I've noticed on most old 3rd gens, the lettering on the center tail piece often chips and starts looking like crap. This is probably a dumb thread, but I was so happy with the results, I thought I'd share what I did this morning to get rid of it.

Things You'll Need:

1. An Old Stiff Bristled Toothbrush
2. 2000 Grit Wet/Dry Sandpaper
3. Dish Soap and Warm Water
4. Rubbing Compound
5. Polishing Compound
6. Wax of Choice
7. Wax/Polishing/rubbing compound applicators
8. Microfiber Cloths/ Towels

Steps:

1.To start I just thoroughly cleaned my center piece with car wash soap and water. It doesn't have to be perfect, a simple once over will do.
2. Put a small amount of warm water and some dawn dish soap in a bucket and get it nice and bubbly.
3. Generously cover the lettering on the tail light piece with the warm water and soap.
4. Tear off a small piece of 2000 Grit Wet/Dry Sand paper and dip it in the bucket of water.
5. Slowly and meticulously go over all the lettering sanding evenly on them to remove all paint/erosion until the letters are smooth and clear. (Though they will look a bit hazed at this point)
6. Once you have gotten all the letters to your liking, spray off the center piece and dry it.
7. Begin by applying a small amount of Rubbing compound to the letters and surrounding area, rub in as needed.
8. Wait for it to become a dry hazy color and wipe off, you may need to use the toothbrush to get in crevises the letters make.
9. Once you have it clean, apply your polishing/ high gloss compound and repeat the process used in step 7. Then use a rotory buffer to remove, or just use a microfiber towel like I did. (I assume a 'Mothers Power Ball' Would work nicely too)
10. Again, Repeat Step 8 if needed.
11. Then Just apply your favorite wax and wipe off when dry. Making sure To get all other pieces or imperfections out with your toothbrush.
12. Once they are looking good and dry, I just spray some invisible glass over them and clean with a microfiber towel to get any water spots off.

Your End Result will look like a perfect, cleared center tail piece!











Edit: Happy Easter!!

 

Vary nice! Ive been looking at my tails and front corner lights and noticing their age. I'll definitely try this when it gets warmer out! It snowed yesterday and today is no warmer.

Darn floridians.

~Alex

 

are the raised letters part of the 92-4 maximas? I hadn't noticed that on my trips to the junk yard, and my 91 does not have it.

looks good, man.(wonder how much better mine would look wihtout said chipped, crappy looking letters...)

 

wow that looks great , i remember our 90 all we did was remove a sticker.

 

nice. looks great.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I was just looking at how clean the car looked then I saw how the lettering in the tails was kind of throwing off the rest of the car's look so I had to see if I could clean it up.

I'm not sure if it's just 92-94, All I have owned was 92-94 Maxima's (One GXE, Two SE's) So I'm assuming the raised lettering was only done on these.

Thanks.

 

i been thinking of painting the letters dark black!

 

Nice.. I have been wondering what I could do with the fading silver coating on those letters! Will certainly have to give this a try!!

 

instead of light black

 

Lol. Leave Big Al alone.