General Running light removal

[Silverage]

My daughter passed her driving test a couple of months ago and I bought her a nice 15 plate pop star we found in Bossa nova white.

All was going well until I noticed yesterday someone has swiped the nearside front. We’ve got a couple of small dents and quite a collection of scratches and gouges, some down to the metal. Also the nearside running light has been popped out of its socket by the force of the impact. It’s still working so I’m hopeful I can refix this, if I can find a way to get to it. There is a small cover in the wheel arch liner to allow access to change bulbs. The cover was popped out too and has been lost, but the access space is not big enough to allow me to get to the running light itself.

This morning I’ve ordered some touch up piant and a new cover. I think it is going to be a take the wheel off and remove the whole wheel arch liner to get to this light - has anyone got any experience of this and able to offer any tips?

 

[renaultvation]

I had to remove one of mine recently and found it simpler to remove the front bumper. I would just recommend a dose of penetrating fluid on the bolts first (particularly along the top) as they can seize and shear. You still have to loosen the arch liner to access the side bolts, but you don't have to remove it. This then gives you all round easy access without having to fumble around in the wheelarch.

 

[Silverage]

Thanks for that. I’ve just found a video on youtube of someone removing the bumper and it does look fairly straightforward. The running lights appear to be fixed to the bumper so they come off with it and should provide me with complete access.

I’ll have a go at it when she gets back from school later and report back.

 

[typecastboy]

The running lights are held on by three bolts which are attached to a part of the bumper which is separate from the main bumper but is glued on if it’s in one piece some good glue will stick it back but it’s more likely that the mounting points are broken. You won’t really know until you get the bumper off.

 

[Silverage]

I decided to put the job off till tomorrow morning to give me more time in case there was some sort of calamity.

I hadn’t anticipated the light being glued in place. It must have something else holding it apart from that as it is not flopping about inside the bumper as it would be if a glued joint had failed. I’ll see when I get it to bits tomorrow. If it does want glueing I’ll have to take it out altogether and put the bumper back on without it whilst I source the best kind of glue to use.

 

[John202020]

If the video you've seen is the blue car one where they just pull the bumper away from the wing? Don't, use a screwdriver to open the clips on the wing to bumper whilst gently easing it apart. Not sure what glue you might need most bumpers are abs maybe gel super glue or proper hot melt ?

 

[typecastboy]

I decided to put the job off till tomorrow morning to give me more time in case there was some sort of calamity.



I hadn’t anticipated the light being glued in place. It must have something else holding it apart from that as it is not flopping about inside the bumper as it would be if a glued joint had failed. I’ll see when I get it to bits tomorrow. If it does want glueing I’ll have to take it out altogether and put the bumper back on without it whilst I source the best kind of glue to use.

It’s probably the mounts that have split then although the front panel may be stopping it from flapping around.

 

[John202020]

If the video you've seen is the blue car one where they just pull the bumper away from the wing? Don't, use a screwdriver to open the clips on the wing to bumper whilst gently easing it apart. Not sure what glue you might need most bumpers are abs maybe gel super glue or proper hot melt ?

A bit of Google seems to show plastic pipe weld adhesive maybe the glue to use, there's also videos of people using Acetone or MEK to glue bits together(use with caution )

 

[Silverage]

It’ll have to be a trip to B&Q later then if glue is required. I’m still hopeful it’s just a clip that has popped out. Are they really glueing parts together on modern cars?

 

[typecastboy]

It’ll have to be a trip to B&Q later then if glue is required. I’m still hopeful it’s just a clip that has popped out. Are they really glueing parts together on modern cars?

Oh yes, I’ve had to glue them back together in the past. I use the 2 part glue from Poundland.

 

[varesecrazy]

It’ll have to be a trip to B&Q later ... Are they really glueing parts together on modern cars?

Glue..
Yes.. (and wings onto airliners..)

Anybody going to suggest the correct type for this job though ?

If you get no info..
I would try :

'superglue' on CLEAN parts that mate together.

Mix Araldite Rapid ..type 2 pack epoxy to broader areas that are distorted/damaged...its a good gap filler..


And the few dabs of superglue will grab it together..whilst the araldite cures fully.


Please do let us know what you find

(Pics are VERY welcome)

Thanks. And good luck.
Charlie

 

[Silverage]

Ok, just to round this one out, it’s a lovely day here so perfect time to get the tools out and have the Fiat to pieces on the drive.

Getting the bumper off was straightforward. Only damage was one of the 6 stupid clips that will not see another dawn.

The light is held on to the bumper by three bolts. One of the bolt points on the light had snapped with the force of the impact. The moutings the light bolts onto are on a plate which is indeed glued to the bumper. This was still intact.

It had snapped cleanly so my first hope was that I could still get some glue involved in this job and fix it back. All I had was superglue but the plastic this thing is made of seems to be resistent to it and it just beaded up and rolled off.

Quick check on eBay shows £45 for a replacement light, which probably is not too bad a price, but more than I can spare, so for now I’ve lashed it back together with duck tape and the two surviving bolts. It’s gone back in at least as firmly as the other one but it’s not a permanent solution of course, so one day soon I will be tackling my new nemesis of Mr Bumper Clip again.

 

[Silverage]

Actually, scratch that replacement part cost. I had my daughter do the research on this and she seems to have made a hash of it.

Looking myself, the best price I can see is £130. I certainly can’t afford that.

 

[typecastboy]

You can pick replacement DRLs on eBay for around £25 usually. Actually just seen it’s a Popstar so it’s the new ones.

You could hot staple repair it. You can pick up a hot staple gun for around £15 and it will repair it as good as new. Have a look on eBay and look on YouTube. I’ve repaired several with mine.

 

[Silverage]

Thanks for that - I’ll take a look. It seems a shame to have to replace the whole light when it is 99% undamaged and working perfectly.