How To: Clear head lights

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KC_Valentine

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I read the how to walk through with the pictures that I found posted here, to take out the orange reflector on my headlamps... I was curious how many of you have done this yourself? And was wondering if the oven for 7minutes at 250 would do more than just heat up the sealant, wouldn't it also take off part of the clear coat *possibly* on the headlight? Any replys would be greatly appreciated =D :feedback
 
I have cleared mine, and after much frustration with the time it should cook, I went a little overboard with 15 mins at 250. No problems with the headlights for about 6 months. Just make sure to run silicone around the headlight after finishing to keep them from leaking.
 
KC_Valentine said:
I read the how to walk through with the pictures that I found posted here, to take out the orange reflector on my headlamps... I was curious how many of you have done this yourself? And was wondering if the oven for 7minutes at 250 would do more than just heat up the sealant, wouldn't it also take off part of the clear coat *possibly* on the headlight? Any replys would be greatly appreciated =D :feedback
Click to expand...


I did mine a month ago and it was very easy. No effects from the heat on the rest of the headlight, just make sure you take everything off as described in the instructions. They look great I highly suggest you do this. The headlights work good and this solved the moisture problem also.
 
Did you purchase some new silicone to re-seal it or did you use the factory + blow dryer method? And can I just pick up silicone that I would use on this at the hardware store?

Edit: Also =). What did you place the lamp casing on in the oven to protect it from the direct heat if it were sitting on the rack.

Sorry for all the questions but I'm hoping not to have to buy a pair of new headlights b/c I messed up... especially when they are still under warranty =).
 
I didn't cover it, but I read that a towel can be used, and is probably recommended. I used permatex clear silicone from autozone, works great. Just don't let the tube explode on your clothes like I did. It won't come off and leads to interesting questions from your peers.
 
just spent 30minutes taking headlight off/putting it back on... without a ratchet set *sob*. Had to use one of those :q:q:q:qty screwdriver/socket things. I was confused at first until I realized the 3rd bolt is hidden under the plastic guard.
I screwed up the level of the light at first and had to go back and redo it. Oh the joys of being a newbie at these things =). I just got notice that I can get my car in to have it tinted today instead of next week *place is booked to hell* so gonna work on this again later.. Thanks for all your replys and insights =D
 
Before you go through the hassle, check to see if you have grey sealant or black. Grey your in like flynn, black....your SOL.
 
SurfjaxLS said:
I didn't cover it, but I read that a towel can be used, and is probably recommended. I used permatex clear silicone from autozone, works great. Just don't let the tube explode on your clothes like I did. It won't come off and leads to interesting questions from your peers.
Click to expand...


Hahaha. Yeah I ran into the same problem over the weekend whena tube of clear silicon busted when i was squeezing it. Yeah it does look similar to well you already know.
 
Before you go through the hassle, check to see if you have grey sealant or black. Grey your in like flynn, black....your SOL.
Click to expand...

See, I was looking at the headlight i removed today. I couldn't tell the color of the sealent.. It's a brand new headlight *under warranty they replaced it for me since the old one had condensation*. I didn't check the other one but it's the one that's been on there since '01. I couldn't get a good look at the sealant with how brief I was out there messing with it. Damn cell phone kept bugging me =P
 
Open the hood of the car, look on the top of the headlight near where the clear lens meets the black housing. Near the seam you should see a tab looking piece and the color of the sealant should be visible from there. If the light has been replaced under warranty already, more than likely it was replaced with a revised unit with black sealant.
 
:Bang :Bang :Bang :Bang

One headlight is black sealant one is grey.... Ok well this just means one thing! I'm opting up to the pre-made CCFL lights soon.
 
I'll be clearing out my corner lights soon. We'll see how that goes...
 
It is really easy stuff - but it's gotta be grey sealant. I have had mine apart at least 6 times.
- cleared the corners
- added LED rings
- fixed LED rings
- replaced with whiter brighter LED rings
- replaced with CCFLs
- fixed CCFLs
...........
 
