Finally cleared headlights.

by **grullj** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:01 pm

Well it took me a whole day's worth of work, but i finally cleared my headlights. No more yellow reflectors. Next step of the modification process for me are gonna be 20s.

by **Biggi_e** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:12 pm

what did you use and how did you do it? i took about 4 1/2 hrs to do mine and i used clear silicone all weather sealant with clamps

by **grullj** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:29 pm

I used a screw driver, pair of pliers, a wrench, and ATV clear silicone sealant. And to open the headlights i used a blow dryer. The problem was that this is the first time that I opened a headlight unit, so I was not letting the rubber heat enough. So it took me forever to open the headlights.

If anyone is planning on doing this i reccommend heating the lights for at least 20-25 each, it will make your job so much easier. soon as I can figure out how to post pics, i'll put some up.

by **Biggi_e** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:54 pm

not bad how long did it take? for me it was my first time and ikinda rushed in the beggining by using a heat gun, pulled i open enough for my buddy to grab the reflecters out. used the sealant i had, clamped it together and let it dry for about an hr to make sure there were no little pockets we used about 3 rubber clamps on each. still have had no problems with condensation. posting pics, upload them to like photobucket or something. get the url, in the preview sections of your post click "img" then type paste the link, then click "img" and then preview again and it should work.

by **cklinh** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:06 pm

Just a question for those that have done this... are there any problems with the headlight aiming after removing it and putting it back in?

Er... not problems per se... but do you have to reaim after you take them off?

by **Biggi_e** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:11 pm

i didnt open mine all the way, just enough to pry the corners open and have my buddy get the plyers and pull the reflecter out. didnt mess anything up with my aim of the beam

by **cklinh** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:23 pm

I meant when you had to put the headlight back on the car... no need for reaiming? (Or did you do it right on the car?)

by **joebxr** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:02 am

http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php?t=11287&highlight=headlights
Don't know if this helps, but this is link to instructions and link to pics in first post from Mike

by **Biggi_e** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 6:01 am

i had to take the bumper out and the headlight out.

by **grullj** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 7:04 am

I took the bumper off and the headlight. I also only pryed the corners open. But since i only had two hands, since i did it by myself, i had to oopen it extra wide. I didn't have to re-aim the lights either.

by **cklinh** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:27 am

Just curious... but what did you guys do with the orange reflector? Trashed it?

I was thinking of a little side project with them...
As much as the orange bugs me... I think a blank chrome spot would bug me even more... anyone ever think about painting it black or your car color and then putting it back in? I'd guess you'd have to put many coats of clear coat to get a glossy/reflective surface?

by **PXLpainter** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:32 am

^^ Agreed - from the pics I've seen, it looks like something is missing/broken to me. It would be nice to either get them plated/painted and put them back in or just cover them up with something (like the vinyl/paint tricks I've seen).

by **PhreakdOut** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:38 am

cklinh wrote:Just curious... but what did you guys do with the orange reflector? Trashed it?

I was thinking of a little side project with them...
As much as the orange bugs me... I think a blank chrome spot would bug me even more... anyone ever think about painting it black or your car color and then putting it back in? I'd guess you'd have to put many coats of clear coat to get a glossy/reflective surface?

Damn, your car is coming along very nicely. I had once thought of making a carbon fiber piece to fit there or finding a CF vinyl wrap that doesn't look cheesy.

The other idea I had was to take apart the headlight and have all the inside surfaces (except for the ring around the projectors) to be professionally painted Absolutely Red matching the rest of the car. I had planned this to be done if I had the front bumper repainted. (While the shop had the paint mixed and loaded.)

by **grullj** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:27 am

by **grullj** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:28 am

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<img src="http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/grullj/th_2ndimage.jpg"></a>  
</center>[/img]

Finally cleared headlights.

Finally cleared headlights.

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