know how to use a screw driver(righty tighty, lefty loosey), yah you know. I even tried prying behind the little plastic plate that the screw holds down. Starting to feel dumber by the moment. I know that I failed rocket science in school, but gawddd!

91 NSX Red/Black
09 VW Jetta TDI White

 

[Tangoman]

Well I got my center tail lens and I go to put it in and cannot figure out how to remove the four little pins with the phillips heads. I did a search on wiki and the guy said to unscrew the four phillips screws. Well, I tried and they just turn and they don't become loose. I do know how to use a screw driver(righty tighty, lefty loosey), yah you know. I even tried prying behind the little plastic plate that the screw holds down. Starting to feel dumber by the moment. I know that I failed rocket science in school, but gawddd!

91 NSX Red/Black
09 VW Jetta TDI White

Take a picture and post. If you are swapping out the entire assembly there should only be 4 studs that stick out of the back.

 

[JW]

I did finally get the little clips out. I bought one of those fork panel remover tools and got in behind each one of those little clips and pryed them out. I kinda butchered one of them but they should be easy to replace. The rest was very easy, and I did not over tighten the nuts. I just could't believe those clips though.

91 NSX Red/Black
09 VW Jetta TDI White

 

[Tangoman]

Oh you were referring to the actual clips that hold the carpet in. Yes the previous owner broke those on my car before I got to them

 

[JW]

Oh you were referring to the actual clips that hold the carpet in. Yes the previous owner broke those on my car before I got to them

Would you or any one else know the part number for those clips or a similar clip that would also work and or where to purchase? 3 of the clips were ok to put back in, but even then I would replace those.

Thanks!

91 NSX Red/Black
09 VW Jetta TDI White

 

[Tangoman]

If you go to oemacuraparts.com and look up the taillight I'm sure there is a digram that will show you that part number

 

[Jean Girard]

You can just go to the local auto parts store and eyeball a body peg that'll work. Unless you're doing some kind of super anal concours build I can't imagine you NEEDING to go to the dealer for this.

 

[RJD1022]

I think this is what you are looking for.

 

[JW]

Yeah! Those are the one's. Thanks, now I will see if someone has replacements for those as they are probaly 2 arms and a half a dozen legs for each one from the dealer. lol


91 NSX Red/Black
09 VW Jetta TDI White

 

[RJD1022]

They are about $3 each from the dealer.

 

[funnieguy]

I just bought some from Autozone. They're just little clips that hold the carpet in place and unless you're anal about being OEM specific, the Autozone pieces are just fine and much cheaper. I think like $5-6 for like 10 of them.

 

[JW]

I just bought some from Autozone. They're just little clips that hold the carpet in place and unless you're anal about being OEM specific, the Autozone pieces are just fine and much cheaper. I think like $5-6 for like 10 of them.

If they are $3 each from the dealer, I will definitely be buying after market for $5 or $6 for 10 and if I ever decide to sell or just change back to the original center tail lens, I will have brand new clips to do it with. Thanks guys!


91 NSX Red/Black
09 VW Jetta TDI White