Attention: Check your backup lens! | FerrariChat
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Attention: Check your backup lens!

Discussion in '308/328' started by PittsS2APilot, Nov 14, 2009.

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  1. PittsS2APilot

    PittsS2APilot Formula Junior

    Jun 29, 2007
    857
    Gulfport MS
    Full Name:
    Joe
    #1 PittsS2APilot, Nov 14, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Today I got ready to take the car for a ride. Beautiful blue, clear day with temps in the 70's. I always check the engine compartment before a drive and as I closed the rear hatch I heard "ka-plink" and watched half of the right side backup light lens hit the floor. The other half of the lens was still in the tail light but came out with just a touch. THe lens had cracked and split almost perfectly down the center. I am sure the lens would have been lost had I taken the car for the drive. I checked the left side and as I looked carefully I could see it was cracked as well. I used an exacto knife to go around the edges and it came out in three pieces! Im only talking about the clear (white) lens in the center of the outter amber tail light. After looking things over I can see that the center lens was attached to the outter amber lens with some sort of glue. But after 30 years, this glue has broken down, was dry and crumbled to the touch. I made the repair using a two part epoxy to put the white lens pieces back together, then glued the lens back in place. Pic #1 is the failure, Pic #2 is the repair.

    Had this not happend, I would have never noticed this failure until the lens fell out while driving down the road. I would suggest "everyone" look at theirs and make necessary repairs if needed. The expox repair took about 15 min and is much simpler than purchasing another tail light!
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  2. jongottschalk

    jongottschalk Karting

    Oct 5, 2009
    171
    Pass Christian, MS
    Full Name:
    Jon Gottschalk
    #2 jongottschalk, Nov 14, 2009
    Good post.....I would have never thought to look.
     
  3. spiderseeker

    spiderseeker Formula 3

    Jul 22, 2005
    1,718
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Steve
    #3 spiderseeker, Nov 14, 2009
    " as I closed the rear hatch I heard "ka-plink""
    You don't slam the rear hatch do you ? , I gently push down on one side until it locks , then the other.
     
  4. ace_pilot

    ace_pilot Formula Junior

    Sep 6, 2007
    921
    Long Island, NY
    Full Name:
    George
    #4 ace_pilot, Nov 14, 2009
    I was told to always slam and not be gentle and push since it can warp the rear deck lid.

    Ace
     
  5. Tony K

    Tony K Formula 3

    Jun 7, 2006
    1,778
    USA
    Full Name:
    Tony K.
    #5 Tony K, Nov 15, 2009
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2009
    I agree with this. I use gentle pressure on the edge of the lip with both hands to build enough momentum closing the hatch so that I don't have to push hard when it reaches the latches. I've seen too many 308s with dimpled rear hatches from people bearing down over the latch once it's laying closed . . . don't want mine looking like that!

    For the front, I lower it down gently until it is about 6-8 inches from the latches, then I just let it drop -- just enough force to let both latches catch, and no more than that. :)


    P.S. - Thanks for the tip, Joe!
     
  6. rolindsay

    rolindsay Formula 3

    Jul 14, 2006
    1,022
    Houston, TX
    Full Name:
    Rick Lindsay
    #6 rolindsay, Nov 15, 2009
    Not to worry. Joe's not a 'slammin' kind of guy. Quite careful, actually.
     
  7. tatcat

    tatcat F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Sep 3, 2001
    11,013
    panama city beach FL
    Full Name:
    rick c
    #7 tatcat, Nov 15, 2009
    too careful, some may say.
     
  8. PittsS2APilot

    PittsS2APilot Formula Junior

    Jun 29, 2007
    857
    Gulfport MS
    Full Name:
    Joe
    #8 PittsS2APilot, Nov 15, 2009
    No, Im not a slammer and I guess I can be tagged as a little overly cautious? I can't say why the lens popped out when it did. I guess Enzo and Dino were watching over me? I was shocked at how easy the lens came out. Whatever glue they used at the factory had turned into powder. If someone else finds this in their cars lens, please post. Id be curious to know? Joe
     
  9. rolindsay

    rolindsay Formula 3

    Jul 14, 2006
    1,022
    Houston, TX
    Full Name:
    Rick Lindsay
    #9 rolindsay, Nov 15, 2009
    Pilots can never be too cautious!
     
  10. doug328

    doug328 Formula 3

    Mar 11, 2004
    1,599
    The Space Coast, FL
    Full Name:
    Doug B
    #10 doug328, Nov 15, 2009
    I have seen both methods, the slam and the gentle push. I do the gentle push and was pushing right over the latch, but at a show the other year a restorer and judge said the best way is to give the gentle push but push on the side buttress of the rear lid because just pushing on the flat lid over the latch can over time develop cracks in the paint, also the drop/slam method will also cause paint cracks.
     
  11. Fastcars575

    Fastcars575 Karting

    Nov 13, 2009
    75
    Texas
    #11 Fastcars575, Nov 15, 2009
    Interesting to see this post. Today I removed the lenses of my 79 308 GTS that I recently purchased just to do a good cleaning. My driver amber lense fell complete out of the black surround when I removed the assembly. Perfectly cracked off around the surround fortunately so it was easy to epoxy. Might be a more common fault that I thought. I guess plastic can get pretty dried out over time. Anyway, as you say, good to check. Gosh knows replacement lenses are pricey.
     
  12. Tony K

    Tony K Formula 3

    Jun 7, 2006
    1,778
    USA
    Full Name:
    Tony K.
    #12 Tony K, Nov 16, 2009
    By the way, do the replacement lenses say CARELLO on them like the originals?

    If not, are they otherwise identical (for example, in the lens texture/pattern on the inside)?
     
  13. FF8929

    FF8929 Formula Junior

    Apr 12, 2008
    799
    Livonia, Michigan
    Full Name:
    Fred Flynn
    #13 FF8929, Nov 22, 2009
    While inspecting my b/u lenses, I see that the reflector lenses in the taillights look to be of the same design. I'd check them too.
    Seems like when you close the "trunk", air is compressed in there, and looks for the easest way out. So, IMHO, gentle closing is better.
     

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