It pains me to admit it, but yesterday was one @!#$ up after another while I was trying to black out the rear reflector and tails on my car. I'm making this a pictureless post because its pretty embarrassing how bad it looks. Instead, I'll give you the run down:

- Removed tails and reflector, sanded, cleaned and taped over the circles that stick out in the '03-'05 models
- Did multiple coats of Rustoleum lens tint (AZ didnt have any more VHT, figured Rustoleum was the same, boy was I wrong)
- Heres where things started going to hell. Yesterday was kind of windy, so of course a big wad of what looked like dryer lint landed and stuck to my reflector while drying. No matter what I did, it was still impossible to cover up. Also, the tails seemed to not get enough tint, so one side has all kinds of light coming through in spots. Also, the paint was still sticky even after it was allowed to dry for as long as it said on the can. This added blurry fingerprints to an already craptastic tint job.

Needless to say, it looks BAD. Real BAD. I've decided that Im not going to use lens tint to completely black the thing out, just going to use paint and clear, keeping the circles covered. My question is, what is safe to use on the plastic? I was just going to use paint thinner to get the horrible tint @!#$ off (the rubbery consistency of it makes it a PITA to work with). Is that safe to use on plastic? Please help me out here because it looks terrible, and I need to fix it ASAP.

sorry cant help but i also used rustloleum and it looked horrible im just gonna go to the yard and pick up new lights

03cav83 wrote:sorry cant help but i also used rustloleum and it looked horrible im just gonna go to the yard and pick up new lights

np, im in the process of sanding the old @!#$ off and im gonna use black primer instead. already looks loads better, ill post pics soon.

Ryan, sanding it off is your best bet...you could use a little acetone to soften the tint, but you'll still be sanding afterwards anyway as the acetone will leave a haze.

If you're going to prime/paint them, I also recommend stopping by your local auto body supply shop and grabbing a can of adhesion promoter. It comes in aerosol, usually about $10, SEM and Bulldog both make reliable products. What it does is temporarily soften up the surface of the plastic so your paint has something to bite and hold to. I regular use this for painting plastic bumpers.

Here's what I would do:
1. Wet sand lights up to about 600grit. clean well with soap water.
2. Wipe off with rubbing alcohol (or prep solv if you have some)
3. Apply adhesion promoter. Spray 1 light coat. Let sit for 5 min. Now spray an even wet coat. Let sit between 15-30 min. You must apply primer by the 30 min, or let it totally dry and start over.
3. Apply primer (I would use a high build to cover any sanding scratches).
Now I'm assuming you want a nice glossy look? If so, wet sanding will be key...
4. After the primer is fully dry, wet sand up to 600 grit.
5. Wash and wipe down with alcohol again.
6. Paint. Use nice even THIN coats. Paint that is layed up thickly doesn't sand very nicely.
7. Once the paint is nice and hard (I would let it sit overnight if possible, wet sand...start with 400, and work up to about 800.
8. Wash, dry, then apply clear coat in the same manner as the paint.
9. Dry over night, wet sand, I'd start right at 600, then 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000.
When they are all done, I like polish them a bit, Meguirers makes a nice plastic polish that will really bring out the shine. Lastly, wax them.

Hope that helps man. Take your time on them, that's they key.

After much toiling in the garage, I got it looking decent. Far from professional work, but I have the look I was going for, sort of like a cobalt. Tomorrow will come several coats of compound and a coat of wax to hopefully hide some of the imperfections. Thanks for the advice Matt, I'll definitely do it that way if and when i come across another set of tails, or better yet, a '00-'02 trunk lid. I know the pic is kind of bad, but I decided to throw the bowtie back on, painted the same color as the wheels and the lettering in the bumper.


Morals of this story:

1. VHT > Rustoleum
2. cheap plastic nuts and cheaper red plastic bolts dont like being removed and put back on multiple times
3. Never attempt exterior work without someone who knows what they are doing. I have to laugh at myself; I wouldnt last a day in a body shop.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Friday, August 27, 2010 3:02 PM

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they came out looking nice

Yeah man, they look good. I would say get some clear on them, but other then that, I likie. I would also say next time any kind of paint comes out bad on lights and you need to take them off, Go and get urself a 3M headlight restore kit. I used that on some 95099 Z24 headlights and foglights (fog lights completely painted over 100% white) and it not only took the paint off no problem, it didnt damage the lights, and made them look better then brand new. I would have done that, but it looks like you did a good job. Dont beat yourself up over it too much. We all do things that we mess up (trust me, it took me 4 tries and 2 new door panels in my 02 for my interior) to get it right. I wasnt proud, but It was a learning experience and I know what to do and not to do now. Now you know what not to do next time you try it or have a friend want you to do it for them. Good job man, and good job on fixing them.

Cavaclysmic wrote:After much toiling in the garage, I got it looking decent. Far from professional work, but I have the look I was going for, sort of like a cobalt. Tomorrow will come several coats of compound and a coat of wax to hopefully hide some of the imperfections. Thanks for the advice Matt, I'll definitely do it that way if and when i come across another set of tails, or better yet, a '00-'02 trunk lid. I know the pic is kind of bad, but I decided to throw the bowtie back on, painted the same color as the wheels and the lettering in the bumper.


