Opening Headlights

Asquarecan · 05-28-2011, 08:55 AM

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

Dark Sarcasm · 05-28-2011, 09:39 AM

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

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

this thread secribes the oven procedure

DIY: Headlight LED's and blackout

this one describes the heat gun procedure

DIY: how to make your headlights black housing with 20 bucks...

Dark Sarcasm · 05-28-2011, 09:42 AM

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

Asquarecan · 05-28-2011, 10:01 AM

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

Thanks!

AlphaSnacks · 05-28-2011, 10:49 AM

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.

Asquarecan · 05-28-2011, 11:38 AM

Do you suggest I use an Oven?

cheshirecat · 05-28-2011, 01:53 PM

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.

Baer383 · 05-28-2011, 02:22 PM

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.

lostsouled · 05-28-2011, 02:44 PM

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.

dirTy_shoeZ · 05-28-2011, 03:04 PM

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

Baer383 · 05-28-2011, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirTy_shoeZ

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

dirTy_shoeZ · 05-28-2011, 04:11 PM

nice^^^^ and this works good?

lostsouled · 05-28-2011, 09:12 PM

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.

Baer383 · 05-28-2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostsouled

be careful what u reseal them with. some types of these sealents can not be opened again.

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

ArtK · 05-29-2011, 01:09 PM

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

05-28-2011, 08:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
Asquarecan Base Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 61 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 13	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

05-28-2011, 09:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dark Sarcasm Track Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Katy Texas Posts: 552 Drives: 11 CTS-V Coupe Rep Power: 15	heat guns are like $20 - $40 bucks at Harbour Freight. http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...Fape7Aodv243og this thread secribes the oven procedure DIY: Headlight LED's and blackout this one describes the heat gun procedure DIY: how to make your headlights black housing with 20 bucks... __________________ wax Last edited by Dark Sarcasm; 05-28-2011 at 09:41 AM.

05-28-2011, 09:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dark Sarcasm Track Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Katy Texas Posts: 552 Drives: 11 CTS-V Coupe Rep Power: 15	to answer your question i do not think you can get enough heat from a hair dryer. __________________ wax

05-28-2011, 02:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
Baer383 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lawrenceville,Ga Posts: 4,293 Drives: My foot up your azz Rep Power: 29	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. __________________ 2013 ZL1 754 rwhp 747 rwtq

05-28-2011, 02:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
lostsouled Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: austin Posts: 9 Drives: 09 370z pw Rep Power: 14	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. __________________ Am i not merciful??!!

05-28-2011, 10:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
Asquarecan Base Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 61 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 13	I didn't realize they were that inexpensive. I will just go grab a heat gun then. Sound much easier. Thanks!

05-28-2011, 10:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
AlphaSnacks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Windermere, FL Posts: 1,618 Drives: '13 XKR-S, '10 370Z Rep Power: 18	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.

05-28-2011, 11:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
Asquarecan Base Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 61 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 13	Do you suggest I use an Oven?

05-28-2011, 01:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
cheshirecat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 1,428 Drives: N54 135i Rep Power: 292	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.

05-28-2011, 03:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
dirTy_shoeZ Track Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: san antonio, tx Posts: 779 Drives: 40th ANN TT Rep Power: 15	im really scared of getting moisture in the lights later on down the line. anyone have that problem?

05-28-2011, 04:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
dirTy_shoeZ Track Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: san antonio, tx Posts: 779 Drives: 40th ANN TT Rep Power: 15	nice^^^^ and this works good?

05-28-2011, 09:12 PM	#13 (permalink)
lostsouled Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: austin Posts: 9 Drives: 09 370z pw Rep Power: 14	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. __________________ Am i not merciful??!!

05-29-2011, 01:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
ArtK Base Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Tampa Posts: 36 Drives: 2010 370Z Black 7AT Rep Power: 13	Does anyone have pictures of your car with the insides painted? It would be interesting to see how they look... __________________ 2010 MB Tour\|Sport\|7AT\|Ill. Kick Plates\|Coming Soon:Work Gnosis GS2 20x9.5, 20x11\|Swift Springs

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