| nyngbld | 05-18-2005 10:38 AM |
Clear My04 Headlights Info
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I read through the gigantic sticky in this forum about 3 times. I am going to attempt this on my04 this weekend. I am still a little nervous, just unsure about getting the lights to seal well afterwards. Also don't want to scratch them or crack anything. I will use a huge terry cloth towel to keep my lights on while working on them. I wanted to see if anyone had any little suggestions or tips they ran into in the process of clearing your lights? Thanks all.
-ny
-ny
| edaniele1212 | 05-18-2005 11:22 AM |
take your time and do exactly what the sticky says and use extra sealer its worth the 8$ and the time to do it all over again if it leaks.
| B WReX | 05-18-2005 11:27 AM |
the sticky is awesome - just follow it, and you'll have no problems. I did not use any extra sealant, and everything seems fine
| paperchasin | 05-18-2005 11:33 AM |
$5 for the black sealant...was able to do over 6 sets of headlights with that tube...$5 for peace of mind and NO leaks/fogging....
| Thumper23 | 05-18-2005 11:36 AM |
I followed the sticky and mine came out great
| nyngbld | 05-18-2005 11:40 AM |
Very cool, thanks guys. I am looking foward to this mod.
| kheovnien | 05-18-2005 01:00 PM |
when u take the headlight out remember u kind of have to pry off the white plastic piece that is hidden behind the bumper (u use a 10mm ratchet to unbolt it first). it is held behind there so u'll have to pop it out for the assembly to come loose. i put a screwdriver [U]behind[/U] the white plastic piece and popped the headlight loose. just be careful and u'll figure it out when u see it.
| willguidry | 05-18-2005 01:10 PM |
[QUOTE=kheovnien]when u take the headlight out remember u kind of have to pry off the white plastic piece that is hidden behind the bumper (u use a 10mm ratchet to unbolt it first). it is held behind there so u'll have to pop it out for the assembly to come loose. i put a screwdriver [U]behind[/U] the white plastic piece and popped the headlight loose. just be careful and u'll figure it out when u see it.[/QUOTE]
This is on the side closest to the grill of the headlight. It will be the only thing holding the lights into the frame once all bolts are removed.
Grab it close to the grill, and give it a sharp tug STRAIGHT back to you. You'll here a crack sound, it won't break, don't worry and the headlight will be in your hand. When re-installing, go in that side first and give it a good whack with an open palm on the front assembly and you'll hear that crack again. That means it in and secure.
This mod seriously...is VERY easy. Take your time with the heat. DO NOT use BROIL. Use BAKE at lowest setting. (200 degrees F.)
If you have adjustable racks, put the rack on the bottom with a sheet pan on the rack. Don't just put the headlight on the bare rack. (helps disperse heat evenly)
Do one headlight at a time, I didn't need extra caulking...and no leaks. On two pairs. Just make sure you reheat them again to warm the caulk when you put em back together, then QUICKLY put all the screws back in.
If you have any worries, or questions, PM me.
This is on the side closest to the grill of the headlight. It will be the only thing holding the lights into the frame once all bolts are removed.
Grab it close to the grill, and give it a sharp tug STRAIGHT back to you. You'll here a crack sound, it won't break, don't worry and the headlight will be in your hand. When re-installing, go in that side first and give it a good whack with an open palm on the front assembly and you'll hear that crack again. That means it in and secure.
This mod seriously...is VERY easy. Take your time with the heat. DO NOT use BROIL. Use BAKE at lowest setting. (200 degrees F.)
If you have adjustable racks, put the rack on the bottom with a sheet pan on the rack. Don't just put the headlight on the bare rack. (helps disperse heat evenly)
Do one headlight at a time, I didn't need extra caulking...and no leaks. On two pairs. Just make sure you reheat them again to warm the caulk when you put em back together, then QUICKLY put all the screws back in.