Morals of this story:

1. VHT > Rustoleum
2. cheap plastic nuts and cheaper red plastic bolts dont like being removed and put back on multiple times
3. Never attempt exterior work without someone who knows what they are doing. I have to laugh at myself; I wouldnt last a day in a body shop.

I have still have a center light bar and passenger side tail light if you want them (if you stay with the 03-05 style), so you'd only need to find a driver side light. Center bar was painted, but can be sanded back down. They're both just taking up room in my basement.

ive done a few 03-05's as you mentioned with vht though, i couldnt find it so i ordered a case of it online. all came out good i can post pics if u want. i just tape off what they want and put as many coats in whatever spots according to how dark they want them, i sanded with 2000 grit, cleaned with soap and water, wiped down with rubbing alcohol, sprayed vht, didnt have to use primer or clear and always comes out nicem smooth and shiny and has good light output still. hers one pic of a friends 02 sunfire i did, i have more pics and may be oding another 05 cav soon too.


oh and btw the date stamp is always wrong on my pics i never reset it when i change out batteries.

Thanks for all the support everyone, It was definitely a pain doing everything over again, but it looks good enough for now. I just got another project thrown on my plate, a black beast otherwise known as my sisters '06 Murano (tires, CVT trans fluid change, exhaust), so the cavs gonna be on the back burner for a while.

To Matt, myself and a handle of jagermeister are coming your way soon, I want you to show me how to fix my fender (the right way) and I'll see what I can give you for the passenger tail and reflector. I know I'm going to be doing this project again, but probably not for a while.

To Beefy, are those tails on the 'fire stock? or did only the 03-05 cavs have the tails with the protruding circles? I'm thinking more and more about doing a 00-02 trunk swap, much cleaner look, IMO

To Mike Z, I've heard a lot of good things about those lens cleaner kits; my drivers side headlight is all crapped up and i was thinking about getting it to see how it works... though wouldn't it probably be cheaper and/or easier to just get a whole new case? I mean, if its all fogged up, it must mean there is a leak somewhere in it. The kit is seems like a good idea, but I feel like it would only be a temporary fix if its just going to fog up again

thats a 2002 sunfire, we swapped over my 05 inners and some 00 outers that i had laying around since my 05 i have 95-02 tails and cf filler on.

Really off topic, but, where abouts in NY are you from Cavaclysmic?

Sunfiretun3r wrote:Really off topic, but, where abouts in NY are you from Cavaclysmic?

Dutchess County... about 60 miles north of nyc.

Where? I grew up in Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park. I live in Albany Now.

Sunfiretun3r wrote:Where? I grew up in Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park. I live in Albany Now.

Hahaha, I live around Poughkeepsie/Wappingers area. Then Im guessing you went to FDR HS?

Cavaclysmic wrote:

Sunfiretun3r wrote:Where? I grew up in Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park. I live in Albany Now.

Hahaha, I live around Poughkeepsie/Wappingers area. Then Im guessing you went to FDR HS?

Yeah I did. Graduated 05. You go to Arlington?

Wow, this is creepy man. I just looked at your birthday. Mine is the day after.... Weird...

Sunfiretun3r wrote:Wow, this is creepy man. I just looked at your birthday. Mine is the day after.... Weird...

Oh man, Didnt know I had a JBO'er so close to me, with a similar birthday to boot lol. I went to Ketcham HS, btw. Should have went to Arlington, but somehow I ended up in the Wappingers district.

Cavaclysmic wrote:

Sunfiretun3r wrote:Wow, this is creepy man. I just looked at your birthday. Mine is the day after.... Weird...

Oh man, Didnt know I had a JBO'er so close to me, with a similar birthday to boot lol. I went to Ketcham HS, btw. Should have went to Arlington, but somehow I ended up in the Wappingers district.

How'd you get suckered into Ketchum? You must be on the border or something. Arlington is a huge school. You would have gone when they were just starting to get overfull in the old building. I'd be glad I went to Ketchum instead at that time.

Yeah dude, this is creepy, but pretty awesome.

Sorry man, I didnt get notified that you had responded oops lol. Newho. Depends on the where the fog is. If your lights get wet inside or have condensation then yes, get new lights, or reseal them. If the fog is on the outside of the lense, and looks like some clearcoat is actually coming off, then the restore kit is made for that. The plastic used by GM for the 03-05 headlights for some reason, is junk. I have seen many 03-05 headlights that look crappy as hell. Actually I saw a few at the meet this past weekend. So its ur call, 20 bucks and fix the outsides of your lights, or 50-100 bucks for a whole new set. When the lights get like that it doesnt mean there getting water inside, just means the elements are taking the toll on the outsides of the lights. The restore kit actually physically removes all of that, and brings a nice, clear shine and luster back to the lights by sanding it down past the problem area. I know, bc I have used this on a few cars (buddies 98 GTP, my 98 Sebring headlights, and the parts car headlights and fog lights and the fogs were 100% painted over and now there clean as a whistle, and that was with not even half of the kit left). I hope this helps, and yeah that stuff I swear by, if done right, it can make even the crappiest lights look really good.