Center High Mount Brake Light (CHMSL) LED Fix
 

Hi Folks. Two of my LEDs are out, so I removed the CHMSL from the top of the boot on my 'vert. I popped off the painted cover. The problem is, the red clear plastic "cover", which contains the LED strip and circuit board, is somewhat hermetically sealed to the housing (no obvious adhesive of any sort). I've been exacto-knifing around the perimeter to no avail. Any suggestions to getting it off so I can try fixing the two LEDs? How about going around the perimeter with my soldering iron?

Here's what it looks like if you need a visual...Any suggestions to get to the LEDs without breaking the lens?https://www.flickr.com/photos/128589993@N08/

I've never actually taken the convertible version apart but given the experience fixing the coupe model I might guess 2 things:

1) It probably is glued or sealed with silicone in same way to keep water out.
2) Have you looked at the back side to see if there are any tabs that come through the housing?

On the coupe model, there are plastic tabs that come through which are then heat expanded to hold the assembly togethre. Imagine pushing a solder iron into the center of a plastic post to make a sort of rivet.

I had to use a solder iron to warm these up and soften them to get the assembly apart.

Good Luck.

Unfortunately, the lens is sealed all the way around, with no tabs at all. I don't think its silicone, because there's nothing pliable at the edges. My exacto knife made zero progress in getting even a slight separation between the lens and housing. It's quite puzzling.

More than likely, the two pieces are sonically welded together. In that case, you MAY be able to get through the weld joint with the exacto-knife approach; just keep going........but understand that it will probably take a while to do so.

-John

Thanks. If that's the case, there'll be just no way to do it with an exacto knife-too many angles to cut through.