i knowalot of people with a 96-04 have been having
problems with the 3rd brake light looking like crap after a
few years of sun abuse. Mine was in real bad shape, kinda looked l
like it was all scratched. Well in a hours time i made it look good as new. all you need is some 400, 600, and 1500 grit wet sand papers, rubbing compound, i used meguiars scratchx, and some wax, i again used meguairs brand wax. To start disconnect the wire harness and remove the two nuts holding the light in. Secondly remove the light and take black electrical tape and wrap the empty harness fitting and the light bulbs from getting wet. After soaking the sand paper in a water, dish detergent solution for a few mins. Take the 400 and go to work. It will take a few mins but sand till every scratch is gone. Remember it may look a little worse before it gets better. Next take the 600 grit and do the same, every once and a while take a dry paper towel and wipe off excess to make sure you are getting every scratch. lastly take the 1500 and sand throughly till its as smooth and can be. Dry throughly and take the rubbing compound and put a cloudy coat on the light. Let dry and wipe with dry rag. At this point the light should look brand new. Now time for the wax to seal it and back to the car to bolt back on and reconnect the harness. For less then ten dollars it makes it look probly better then brand new. I was so impressed had to share.

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Good info, but i just had mine painted over

 

yea i just have been so sick of it looking like crap so i was either going to screw it up by sanding the crap out of it or it was going to turn out the way it did. I thought about painting it, but i figured i was going
to have to sand it anyway to paint it so why not try to do it without the paint.