headlights in the OVEN [Archive]

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bBted

12-12-2003, 04:19 PM

today i got nothing to do, so i decided to clear my headlights...
heard people use screw driver and hammer to break the reflector, i just afraid i might end up with some left overs in the housing, so i go w/ the OVEN method like i did my accord's headlights, but bB's are way harder...

this is way i did it, not really a DIY writeups...do it on your own risk :twisted: :twisted:

1. pre-heat the over to 360', then turn it off.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/p85784c0c71a2d135da0f56c5912a398e/fa508ad3.jpg

2. Put the headlights in the oven, make sure the oven is OFF, then close the door for 2 minutes or so, use the excessive heat to heat up the glue.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/pf6dd29c51928ab2b601918f6dc87b3ad/fa508ad7.jpg

3. After u heat up the glue, u can pry the lens cover open, u may need to redo Step 2 if u didnt do it right, cuz once the glue is cool down, u can take them apart.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/pe2e391b79861b05065a6a72fbc8c20bc/fa508acf.jpg

4. Unscrew the signal housing
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/p44f1f4f3bae4eb380565f68daabbb821/fa508a75.jpg

5. Signal housing removed
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/p3dddbb6141437ef11aee5479da135778/fa508ac9.jpg

6. Back of the signal housing
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/pc829820eb1ca990f25aac543ffd2351e/fa508ac7.jpg

7. Cut the two little clips that hold the reflector
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/p96e6179b5df7f4bda70e2c3dc55b44a5/fa508ac4.jpg

8. Pull out the reflector
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/p00f0b06aa8ec2789a3106e556edfe7c1/fa508acc.jpg

9. Repeat Step 1 and 2, to re-heat the glue to put the lens cover back together...

Pics of finished product:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/pc13c90b90d6b1e6eb7f422d398868479/fa508ad9.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/p761554779adca3108ed0688f81f4942b/fa508adf.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/p4de2ae403ce21fa952157e4dd3c286a5/fa508ae4.jpg

Munch

12-12-2003, 04:21 PM

Very nice, looks clean.

its_ikon

12-12-2003, 04:42 PM

looks good. if you don't put it in the oven then the lens can be very hard to get off.

bBted

12-12-2003, 04:50 PM

looks good. if you don't put it in the oven then the lens can be very hard to get off.

thats true...i have to heat it up couple times before i can pray the cover apart...

Opr8r

12-12-2003, 04:55 PM

I'm feeling that!!! Great job Teddy! Now it's time for the "favorite character in the tail lights!!"

j/k!!!! :lol:

Peace,
m@

scionara

12-12-2003, 05:06 PM

Nice write-up.

I'm going to try this method around Christmas time after I cooked the turkey.

HotBox

12-12-2003, 05:59 PM

does the heat cause any physical damage to the lights?

bBted

12-12-2003, 06:01 PM

no...i just use the excessive heat...so make sure the oven is OFF when u put it in...

12-12-2003, 06:03 PM

thats what I'm talking about. what better way for us men to use the oven then to pry open our headlight and mod. I knew I had an oven for a reason. :lol: Ted you done good man, now I have another mod to perform!
PROPS!

HotBox

12-12-2003, 06:04 PM

well it a raining day so im staying in and have tym on my hands so im going to try this thanks for the info

bBted

12-12-2003, 06:14 PM

u might need a flat screw driver to pry it....

dont rush...need to be patient...

DibujoB

12-12-2003, 06:30 PM

can you cook a tombstone pizza in there while the lights are warming up? Kind of kill 2 birds with 1 stone

Opr8r

12-12-2003, 06:30 PM

can you cook a tombstone pizza in there while the lights are warming up? Kind of kill 2 birds with 1 stone

LOL!!!!

George

12-12-2003, 06:41 PM

no...i just use the excessive heat...so make sure the oven is OFF when u put it in...

Well, heat is heat so the only thing that turning the oven off does is to eliminate streams of hot air coming from the elements. Heat the plastic too long or too hot and you will have Salvador Dali headlights! How much do those things cost again?

