MESO Total Tail Light Kit

Okay, put in my stage 2 kit, had issues with turn signals only blinking once. Read all through this thread and found the solution (ditch the resistors). The only thing I can add is to wait a little while and then check out the blinkers. Thank you to MESO and all the members of the Tacoma World community for putting up all of their experiences!

 

I used the step drill bit and the plastic bits got everywhere and couldn't get them all out by air or vacuum. So I decided to rinse it out by water then last rinse by rubbing alcohol to make it dry faster. However the clear back up lens now got cloudy from the inside. Any trick to make it crystal clear again? Thanks

 

Probably I would leave it open overnight, allow it to dry out. Alternative would be put a hair dryer at a low (warm) setting. That's what I would do.

 

Great example of utilizing a soldering iron tip. You can also clean the inner burrs out with a razor blade if needed. Try and keep Chunks at large as possible to prevent little particals getting inside.

Eeeek. I’m not sure I would have rinsed the inside with water. There is probably some small amounts left inside the small corners. I’d remove it from the truck, pull out all bulbs/bases and let it dry overnight .

 

It might just be a film on the lens. I would try and use a bottle brush with cotton end . Bend it and drop it thru the hole you modded. Try wiping the lens and see if that helps.

 

Something I've seen on drying out gallon jugs is to put a small piece of paper towel in there and blow it around. The air will push the paper towel around and wipe all the wet spots. Might take a bit but maybe it'll work.

 

I drilled mine upside down as suggested. Didn't help. The plastics inside the light are statically charged, all the chips went up and stuck to the inside of the lens. I tried knocking them out and then used a light blast of air... blew it all over the inside of the housing.

What I should have done is there is a breather port next to the light bulb. I should have stuck the air hose in there and positively pressurized the housing while drilling. Hindsight. Might end up having to buy a new pair now, lights look like shit with plastic chips stuck to everything. They look a thousand times worse when lit up too.

 

So, I said F it, and let the chips fly. Sadly, I do have a soldering gun and didn't read the other post prior.

ANYWAY - firmly rapping on the housing, with the light openings facing up, most of the chips (for me) fell into the bottom area, lined up with the reverse light area. Then I flipped it quickly, and using some centripetal force, the chips mostly fell into the reflector area and tapped right out. The above mentioned vent/air combo helped get some from the red brake areas down to the other holes to drop as well.

1000% satisfied, and despite the wife's anger, she said WTF - why didn't Toyota do this from the factory....

 

So I got around to installing mine over the weekend. I could not be happier with my Stage 2 purchase. Just in case anyone is wondering if they should do Stage 1 or Stage 2, bear in mind that this is not the reverse lights. This is just the amber blinker light output.

 

And the reverse lights are throwing so much light, I could have driven backwards down the trail doing 40mph. I could see just as well to the rear as I could to the front.

 

@MESO any ideas on how to stiffen up the bulb in the socket? I noticed I had a bulb out the other day but it was because the bulb fell out into the brake bucket. Damn washboards ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

Unplug the socket and take the bulb adapter to the work bench. Use a small hook or pick tool to spread the copper contacts(down inside the socket) out a little more. This will put more pressure on the bulb and hold it in.

 

Gotcha, thanks!

 

This happened to me early in the trip this weekend while I was off roading.

Noticed a bulb out. Pulled the light and the bulb had fallen off. I bent the socket contacts with a pick tool. All is good now

 

Love this kit!!

 

Don't try this at home kids...


The solution??



If this doesn't work might be a DI water bath and an extended bake in the oven at super low temps. 150ish...

 

Would a compressor air gun and shop vac McGyvered with a straw help?

 

I already can move the plastic around the problem is it wants to stick to everything due to static. The ionizer is something we mount to our molds/presses to stop the parts from clinging to everything as they fall.

 

A hint if using a drill: Go very SLOW. If you go fast I think you build more static charge. I drilled about 14-15 holes in each of mine (small bit), and I kept the bit speed way down. Just enough to cut through. Then I used a hot razor to slice between the holes I drilled. After that I used the dremel with a grinding bit at very low speed to finish.

Take your time and you should be OK. I can't see a thing in either of my lights.

 

Another reason to go low RPM is the chips will be “chunkier” and large pieces(less to fall inside) if you go fast it just turns the plastic into small particles that have a great chance of floating up and gettin stick in the static charge



P.S. working on some stage 1’s as we speak, should be ready this weekend