If you have any worries, or questions, PM me.
| nyngbld | 05-18-2005 05:37 PM |
Thank you all again. I did actually pull the lights out to see how difficult that would be. It did take a decent yank to get that white tab out of the clip. At that point I bitched out and didn't bake them. :) Hopefully I can step up and just "git r done." ty.
-ny
-ny
| DieselClown | 05-18-2005 07:09 PM |
one bit of advice, be careful when you pry out the orange pieces! the housing car crack VERY easily! also, buy a tube of silicone and make sure every inch of the housing is sealed before the final bake.
| nyngbld | 05-19-2005 12:41 PM |
[QUOTE=DieselClown]one bit of advice, be careful when you pry out the orange pieces! the housing car crack VERY easily! also, buy a tube of silicone and make sure every inch of the housing is sealed before the final bake.[/QUOTE]
Can I still go at it with flathead screwdriver or should I consider some other means? ty.
Can I still go at it with flathead screwdriver or should I consider some other means? ty.
| willguidry | 05-19-2005 12:45 PM |
Use a jewelers flathead screwdriver.
You can get em at any hardware store.
[IMG]http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pACE-1045206dt.jpg[/IMG]
That's what they look like. Go easy, and you'll get em out.
You can get em at any hardware store.
[IMG]http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pACE-1045206dt.jpg[/IMG]
That's what they look like. Go easy, and you'll get em out.
| fireball_jones | 05-19-2005 01:31 PM |
I pulled mine out with the smallest flathead I could find. Bigger than a jewlers, just small enough to fit in the housing to pop the cover for the parking lights off. The other covers (side reflector and turn signal) are very easy to get out.
| subieworx | 05-19-2005 04:26 PM |
I haven't used any extra sealant on mine and I have had them apart 3 times now with no subsequent fogging or leaking issues.
| willguidry | 05-19-2005 04:36 PM |
[QUOTE=subieworx]I haven't used any extra sealant on mine and I have had them apart 3 times now with no subsequent fogging or leaking issues.[/QUOTE]
+12345
+12345
| DieselClown | 05-19-2005 09:58 PM |
i sealed them up good for the added piece of mind. The last thing I need is a wet hid bulb. :( [QUOTE=subieworx]I haven't used any extra sealant on mine and I have had them apart 3 times now with no subsequent fogging or leaking issues.[/QUOTE]
| Ohannon7 | 05-19-2005 10:03 PM |
when they say use the jewlers flat head they mean it, and pleae be very patient, I am not. I just did it over the weekend and crackd part of the black frame in the lense, but its ok, I fixed it to where you cant tell.
Be patient, and most importantly do not pry, those orange lenses are hard to pop out
Oh, and I used a heat gun, i dont trust the oven method but thats just me, others have done it. Be sure to heat the sealant back up really really well b4 you put it back together, the last thing you wanna have to do it pop them open again just to reseal them. Theres a local wrx w/ condensation in his light
Be patient, and most importantly do not pry, those orange lenses are hard to pop out
Oh, and I used a heat gun, i dont trust the oven method but thats just me, others have done it. Be sure to heat the sealant back up really really well b4 you put it back together, the last thing you wanna have to do it pop them open again just to reseal them. Theres a local wrx w/ condensation in his light
| jmh | 05-19-2005 10:33 PM |
This was the first mod I did. I didn't use any sealant and at just over a year and a 1/2 I'v had no leaking or foging ;). But this is the valley of the sun. Not so much in the way of cold rain :cool:
| millerbc | 05-19-2005 11:03 PM |
any one in central NY (syracuse aera) have experiance clearing headlights? I hear it is a little easier with another set of hands.
6 pack of your choise to whom ever can help me out.
6 pack of your choise to whom ever can help me out.
| nyngbld | 05-20-2005 11:03 AM |
[QUOTE=Ohannon7]Be sure to heat the sealant back up really really well b4 you put it back together, the last thing you wanna have to do it pop them open again just to reseal them. Theres a local wrx w/ condensation in his light[/QUOTE]
Should I bake them open to warm sealant, then put the together and bake again to seal? Or should I just put them together, bake and put pressure on them to seal and put screws back in?
