Ok, so I got bored this afternoon before the superbowl and you know what they say about idle hands. (beer)
Anyways, here's a very simple mod. I am not too particularly fond of the super-bright lighting that our license plate get at night. Especially if you have a white car, it's like having a billboard attached to the rear of the CX-7, very unsightly.
At this point, I should mention that this mod is probably illegal and may end up getting you a ticket, if you are unlucky and the cop that pulls you over is having a bad day.
You simply need:
- 3M masking tape
- Can of red spray paint (99 cents at Walmart)
- Wooden tongue or plastic bicycle tire tool or flathead screwdriver with end taped off.
The instructions for removing the clear lenses that cover the rear license plate lights are in the owners' manual. It is fairly easy and if you have thin fingers probably do not need any tools. You simply push the two grey outer tabs until the lens pops out. You may need to coax it out with a tool.
There are essentially 2 tabs on each side of the lens that hold it in place and you simply need to use your fingernails or a wooden tongue or a flathead screwdriver with the end taped off to protect the plastic and your vehicle's paint from scratches, and remove the lenses.
Once the lenses are removed, you simply mask of the outside of the lense, leaving the concave inner portion bare. This is the part that will be spray painted.
Just a few light coats of paint to provide uniform coverage is all that is needed. No need to saturate the lense. Too much paint and it will run or make the lense too dark or take forever to dry.
If you do this on a warm afternoon, probably about 15 mins and the paint will dry completely.
Remove the masking tape and you are ready to install the lenses. Take note that for each lens, there is a neoprene rectangular seal that needs to be in place between the light base and the lens. Be careful when removing the lens, not to rip or deform this seal. It is not glued in, just held in by pressure so don't lose sight of it.
It is also easier to remove and install with the rear hatch half open.
You can achieve the same results by using lighbulb condoms or colored balloons but they do not seem as uniform in color as a well painted one.
Total cost: $1.00 for paint
Total Time: 20-30 minutes.
Good luck.
If someone is behind you with their headlights (i.e. CHP) it will wash out quite a bit and look almost legit, almost, hopefully you will be lucky.
Anyways, here's a very simple mod. I am not too particularly fond of the super-bright lighting that our license plate get at night. Especially if you have a white car, it's like having a billboard attached to the rear of the CX-7, very unsightly.
At this point, I should mention that this mod is probably illegal and may end up getting you a ticket, if you are unlucky and the cop that pulls you over is having a bad day.
You simply need:
- 3M masking tape
- Can of red spray paint (99 cents at Walmart)
- Wooden tongue or plastic bicycle tire tool or flathead screwdriver with end taped off.
The instructions for removing the clear lenses that cover the rear license plate lights are in the owners' manual. It is fairly easy and if you have thin fingers probably do not need any tools. You simply push the two grey outer tabs until the lens pops out. You may need to coax it out with a tool.
There are essentially 2 tabs on each side of the lens that hold it in place and you simply need to use your fingernails or a wooden tongue or a flathead screwdriver with the end taped off to protect the plastic and your vehicle's paint from scratches, and remove the lenses.
Once the lenses are removed, you simply mask of the outside of the lense, leaving the concave inner portion bare. This is the part that will be spray painted.
Just a few light coats of paint to provide uniform coverage is all that is needed. No need to saturate the lense. Too much paint and it will run or make the lense too dark or take forever to dry.
If you do this on a warm afternoon, probably about 15 mins and the paint will dry completely.
Remove the masking tape and you are ready to install the lenses. Take note that for each lens, there is a neoprene rectangular seal that needs to be in place between the light base and the lens. Be careful when removing the lens, not to rip or deform this seal. It is not glued in, just held in by pressure so don't lose sight of it.
It is also easier to remove and install with the rear hatch half open.
You can achieve the same results by using lighbulb condoms or colored balloons but they do not seem as uniform in color as a well painted one.
Total cost: $1.00 for paint
Total Time: 20-30 minutes.
Good luck.
If someone is behind you with their headlights (i.e. CHP) it will wash out quite a bit and look almost legit, almost, hopefully you will be lucky.
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