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07:40:03 - 04/20/2024
General Dakota Board
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mikee
Unregistered
3/30/2001
17:06:52
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 Subject: clear corners
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Message:
how hard is it to install clear corners on a 99 dakota. Any one with dir.. to sent me
at rsmb323@aol.com
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intense99dak
*GenIII*
 
3/30/2001
22:13:50
| RE: clear corners
IP: Logged
Message:
This was posted to the DML by Ronald Wong (Thanks Ron!) I have my clear corners, but am waiting on better weather before installing them on my '99. Ron's Dak is a '00.
1) Take out the stock corners by taking out the screw between the corners and your headlamp. The stock screw is a T10 torx head screw. I would reuse this to mount the clear corners. It looks like a much stronger screw than what is supplied. Besides, you already have the torx driver out. Why do you want to go search for a Phillips?
2) You want to crawl under the truck and loosen the lights out of the sockets by rotating counter-clockwise. The little parking lamp may have to
wait until you can pull the assembly away from the frame. The reason for doing all this (at least on my truck) is because DC has the wiring pulled taut and it's really hard to pull the corners away from the frame to reach behind them to disconnect the lights. Once you remove the corners you can jiggle the wiring and discover there's an extra six inches stuck behind the
cowling. (It's always nice to have an extra six inches ;-))
3) There is some rubber weather-stripping that connects to the inside of each corner via two pins on the corners themselves. This is the reason the hood needs to be up.
4) Once all that's done the unit should slide right out. Take a close look at the lamps. You have two lamps (3157's). Those are the parking/turn signal lamps. Those are pretty simple to remove and replace.
5) Toward the outside of each corner are what they call marker lamps. Each corner has one. It uses a 194 bulb. As usual, when replacing bulbs, DON'T touch the bulb with your bare hands. You'll shorten its life with your finger oils. Use a towel.
6) We're going to concentrate on the marker lamps because the APC ones are a pain in the rear. If you look at the stock corners you'll notice the tabs are flush with the housing. If you look at the APC ones, you'll notice there is about a 3/16" lip around the hole with the tabs recessed in the hole. I guarantee you will not get your lamp in that hole the way it's set up. Why did APC do that. No idea! Maybe they're in cahoots with Dremel. Maybe an earlier Dak requires that, however, the label on their box indicates these corners are for 97-00 Daks. Maybe they (APC) will explain. They're getting a copy of this installation note. Ok, APC, if you're reading this, so are 900 other customers or potential customers.
7) SUGGESTION: Wear goggles and a face mask to do the next two steps. There will be fine plastic dust and smoke all over you.
8) If you have a Dremel rotary tool, now's the time to set it up. If you don't get a hacksaw or something to cut. On your Dremel set up a cutting
disc. Those are the discs that can cut through steel at 30,000 rpm but if you flick it with the motor off, it'll go ka-ching and break into little
pieces. Cut down that 3/16" rim down to as close to the housing as you can get. At 30,000 rpm it's going to half-cut and half-melt the plastic so be careful. At less than 30,000 rpm it won't cut or melt very well.
9) Now change to your high-speed cutter bit and take the plastic down to the tabs, NOT THROUGH THE TABS, just to the tabs. You cannot just be flush with the housing. You must be flush with the tabs in order for the marker lamp to fit. You can take a sanding disc and smooth everything up when you're done, though no one will really see the inside of your corners.
10) Put your new bulbs in. Some dealers will supply bulbs with your corners, others won't. If you need to go out and buy them, don't go to a
specialty store. They are cost prohibitive. Target, K-Mart or Wal-Mart sells them for around $4.50 for two bulbs. You'll need four 3157NA's and two 194NA's. These are amber bulbs. Most states require amber. If you want to push it and see what happens, you can put your old bulbs in. Put the bulbs in the sockets and check them out BEFORE you put everything back together. Turn on your parking lights and test each turn signal.
11) Once you're satisfied that everything's working correctly, it's time to put the lamps back into the corners and re-install. The marker lamps should go in and twist clockwise to lock. The turn signal lamps have three notches
and matching slots. One is bigger than the other two. That means it'll only fit one way. Don't try to muscle it! Once it's in, a clockwise twist
will lock it in place.
12) To put the corners back on, there are three brackets and holders that each corner must slide into. Make sure all brackets slide into their
respective holders. Install the torx screw and tighten. Make sure you put the rubber weather-stripping back on to the pins for each corner.
13) Close your hood. Stand back and look at the fine job you just did! Looks good, huh?
Chuck Robbins
'99 Dakota Sport
www.intense99dak.com
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