I will take my time, I am gonna try and get those jewelers tools. Thanks all.
-ny
Should I bake them open to warm sealant, then put the together and bake again to seal? Or should I just put them together, bake and put pressure on them to seal and put screws back in?
I will take my time, I am gonna try and get those jewelers tools. Thanks all.
-ny
| subieworx | 05-20-2005 11:36 AM |
[QUOTE=nyngbld]Should I bake them open to warm sealant, then put the together and bake again to seal? Or should I just put them together, bake and put pressure on them to seal and put screws back in?
I will take my time, I am gonna try and get those jewelers tools. Thanks all.
-ny[/QUOTE]
That depends on how quickly you can take them apart. I can do it fast enough now that I don't have to heat them back up, didn't the first time either. If you take longer than 5 minutes I would heat them back up for a few minutes separately then put them back together.
I will take my time, I am gonna try and get those jewelers tools. Thanks all.
-ny[/QUOTE]
That depends on how quickly you can take them apart. I can do it fast enough now that I don't have to heat them back up, didn't the first time either. If you take longer than 5 minutes I would heat them back up for a few minutes separately then put them back together.
| willguidry | 05-20-2005 11:37 AM |
Close them when you are done to the best of your abilities. LEAVE THE SCREWS OUT.
Rebake to warm sealant, (one light at a time) and remove them QUICKLY, pushing them back together and put the screws to em quickly.
Rebake to warm sealant, (one light at a time) and remove them QUICKLY, pushing them back together and put the screws to em quickly.
| nyngbld | 05-23-2005 11:12 AM |
Ok, what the hell??? I know I am not a subie specialist, but I am not a TOTAL jackass. :) Everything was great, until I went to seperate the lights. Baked first light for 18 mins, removed all screws, got top portion of light to seperate, but thats it. Is there a decent ammount of force required to pull the two sections apart? I could not get it over the clips on the bottom. Should I pop the clips off the bottom some how first, then pull the lights apart, or will they just come open like a taco and still be hooked on bottom? Did I just not pull hard enough? It seemed like the top opened ok, but they would not seperate on sides? Not enough bake time? The silicone was pretty sticky, decent amount got on screw driver. Instructions make it sound like they just come apart. Once it was not coming open, I re-sealed them, I thought I may not get them back together. The housing on the top bulb seemed like it was loose and would fall onto the lower headlight. Thanks for the help, I am pretty annoyed I couldn't get this simple **** done. :confused: :confused:
| CapeRex | 05-23-2005 11:23 AM |
[QUOTE=DieselClown]one bit of advice, be careful when you pry out the orange pieces! the housing car crack VERY easily! also, buy a tube of silicone and make sure every inch of the housing is sealed before the final bake.[/QUOTE]
I did mine this weekend,and that was the only problem I had....I broke a part of the housing prying out the orange part.The first one went smoothly,because I was patient and following the instructions,but I rushed on the second and that happened...so be patient! I also broke a bulb,but so far everything is great! It has rained non-stop the last few days and I've seen no fogging yet....fingers crossed.
The hardest part was prying the first headlight out of the car...I was afraid to use too much force,but it took a good tug to get it out.The second was a piece of cake.
I did mine this weekend,and that was the only problem I had....I broke a part of the housing prying out the orange part.The first one went smoothly,because I was patient and following the instructions,but I rushed on the second and that happened...so be patient! I also broke a bulb,but so far everything is great! It has rained non-stop the last few days and I've seen no fogging yet....fingers crossed.
