EJeff8

I understand nothing is better than Honda. But I'm in a huge bind with money and $85 for one of the housings is ridiculous. I backed out of my girlfriend's tonight and smacked their trashcans. Trash cans are 100%. My Civic has a broken Lamp housing and a 2inch scuff/dent following off the housing's now gaping hole. Electronics and bulb is fine, just need the housing. Can I go cheap on this? Or is Honda still the only way to go.

Yes, it's embarrassing, I know. At least I didn't break my door off like I did my Dad's truck when I backed his open door into the house, baha...

EDIT: '00 EJ8 coupe.

egsleepercivic

check craigslist you should be able to find a complete set for about 40

EJeff8

Beautiful idea. Hopefully I can find my 99-00 set. That's usually the kind everyone is looking for, not selling. Then again, every ricer wants Euro's.

EJeff8

Also, I should just be able to go into the trunk and peen the dent out, right?

egsleepercivic

lol I was going to make a comment about ricers and alteezas

EJeff8

Well, nobody in my area is selling 99-00 lights. I even saw a few Altezza listings too! Damn, ricers.

Well, I'm pissed.

EJeff8

So, once again, I can just peen and/or smack the dent out right?

egsleepercivic

not sure is it creased ? post a pic of the damage

beaneg6

you can push it out..NP

TwoFaced

DONT USE A BALL PEEN HAMMER!

I've seen so many easily fixable dents turn into hours worth of body work later because people hammer them out with a ball peen.

Go to autozone they sell the "bondo" brand hammers for body work that are SLIGHTLY rounded and provide a perfect solution to hammer out dents.

Post a pic too and we can give further instruction and advice. GL

NOFX

Try car-part.com

Don't buy lights new from Honda unless you have to (for whatever reason). They're not a high wear item. Used is fine.

Just from what I've seen on average, '96-'98 coupe taillights will cost $40-$60 for a set. '99-'00 coupe taillights will cost $100-$120 for a set.

As for the damage, it depends on how bad it is. Post pics and those who can help, will.

EJeff8

It also cracked the bumper about two inches across where it starts to go into the natural lip it has. That's not terrible. I plan on getting it painted someday, so I'll just get it bondoed then. Good thing they form the full bumper in the color, not just paint it over.

TwoFaced

It would look much better if you tapped it out with a body work hammer and then waited till you painted to bondo...you'll at least have matching paint and a close to smooth surface.

If you bondo it's gonna look hideous right off the bat...unless you plan to paint soon...like tax season soon like me

EJeff8

I have a friend that'll paint for $100 if I pay for paint and do prep. But I don't have the time or money right now. I'm really pissed off because those dents look hideous. I took my palm to the back of the dent through the trunk and popped the big one into three smaller ones. Me and my friend are going to take a dryer and dry ice to it in a few days once stores open back up. I'm so pissed at myself. Because it was something that was ACTUALLY PERFECT.

CivicSD

Depends on the car. I just bought a brand new pair of 00 hatch tails at the dealer for $230 out the door. Way cleaner than anything used. (the car is being restored and has a $3000 PPG CW paint job - used tail lights would be a slap in the face)

having that said, i have a clean pair of 96-98 hatch taillights for sale, $30 each or $50 for both.

NOFX

A clean set of used lights can be cleaned up and polished to be in like new condition.

In comparison, I bought a set of 97-98 CTR headlights in great shape that cost me $220 shipped.

Also, hatch taillights won't fit the OP's car.

EJeff8

I went on Car-Part and found a listing 20 miles away for one at $50. Best one I've seen, so I'm going to take it after the holidays of course.

Also, I mentioned a hair dryer and dry ice as a dent solution, anyone else have knowledge on this? This is what my friend's told me, I haven't practiced it. Obviously, the physics make sense, but practical sense may not.

Also also, my girlfriend's dad keeps saying we can put it back together with the pieces of the light he found and make it almost perfect. I see no absolute way he can do this and I think he's going to be stubborn about me just buying a new light.

TwoFaced

Anybody have experience with the DEPO tails? I see people use the foglights all the time....good...bad? Not the euro lights or anything either they have some that look pretty close to stock.

TwoFaced

Post results of the dry ice experiment too btw I'm curious.

NotAJDMFanBoy

gf's families can be stupid and annoyingly stubborn like that. Fix it right as you were planning, don't let rednecks bastardize your car.

TwoFaced

HAHAHAHA I didn't read the part about piecing together the light. That is hilarious. No offense to them but that sounds like a horrible idea. JB Weld, Duct Tape, zipties, and super glue may be amazing...but when it comes to aesthetics on a $50 part that is HIGHLY visible.............please no. That made my night.

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/pts/2061550361.html

I know it's not your area but see if this guy is willing to ship if your deal locally falls through. If it really comes down to it...I can buy them and ship to you if he's not willing and you can't find them anywhere else...then you can sell your good lights locally and make most of the money back. He said wants gone ASAP so he would probably be able to be talked down.

ifIexplode

ive got a set of 96-98 coupe taillights Ill sell you cheap if you want. Theyre from my car.

EJeff8

GAH! So close, but I just can't do it. I'll run a broken '00 light before I throw on the yellows.

Deetz

Your crazy paying that much. I hit up the wreckers a couple times a month, and there are deals to be had!

Bought these used hatch tails for $20


and these couple tails for $30


It pays to shop around!!!! Used is the way to go imo, for tails anyways

As far as the dent removal, since the paint is not damaged, i would call a dent repair place and just have the metal massaged back out. I've used this process a couple times now with 100% successful results, and it's cheap!

ifIexplode

hahaha thats what i figured. Those things are fugly. Theres a bunch of youtube videos on the dry ice repair and it seems to work pretty well, Give it a shot.