Broken Tail Light - Any Suggestions

Thunderballs

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Sep 18, 2002
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So I am walking back to my car in the mall and I notice that some douchebag hit me from behind and cracked my tail light I guess while he was parking. It must have been an SUV, van or pickup since the car that was actually parked there was not even close to being able to do the damage in terms of lining up right. Anyways, I called the dealer and its about $200. I went on ebay and it is only $81 U.S. with reasonable shipping charges. However I imagine that duty and GST will apply. Can anyone suggest a convenient source for a new light. It is just the lense that is cracked and nothing else appears to be damaged.
 

papasmerf

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Oct 22, 2002
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42.55.65N 78.43.73W
junk yard
 

tboy

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Aug 18, 2001
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way out in left field
and I bet there won't be duty on the part from the US unless it is shipped via UPS. If they ship it via USPS there might not be any tax on it either.....
 

friendsonfire

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Sep 11, 2009
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All good advice to date. Now for a comical question, I hope. Having no other damage is a little suspcious. Do you have a wife or SO who might have reason to follow you? You know, the old trick of cracking a tail light so it shows white and can be discreetly followed at a distance. I know what you're thinking but just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after me...lol.
 

catchin_zzz

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Jul 28, 2009
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check out the auto wreckers. one of the biggest in Toronto is Standard auto Wreckers.

http://www.standardautowreckers.com
I've used this place in the past. I had a check engine light that came on and a code reader I used suggested a few causes of the problem one of which was a faulty sensor. I bought a used emission sensors for well below the cost of the the new part at the dealership but when I replaced the part, the problem persisted. I assumed that it was something else down the line that was causing the problem because believing that the sensor I was sold was good. I spent a few more dollars replacing some parts with new parts I bought from the dealer and still problems persisted. I finally caved in and bought a new emissions sensor from the dealer and to replace the one I bought from Standard Auto Wreckers and it did the trick. The bottom line is that they sold me a faulty sensor and I think I ended up replacing a few more parts than I actually should have because of it. Buyer beware I guess. In the OP's case I don't think they would sell you a faulty light but just make sure you have them test it out for you first.
 

oldjones

CanBarelyRe Member
Aug 18, 2001
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If, as you said, it really is just cracked but the lens itself is whole, park the car in a heated space (or remove the lens and take it indoors) and use glue. Anything from cyanoacrylate to airplane glue as long as it's for plastic and cures transparent. You could even use clear tape inside the lens if ir's off. It's a taillight, not a holy relic. As long as it does the job, what more do you need from a tool?
 
I hate it when this happens! Has happened to me 3 times since I got my new truck 20 months ago!

  • 1st time was at a Christmas Party- it was slippery and since we got to the party late- aI had to park on the street. Came out from the party and some one had scraped my back bumper.
  • 2nd time I was in the beer store- came out- I had a matching scrape on the other side of the back bumper.
  • 3rd time was last week... I was in Home Depot parking lot- I came out and some dick head gave me a 3rd scrape right on the corner of my back bumper! It was obvious they just backed into me!
Fortunately aside from a scrape to the paint... there was very little damage, but still... Pisses me off the people do this and just drive away.
 

tboy

resident smartass
Aug 18, 2001
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truck????

besides that, that's what bumpers are for CG. Back in the day they were heavy chrome steel monoliths that could take a pounding and any scrapes could be polished out. Somewhere along the way the designers forgot this and made them integral to the body and therefore, more fragile.

I saw a UL program on testing of many vehicles and a xxxx was the worst. It sustained $12,000.00 damage on a 5 mph "bump". The best? Pontiac Grand Am......

OJ has a good point: CA glue would work and remain transparent. Get the water thin stuff not the gel. Just be stingy with it, you don't want it running all over the place and blurring the lens.....
 

james t kirk

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2001
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All good advice to date. Now for a comical question, I hope. Having no other damage is a little suspcious. Do you have a wife or SO who might have reason to follow you? You know, the old trick of cracking a tail light so it shows white and can be discreetly followed at a distance. I know what you're thinking but just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after me...lol.
I was thinking the EXACT same thing.

I read about this trick years ago in my mom's Chatelaine magazine. They wrote an entire article about how to catch a cheating husband and this was one of the suggestions.
 

red

you must be fk'n kid'g me
Nov 13, 2001
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So I am walking back to my car in the mall and I notice that some douchebag hit me from behind and cracked my tail light I guess while he was parking. It must have been an SUV, van or pickup since the car that was actually parked there was not even close to being able to do the damage in terms of lining up right. Anyways, I called the dealer and its about $200. I went on ebay and it is only $81 U.S. with reasonable shipping charges. However I imagine that duty and GST will apply. Can anyone suggest a convenient source for a new light. It is just the lense that is cracked and nothing else appears to be damaged.
step 1 go to a mall- look for the same model and make as your car.

Step 2 check to see if coast is clear

step 3 remove brake light from other car

step 4 head for home
 

onehunglow

Active member
Sep 13, 2007
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Same happened to me. Dealer wanted $225 and standard gave it to me for $85. Go to their site and search out the part and get a price
 

tboy

resident smartass
Aug 18, 2001
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way out in left field
step 1 go to a mall- look for the same model and make as your car.

Step 2 check to see if coast is clear

step 3 remove brake light from other car

step 4 head for home
so, in other words, be a thief and pass along your misfortune to someone else?
 

oldjones

CanBarelyRe Member
Aug 18, 2001
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No. That would only be if he said 'Step 4. Leave them the broken taillight'.
 

tboy

resident smartass
Aug 18, 2001
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No. That would only be if he said '4. Leave them the broken taillight'.
lol that would be so bad it's funny.......if someone did that to me, first I'd be pissed but after I cooled down I'd have to laugh.
 

landscaper

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Feb 28, 2007
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step 1 go to a mall- look for the same model and make as your car.

Step 2 check to see if coast is clear

step 3 remove brake light from other car

step 4 head for home
An ambitious program and it would have worked up to the late 70's, everything since has the bolts on the inside,,

so make sure that you take a crowbar to open the trunck with.....:cool:
 
Ashley Madison
Toronto Escorts