Tail Light lens repair

[Mattel]

OK, after it taking me 6 months of half hearted searching I got a replacement tail light at a wreckers and replaced the one I had smashed by dropped a tabletop on the red part of the lens. All good and dandy but unfortunately Ms Mattel isn't feeling very well and lazily backs my car into her pushbike and smashes the amber turn indicator on the replacement lamp. ooops...

So, I have 2 broken lights. but one has a good amber and the other a good red. should be easy to take the lens off one base plate and place it on the other to make one good light you think? But I don't seem to be able to get the lenses off the black base plate, in the photo above of the back of the lamp I have attempted to drill out the two mouldings that come through the black backing plate from the front lens piece. This has had no effect at all. These units are obviously made in separate parts but don't seem to pull apart, the retaining bolts that you see are embedded into the plastic.

Is this unit sealed by heat? has anyone managed to get the lenses off the base plate? or is there a tool I need? perhaps I can neatly cut this lens off? would I need a dremel? or is there an easier option? I have a drill, hand tools and 2 hands.

cheers mates!

[terkill]

haha its Sabotage! shes trying to get rid of it!

just kidding-
my experience with dremels have gone haywire and leave a bit of a mess, I would keep that as a last resort.
when I get home, Ill take mine off and take a look at it and see if its the same way, its probably machine pressed and the lips are bent over, from looking at the picture

-oh and damn your lucky, the hasn't been a recorded 4wd tercel in a connecticut junkyard in 5 months, that one was totaled beyond any noticeable recognition, too..

[Petros]

I am pretty sure the parts are melted or bonded together and are not supposed to come apart for field repairs. The whole thing gets replaced as a unit. That does not mean you can not cut them apart and bond the good parts back together, but it will take some effort, and you might damage them both in the process. Of course, they are already damaged anyway, so you have nothing to lose.

I would try it, but I think something that makes a strait cut (rather than the dremel tool) would be better. I have not had good luck with a dremel because it is too hard to control for precision cuts.

Good luck

[Mattel]

Thanks guys, these lights are so heavy and well made - Do you have an idea of what tool I may use to cut the face of the lens off?

[Petros]

Table saw? Band saw? Something with a table so you can hold and brace the light steady to make a clean strait cut. You might consider cutting some blocks of wood to make a jig to hold it steady when you cut it. That is what I would try.

[Mattel]

Thanks Petros for your help. I was thinking that may be the way to go. I might borrow a jigsaw and try (all I can get my hands on). If not - ebay aus has one for sale for $22 currently which is a good fall back plan - and it's Ms Mattel's birthday next week .