Page 1 of 1

New shape rear light cluster disassembly

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 10:27 pm
by mitchelln
Okay, I give up. How do you get the red brake light lens off the rear cluster?

My offside rear cluster has water and condensation in the top red brake light lens section. The rubber gasket has clearly perished.

I've managed to get the cluster off (scary moment with the bottom clip!), but I cannot work out how to get the red lens off. I undid the small screw at the top, but it all seems quite solid.

Perhaps it'll just be easier to take the bulbs out so it dries out and then run silicon sealant all around the rim to keep the water out of the lens?

Thanks!

Re: New shape rear light cluster disassembly

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 4:21 am
by Northern Bongolow

Re: New shape rear light cluster disassembly

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:35 am
by mitchelln
Thanks for that, but unfortunately mine seems radically different to that diagram.

Re: New shape rear light cluster disassembly

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 4:33 am
by BataanPete
mitchelln wrote:Thanks for that, but unfortunately mine seems radically different to that diagram.
Is it this one?
< http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... 1of02.html >

I had a "coming together" with a wooden pole one time and wanted to replace the only brake lense. Unfortunately, it comes as one item (51161A or Y)

The small screw holds the plastic colour coded insert. Lush calls them (Garnish - 511A1.)

Regards,

Peter

Re: New shape rear light cluster disassembly

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 8:27 am
by mitchelln
Thanks Peter. That's the one. How did I miss that? That's the trouble with mainly using a mobile device.

So it is a sealed unit. The gasket must also bond the lens to the back plate. Just as well I didn't try forcing it!

It's all very well having sealed units as long as the gaskets hold up or replacements are readily (and cheaply!) available. I guess Mazda didn't envisage such longevity out of the series ;)

Okay, so plan B is a go - I'll take the bulbs out, dry it out with a hairdryer and then run silicone sealant around the rim to keep the water out.

Re: New shape rear light cluster disassembly

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 10:09 am
by BataanPete
Glad to be of help. :D

Shortly after we got "Belle", in December 2011, I noticed about a 1" water build up in the reversing/Indicator lense space.

Simple fix.

Small hole drilled at the lowest point of the plastic lense and then parked on a slope for 20 minutes while it drained. Bit of Bostik sealed the hole afterwards.

This was before I knew how to take the cluster off. :mrgreen:

Regards,

Peter

Re: New shape rear light cluster disassembly

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 10:50 am
by mitchelln
Haha! Yes, I couldn't work out how to take off the cluster to start with either :D

It was a bit scary - the bottom clip did not seem to want to pop and I didn't want to risk breaking it. I used a long handled trim tool in the end to encourage it!

Re: New shape rear light cluster disassembly

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2017 3:29 pm
by grey fellah
sealed unit, I bought 2nd hand one from japan, good price & fast delivery