Opening Headlights
 

Hey guys,

I have searched around and have not seen my answer yet. I know how to go about opening the lights them selves. (Thanks to all the info in the DIY section!!) I am curious if I can get the silicon warm enough with a blow dryer? I do not have a heat gun, boiling them is out of the question due to size and I am honestly nervous of sticking them in the over. If the blow dryer doesn't work does anyone have any advice for sticking the lights in the oven? I have read to bake them at 180 for 10 minutes on the bottom rack on a cookie sheet with a damp rag under them. Does this sound right or does anyone have any other notes?

Thanks
Keith

heat guns are like $20 - $40 bucks at Harbour Freight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...Fape7Aodv243og

this thread secribes the oven procedure

http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...-blackout.html


this one describes the heat gun procedure

http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...-20-bucks.html

to answer your question i do not think you can get enough heat from a hair dryer.

I didn't realize they were that inexpensive. I will just go grab a heat gun then. Sound much easier.

Thanks!

Beside an oven, only a heat gun will do. But you'll need a TON of patience, because you'll have to get the entire seal warm/hot around the entire region of the headlight in one shot. Otherwise, one part may start cooling off and you're back to square one.

So it's possible with a heat gun, but will take too much time.

Do you suggest I use an Oven?

Use an oven to open them. Stick it in for a little over 5 minutes @ 250 on top of some cardboard. Take out with some gloves and pry for 30 seconds. Put them back in for 3 minutes. Pull them out and pry. Might take 2 or three times to get them open. Pry at the front tip.

To seal, use a heat gun. Heat up sections and push together. Heat up areas next to where the screws are and use the screws to pull the lens into the siliconed "grooves".

Be sure to use some black silicone after the fact to fill in all the space or they will leak.

I put mine in the oven @260 for 10 minutes then had my wife hold the housing (while wearing gloves) and I pulled the lens straight off no issues.

just play with the oven temps a lil... its by far the easiest way to do this. i tried both ways. oven was more controlled. i started at 250 for 12 min. with no luck, so i bumped it up to 255.. came off well after that. just put a lil muscle into it. and an extra set of hands would prob help... although i did mine solo. as for reapplying lens when complete. thats even easier. just lay lens back on as close as u can get it with no fight. throw back in oven for same amount of time and heat that worked for removal... when ready just push together throw ur screws in and viola! complete.

im really scared of getting moisture in the lights later on down the line. anyone have that problem?

Reseal them when you are finished with rtv

nice^^^^ and this works good?

be careful what u reseal them with. some types of these sealents can not be opened again. i just left the sealant that was there originally and have had no moisture problems whatsoever. when u reheat in oven to replace lens it will do 2 things for u. 1 make the original sealant soft enough to use. flowing into gaps to a degree... and 2.. the hot air will bake the moisture out of the lamp. piece of advice... its scary.. but truthfully it shouldnt be. just keep it simple. take ur time. do 1 headlight at a time so u can catch ur self if u put it back together wrong... you'll do great. :tup:

If you do it right the first time you won't have to open it ever again.:tiphat:

Does anyone have pictures of your car with the insides painted? It would be interesting to see how they look...

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...3/IMG_0503.jpg
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...3/IMG_0502.jpg
http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...3/IMG_0507.jpg

That's a good look!

Here's in black, you should check the links on the second post. Lots of pics

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...x/IMG_0847.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...x/IMG_0860.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...x/IMG_0849.jpg

I have opened my lights 4 times. Not by choice. I had an LED go bad and then the paint started to bubble, things like that.

I just remove all the wiring and bake at 240 for 15 minutes. Once the lenses at apart and the sealant is still warm I make sure that I push as much of it as possible back into the channel.

No condensation or leaks yet.

The oven is the best option.

That's exactly how you do it push the sealant into the channel and when you heat up the housing to install the cover push it back hard so as to not strip the little screws on the light.FWIW

nice thread!


more info on the paint you DIYers have used and what paint has bubbled in the past...will also help out others

The paint bubbling was my fault. I tried to paint the trim around the projector and turn signal. When it didn't come out right I brought it to a body shop. They had a problem with the paint that I had already put down and it lifted after a short time.
I used the paint that Caravanshaka lists in his DIY.
The explanation that I got was that any paint from a rattle can has a chemical that prevents the paint from drying in the can. Unless you let the paint cure fully before adding the clear it will bubble.
I only painted the passenger side and had left the driver side alone.
The passenger side is the one that I had issues with.

I have never been good at painting. My suggestion is to bring whatever you want painted to a professional before trying it yourself. Unless you are confident in your painting skills.

^^^

thanks same here I'm forced to have my headlights re-opend here shortly...