I have wanted the CCFLs for awhile now but didn't wanna drop the $$. May end up trying to get an older headlight off ebay that has grey sealant and doing the clear out myself, but I would love to have Halos =x
 
Ken at LSKoncepts.com sells them as a complete unit.

I did them myself - took about 2 hours and the cost of the CCFLs off e-bay.
 
Yea, the LKS site is great and i'd like to go through Ken, but I am budgeting to get a few other things done to and have an alternate route.
 
whats the big deal about grey silicone and black silicone which one is better one to have,and whats the difference betwen the two
 
Big difference my friend!

They both do the same job, except when it comes to disassembling. although with clearing mine I came to the conclusion that the grey silicone has a lower melting degree (Melted Cheese) as for the black silicone the whole housing will deform before the black silicone would even be phased by the high temp. (Black sealant simply becomes hot and that's it!)

It took me forever but am fairly decent with mods and tool's, It can be done but be careful.... since the black silicone wont even begin to melt your housing will be able to flex. While the housing with the tabs is flexible I took a Flat Head screwdriver and ripped out the silicone it gets all jacked up by doing this!.,.,.,. when all apart I re heated it and re shaped the seal, (only the black part) Yes a Major Pain!

I used regular white bathroom caulk.,., Hey its all I had laying around...lol
I could touch it up with a sharpie but Im not that anal about it.

It can be done but I strongly don't advise it for someone with little patience as I almost snapped mine in two.

HPIM0418.JPG


cleared.jpg
 
Nice work =). That takes guts. I'm to paranoid I would snap the entire case in half If I did it that way.
 
Sacredfire said:
Big difference my friend!

They both do the same job, except when it comes to disassembling. although with clearing mine I came to the conclusion that the grey silicone has a lower melting degree (Melted Cheese) as for the black silicone the whole housing will deform before the black silicone would even be phased by the high temp. (Black sealant simply becomes hot and that's it!)

It took me forever but am fairly decent with mods and tool's, It can be done but be careful.... since the black silicone wont even begin to melt your housing will be able to flex. While the housing with the tabs is flexible I took a Flat Head screwdriver and ripped out the silicone it gets all jacked up by doing this!.,.,.,. when all apart I re heated it and re shaped the seal, (only the black part) Yes a Major Pain!

I used regular white bathroom caulk.,., Hey its all I had laying around...lol
I could touch it up with a sharpie but Im not that anal about it.

It can be done but I strongly don't advise it for someone with little patience as I almost snapped mine in two.
Click to expand...

WOW! Looks great... It's pics like these that make me what to throw caution to the wind and try it myself.
 
I was talking to a friend who did his himself but only he used a small portion of paint thinner on the sealant along with a putty knife to pry it apart.. This was on a different car with a different headlight but I'm curious if this would have any power against the infamous black sealant?
 
Quik LS said:
It is really easy stuff - but it's gotta be grey sealant. I have had mine apart at least 6 times.
- cleared the corners
- added LED rings
- fixed LED rings
- replaced with whiter brighter LED rings
- replaced with CCFLs
- fixed CCFLs
...........
Click to expand...

fixed? what happened?
 
bad me.

I installed the ballasts inside the headlamp - though it was neat to 'hide' everything.

Well - not a good idea - as the ballasts can fail - and then you have to re-open the lamps to replace them. Now the ballasts are external - tiewrapped to the crossmember.
 
KC_Valentine said:
I was talking to a friend who did his himself but only he used a small portion of paint thinner on the sealant along with a putty knife to pry it apart.. This was on a different car with a different headlight but I'm curious if this would have any power against the infamous black sealant?
Click to expand...


I wouldnt do that with our headlights,

I would think that the thinner would make the glue tacky then stain your lens, Also there is no silicone that is exposed exept for where the tabs are. Its all hidden, they did a wonderful job sealing these puppies. The thinner would dissolve the top of the sealant but what about the glue that is not exposed?
With that being said, with two hard shells one has to give (crack) so maybe heating it up first would help but then there becomes a fire hazzard. Thinner is very flammable if not combustible.
 
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