When I bought my car (used) the brake light had, and still has, some nasty looking stuff all over it. My mom thinks its amorall or something like that. Any ideas how to clean it? The first problem being actually getting in there, the second: what to clean it with.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Here's a link if the image isn't working... gross.

You said, "getting in there." Can I assume that the dirt is inside the lense rather than outisde?

That depends on the construction of the lens package and how it is attached to the vehicle. Usually a lens unit is a number of pieces of plastic that are seperately molded and then heat bonded together. The goal being to create a single piece which can be sealed from the weather, dirt, etc. Now, in general the only openings to the sealed lens unit is through the light bulb hole. The lense unit is usually attached to the vehicle using some kind of screw or removeable rivite system which firmly attaches the lens to the vehicle and the holes for light bulbs extendes into the interior of the car in the trunk area; so that end users can get to the light bulbs for DYI service. Sometimes there is an o-ring seal at the base of the light bulb holes which presses against the body of the vehicle so that water and dirt cannot enter the vehicle either.

Now, a lens can get dirty in a couple of ways. It can loose its seal on one of the heat bonded seams, or dirt can enter through the light bulb hole, although that is pretty unlikley because the light bulb should keep dirt from entering and the light bulb hole is exposed to the interior of the vehicle, in most instances.

However, if you can figure out how to remove the lense from the vehicle you can actually wash out the lens. A light soap and water solution swashed around inside the lens might clean up the dirt. Rinse very well afterward and let dry until totally dry. If the lense leaks water from the inside you have a seam which is not bonded properly and as such the lense will always be prone to getting dirty on the inside. Might be time to think about replaceing the lens then. You can use a soft brush to "scrub" the inside of the lense, just don't rub hard or use anything that scours or has a harsh surface. Think terry cloth towel in texture here. A soft bottle brush might be the answer.

If inside dirt isn't gone after this, again, might be time to think about a new lens

It has been said:
Hybrid drivers come in 3 flavors, greenie, techie and cheapie. Pick any 2.
2005 Prius, Melinium Silver over gray, package 5 (AI)

I added a link, it seems my image isn't working. It's the light inside the car, not the taillights, so it's up against the rear windshield. The gross stuff is also not just on the lens (on the outside of it by the way) but kinda on the back dash, around the light. It's kinda hard to explain. Look at the picture.

I have kids now , and in a prior life I drove my fraternity's party-mobile! I have lived though similar "grossness". What you have there can be dried soda, dried upolstery cleaner, or unfortunately, dried intestinal fluid.

Simply remove the entire panel. I'm not familiar with a Civic's construction in particular, so be creative! You might have to go into the trunk to remove fasteners, or perhaps the panel simply pops out. Your owner's manual might show you how to change the bulbs.

I highly recommend a plastic cleaner called Plexus Plastic Polish, (find it at a marine/boat shop) once you get to the lens. It's used to clean the windshields of aircraft! It cleans off the yelllow haze on headlights! It will most likely restore your brake light to it's former "beacon of safety" status.

OK KT, seems like only Prius owners are the ones willing to help out. I just went out to the garage and checked my HCH out. It won't be a simple task but you can do it. From what I can see is you are going to have to remove the rear package tray to get at it. This is specualtion but it seems you'll have to go through the trunk, you possible may have to go as far as removing the back seat.

Maybe someone with a shop manual can give directions how to remove the rear package tray. I've been dying to get a manual but they have been too rich for my cheap/poor blood. I would suggest moving the thread over to the HCH forum since NewExplorer hit the nail on the head for what you need to clean it. Blue Coral Plastic/Plexiglass polish will work fine as well, an easy purchase at Autozone.

Good Luck.

'00 Insight "Wazabi" -75,000+ miles
'03 Toyota Matrix - 81,000+ miles
'03 HCH-CVT-OSBM-41,000+ miles (retired 04-10-06)
"I'm very secure with my little Insight, no Prius envy here."

Thanks, I'll see what I can do.

Oops, sorry I didn't get that one and went the long way around. I didn't realize it was the high mount stoplamp. Well, good luck.

It has been said:
Hybrid drivers come in 3 flavors, greenie, techie and cheapie. Pick any 2.
2005 Prius, Melinium Silver over gray, package 5 (AI)