r/Cartalk • u/VanpireRoadTrip • Feb 26 '25
DIY body damage help Backed into a bush at night and scratched the f out of my tail light, Subaru Outback. Does this need replacing or can I DIY it?
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u/Training_Yard_7618 Feb 26 '25
That’s cracked, sorry. Unless its led run it. If its led its going to be pricy and monitor it for condensation. Do not let water get high enough in the housing as I have found it will throw all kinds of strange codes. My body man will actually drill a small hole in the bottom of the housing as a drain and just run it
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u/theskipper363 Feb 26 '25
Yeah that’s what I’d say do,
Just pop it out and drain a. Few weep holes and call her a day
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u/jeremyism_ab Feb 27 '25
Monitor the local junk yard for the correct model, and wait for a tail light in good condition to come in, while carrying on in the mean time.
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u/eatthuskin Feb 26 '25
a bush 🤣
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u/VanpireRoadTrip Feb 27 '25
Lol it genuinely was a bush and not a wall, it was one of those thick tree-like ones around farms. Believe me, I feel stupid already, I'm not lying on the internet for reddit points or something
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u/eatthuskin Feb 27 '25
tail light are easy to replace. buy online and do it yourself. itl save u a lot
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u/weekend-guitarist Feb 26 '25
Will likely pass inspection. You can replace it yourself if your handy
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u/jasonsong86 Feb 26 '25
It’s cracked so yea you gonna need a new one. Of if you are cheap, just put clear film over it to cover up the cracks and call it good.
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u/nday-uvt-2012 Feb 26 '25
I’d replace it with one from eBay, as it’s both cracked and scratched. It should be a pretty easy DYI. Be careful to buy exactly the one you need from eBay because sometimes they get a little too broad in describing which years and models a part fits - I’ve found out the hard way.
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u/Fun-Rest-4721 Feb 26 '25
If by DIY buying the replacement part and installing it yourself, yeah, you should be good. 🤣
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u/karlovarga Feb 27 '25
did you back into a bush made from metal? strong ass branches to crack your light housing
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u/WiglyWorm Feb 27 '25
As others have said, water will get in. Call your local junkyards and ask if they have any of your year make and model. Lots of places will either have it pulled or let you go pull it from a car for a discount if they have it in stock.
Or, yeah... get in there with a drill but be mindful of where the water will end up. You don't want it pooling anywhere.
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u/GothicFuck Feb 27 '25
I want to thank you for explaining what happened to my car when someone in my family drove it, possibly me, and it came back with this pattern of cracks. Now I know that bush I backed into really could have done that.
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u/Historical-Shine-786 Feb 27 '25
That’s not a scratch. Thats a crack in the lens of the lamp and it’s gonna soon need replacing. Last time I needed a rear lamp assy. I was able to find a cost effective good condition used one from a seller on EBAY MOTORS; shipped to my door for around 1/2 the OEM component cost. It’s an option, just saying Good luck to ya.
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u/Ok_Location2914 Feb 27 '25
Just back the other side into the bush so it will match and no one will no the difference.
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u/pyroshep Feb 27 '25
it's an outback, just run it. the 3$ bulb it MIGHT need in ~1 year if it even condensates inside is cheaper than the assembly
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u/ImprovementCrazy7624 Feb 27 '25
Needs to either be wrapped in a special film layer to prevent water ingress cus its CRACKED not scratched
Or it needs replacing
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u/OtherObjective4634 Feb 27 '25
Easily easily EASILY (😂) is able to be buffed out! You could get the DIY headlight repair drill kit from Walmart and use it with a drill or simply use it by hand. It will just take a little bit more time doing it by hand. Price that tail light out and then price the headlight repair kit out.... I'm betting there's a slight difference.
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u/brandothesavage Feb 27 '25
You earned a subie mark way to go that ones worth at least a hundred points
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u/Journeyman-Joe Feb 26 '25
Being a cheapskate myself... I'd probably try polishing it (baking soda and water), and then a few coats of paste wax. It won't make it invisible, but it will make it less obvious.
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u/oblongshapes Feb 26 '25
It probably wouldn’t take more than 15 min to remove and replace that assembly. There are good condition used ones on eBay for around $30-50. How long would it take to try to buff and wax it? Two to three hours maybe? Water will eventually find its way in and could cause additional issues as well. What’s your time worth?
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u/Miserable_Grocery459 Feb 27 '25
Buff it up with 60 grit emery cloth, you’ll never notice the bush damage.👍
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u/Parking-Maybe-3898 Feb 26 '25
Unfortunately they seem to deep to be able to repolishing or anything DIY. You might have to snag one from a junkyard or soemthing
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u/LeonRoland Feb 26 '25
That is cracked, rather than scratched. There is no DIY fix; you'll need to replace the light assembly. Installing should be as simple as pulling back the trunk liner and unbolting from the inside.