George

12-12-2003, 06:42 PM

Thats the kenmore elite series, you can cook your healight, bake a pizza, roast a turkey and dry your socks at the same time! I myself need to get an oven like that!

arinvolvo

12-12-2003, 07:04 PM

Dont anyone be suprised when their headlights fog up real bad, and then discolor on this inside....it always happens to lights that dont have the factory seal.

bBted

12-12-2003, 07:13 PM

bBted

12-12-2003, 07:14 PM

can you cook a tombstone pizza in there while the lights are warming up? Kind of kill 2 birds with 1 stone

oh yea....yummy :lol:

randode

12-12-2003, 08:31 PM

pics no worky! i need to see them!

scionara

12-12-2003, 10:32 PM

Wow, nice headlights on the accord but the xB looks better...

bBted

12-13-2003, 04:22 AM

i fixed all the links...u guys can see the pics now 8)

bBted

12-13-2003, 04:22 AM

i fixed all the links...u guys can see the pics now 8)

12-13-2003, 04:57 AM

ted delete the orig.jpg on the end of all the links. so then it comes out like this http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/pf6dd29c51928ab2b601918f6dc87b3ad/fa508ad7.jpg

highend

12-13-2003, 05:19 AM

12-13-2003, 05:25 AM

nah, he didn't. He put on some regular clear bulbs and came over to my shop to gloat!! hehe, he's such a punk sometimes. :lol: he's coo

bBted

12-13-2003, 07:11 AM

okay...links fixed. :D

12-13-2003, 05:32 PM

I guess you got my messeges last night ted! :D Glad you used imagestation though

mrlaypo

12-13-2003, 06:31 PM

does anyone think there would be a problem with me doing this with bluebatmobiles vinyl overlays on my turn signals? im thinkin it'll get melted on, which is why i was gonna try the heat gun instead, but the oven method sounds so much easier. maybe i'll just take em off, clear the headlights and buy another set of overlays...??

bBted

12-14-2003, 12:30 AM

thought they are removable??

if it can stands the heat under the sun...i think it should be okay....

randode

12-15-2003, 03:09 PM

damn, that looks bad ___.

dont put the bluebatmobile overlays in the oven, they will melt.

showpaojoe

12-17-2003, 12:46 AM

Can I do this with the taillights? I wanna put in carbon fiber with wholes for the 3 jdm circles. Will it work?

ScionJohn

12-17-2003, 01:42 AM

Nice write up Ted. I got to see it in person and the whole lighting really looks nice and very clean looking. Now the headlights really looks wide! That's what I call wide angle lens. :D By the way Ted, are you going to be cooking any XB parts for Christmas? That's what I'm talking about!!!!!!

12-17-2003, 01:55 AM

When will the modding stop!!! :lol: We keep modding and ted will just have write a book!

DenZinz

12-17-2003, 02:57 AM

Dont anyone be suprised when their headlights fog up real bad, and then discolor on this inside....it always happens to lights that dont have the factory seal.

that happens if u didnt do it right....
u can always buy a new set of cleared headlights from japan for 300 bucks...
i've had my accord cleared/blackhoused for more than 3 years...havent had any problems...

heres the pic
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/paa1901586216538889056e5ff219e389/fa50844a.jpg

That's right. If you don't do it right, then youre f'ed. I did that to my 98 Accord 4 days after I got the car and yes one fogged up and the other one never did.. but at that time I had no clue what I was doing. Since then ive done about 10+ Accord headlights and never had any problems with any of them.

What I have learned is:
1) Pry from underneath the headlights (the part you cant see with the hood opened.
2) You cant rely on the factory sealant after you had pulled it apart, you will have to put new sealant on it before you close up the headlights. The sealant that works best is HONDA-BOND. Its not cheap, but works killer!
3) Patience

Here is a bad pic of mine:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/pd313d63985086206644cc5adaf69cc1c/fa475b91.jpg

IMO..Clear onepiece headlights looks awesome!

RANDY you down for some dismantling? Ive got the heat gun!

randode

12-17-2003, 03:09 PM

RANDY you down for some dismantling? Ive got the heat gun!
sounds tempting. I seccond the vote for Honda-Bond.
3-Bond 1211 works excellent also, but at +$15 a tube it better!

its_ikon

12-17-2003, 07:44 PM

The sealant that works best is HONDA-BOND. Its not cheap, but works killer!

i will have to try this. thanks for the info.

itimebomb

12-27-2003, 07:21 PM

the headlights shouldn't oxidize or discolor much, they're made of lexan.

sensez

12-28-2003, 01:52 AM

lol. SWEET ___ JOB!

Can i borrow your oven to do it!? :D

Kodokan_4

01-17-2004, 07:29 PM

I like the oven technique for clearing. I reseal mine with clear silicone, or flowable silicone.

I'm going to mod my xA headlights (and taillights), but I want to install a tinted diffuser, after removing the amber one.

I can tint a clear one myself, but I haven't even seen any clear ones available yet, so I might have to have them custom made.

http://gallery.s2ki.com/imagecatalog/imageview/57766/1

http://gallery.s2ki.com/imagecatalog/imageview/51713/1

-Pete

gulp35

02-21-2004, 03:14 AM

Do you not need a yellow light for your turn signal?
I've seen some red blinnking lights (usually the same as the brake lights (usually on trucks), its annoying when they are tapping on the brake and one of their tail lights are broke.)

BTW that is a nice loooking S2000, is it yours?