The hardest part was prying the first headlight out of the car...I was afraid to use too much force,but it took a good tug to get it out.The second was a piece of cake.
| nyngbld | 05-23-2005 12:14 PM |
[QUOTE=CapeRex]I did mine this weekend,and that was the only problem I had....I broke a part of the housing prying out the orange part.The first one went smoothly,because I was patient and following the instructions,but I rushed on the second and that happened...so be patient! I also broke a bulb,but so far everything is great! It has rained non-stop the last few days and I've seen no fogging yet....fingers crossed.
The hardest part was prying the first headlight out of the car...I was afraid to use too much force,but it took a good tug to get it out.The second was a piece of cake.[/QUOTE]
So did you need a decent amount of force to get the light pulled apart? I didn't want to yank on them too hard and break anything, but I was pulling decent and they still would not budge. :(
The hardest part was prying the first headlight out of the car...I was afraid to use too much force,but it took a good tug to get it out.The second was a piece of cake.[/QUOTE]
So did you need a decent amount of force to get the light pulled apart? I didn't want to yank on them too hard and break anything, but I was pulling decent and they still would not budge. :(
| fireball_jones | 05-23-2005 12:39 PM |
I did 10-12 minutes at 200 degrees and yanked them apart. Start on the top, right about where the rubber strip that keeps them off of the hood ends. If you need to, use a screwdriver to pry them open just a bit, but most of it will require some serious pulling. Once you break an inch or two of sealant, it will peel apart pretty easily (except the tabs at the bottom, they stick pretty well).
Also, make sure you got all the screws out ;)
Also, make sure you got all the screws out ;)
| CapeRex | 05-23-2005 05:11 PM |
[QUOTE=nyngbld]So did you need a decent amount of force to get the light pulled apart? I didn't want to yank on them too hard and break anything, but I was pulling decent and they still would not budge. :([/QUOTE]
Yeah,it takes some tugging,and the clips at the bottom can stick.Mine popped off ok,but the plastic was bending pretty good.I think I actually broke one of the tabs but it sealed together fine(I hope!).Just pry the top with a flathead screwdriver at first,in a spot that looks strong,and hold on when you get it seperated a bit,then yank it apart slowly.Be careful when you start to get the sides apart and the bottom starts wanting to open.Try to have a second set of hands like the write-up says.I didn't,but it probably would be a good idea.
Yeah,it takes some tugging,and the clips at the bottom can stick.Mine popped off ok,but the plastic was bending pretty good.I think I actually broke one of the tabs but it sealed together fine(I hope!).Just pry the top with a flathead screwdriver at first,in a spot that looks strong,and hold on when you get it seperated a bit,then yank it apart slowly.Be careful when you start to get the sides apart and the bottom starts wanting to open.Try to have a second set of hands like the write-up says.I didn't,but it probably would be a good idea.
| veightkiller | 05-23-2005 05:15 PM |
dude if you live down here i can do it for free..i don't do the oven thing i use a heat gun for mine..just take your time and don't break anything and dn't spread the silicone all over ur headlights
happy modding
jeff
happy modding
jeff
| WRXakaBooSTi | 05-23-2005 11:30 PM |
be extra careful poping out orange side reflector on headlights. i almost cracked the silver bezel doing so.
| nyngbld | 05-24-2005 08:54 AM |
Thanks all, I believe I will try this again. I even got replacement bulbs for all mine to have true clears. I was really looking forward to that clean look. I will just try again and get my brother-in-law-to-be, to be the other pair for hands. ty!!
| subarustan | 05-24-2005 10:23 AM |
i baked it for about 30 minutes...because i decided to forget about them and have a couple of beers. nothing got burnt and the housing and covers just melted apart although it was like handeling lava rocks. the sealer was still thick so i used a small sharp knife to just seperate it cleanly. what ever was left on the knife i scraped off and stuck it back with the rest on the lights. i don't think you would need extra silicon imho. but you can have it there for a comfort factor. baked it again for another 30 minutes for resealing, and it all melts together like a gigantic smore! Was aslo my first mod as a noob. great instructions. glad to hear no one sliced their thumb trying to pull out their lights....like me.
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