cleaning headlights has anyone poped them a part - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

nistech · 10-20-2005, 01:05 AM

http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/headlights/index.html

ok i m trying to clean my headlights i ve searched and found this thing i need to pop my lens off my headight i put them in oven but they are just not coming off has anyone done this

for the record i m not asking how to clean them i m just asking if anyone pop the lens out.

Dousan_PG · 10-20-2005, 01:09 AM

no i think you're the first ever

SochBAT · 10-20-2005, 01:17 AM

Just use tireshine on the outside lense.

breakindrifts · 10-20-2005, 02:52 AM

I know a bunch of people who have done it to paint the housing black, just make sure they are properly sealed with silicone after you are done.

shwyn510 · 10-20-2005, 11:12 AM

hey, new to the forums, and i used to have a maxima which i painted the houseing black. all i did was stick them in the oven, about 375 degrees, and then i used a butterknife and a friend to help me pry the cover off. be patient trying to pull it off, make sure you use silicone after you're done or the headlight will show some condensation,

240SeXy! · 10-21-2005, 11:02 AM

Well i seperated s15 lights kekeke best ever, Well I used a heat gun around the edges and it worked flawlessly, just pull the outer lense from the housing and vawlla! then clean, I got my lights for 150, they needed a lil cleaning but still a damn steal!

good luck!

240meowth · 10-21-2005, 02:18 PM

I been working with lighting for 3 years now, i've opened numerious headlights with the oven, such as IS300, post 2003 BMW E46, Golf, Jetta, and S13 silvia.

I am assuming you are doing the s14 headlight, something I have never done before, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

First check for bolts, unbolt any bolts that might secure the front lens from coming off.

Than check for clips, sometimes there are clips on the outter housing, know where these clips are. You don't want to be looking for them when you got a hot headlight in your hand. Sometimes these clips are just metal clips that just pops off, so if you see metal clips, pop them off first.

Here is the oven part, 220 degree F, 20 minutes. Use a normal oven, not the electric ones (had bad bad experience with electric oven)

Next, something i found helpful, get a friend and 2 pairs of socks. Use socks as mittens (expect to throw them away because you might get glue on them). One should hold the headlight housing while the other pulls the front lens from the inside part (the part of the headlight that is close to the grill). Keep an eye out for clips that might be holding the headlight in.

Pull them apart carefully, usually there will be strings of glue that comes out, with it, make sure these string don't get on the inside of your housing.

That takes care of taking it apart.

To put it back together, put it back in the oven at 220 degree F for about 5-10 minutes and press them together, I've had great success with this method, only a few times i had to use silicone to cover things up.

Now that i told you everything about my trade, I will go ahead and close my business and set it on fire, nobody needs me anymore....

10-20-2005, 01:05 AM	#1
nistech Zilvia Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: CAli Age: 41 Posts: 746 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	cleaning headlights has anyone poped them a part http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/headlights/index.html ok i m trying to clean my headlights i ve searched and found this thing i need to pop my lens off my headight i put them in oven but they are just not coming off has anyone done this for the record i m not asking how to clean them i m just asking if anyone pop the lens out. __________________

10-20-2005, 01:09 AM	#2
Dousan_PG Post Whore! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Orange County, California Age: 46 Posts: 16,640 Trader Rating: (23) Rides Gallery: Dousan_PG Feedback Score: 23 reviews	no i think you're the first ever __________________ Aaron Pink GodziRa www.geocities.com/pink_godzira

10-21-2005, 02:18 PM	#7
240meowth Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: torrance, ca Age: 41 Posts: 2,407 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	I been working with lighting for 3 years now, i've opened numerious headlights with the oven, such as IS300, post 2003 BMW E46, Golf, Jetta, and S13 silvia. I am assuming you are doing the s14 headlight, something I have never done before, so take my advice with a grain of salt. First check for bolts, unbolt any bolts that might secure the front lens from coming off. Than check for clips, sometimes there are clips on the outter housing, know where these clips are. You don't want to be looking for them when you got a hot headlight in your hand. Sometimes these clips are just metal clips that just pops off, so if you see metal clips, pop them off first. Here is the oven part, 220 degree F, 20 minutes. Use a normal oven, not the electric ones (had bad bad experience with electric oven) Next, something i found helpful, get a friend and 2 pairs of socks. Use socks as mittens (expect to throw them away because you might get glue on them). One should hold the headlight housing while the other pulls the front lens from the inside part (the part of the headlight that is close to the grill). Keep an eye out for clips that might be holding the headlight in. Pull them apart carefully, usually there will be strings of glue that comes out, with it, make sure these string don't get on the inside of your housing. That takes care of taking it apart. To put it back together, put it back in the oven at 220 degree F for about 5-10 minutes and press them together, I've had great success with this method, only a few times i had to use silicone to cover things up. Now that i told you everything about my trade, I will go ahead and close my business and set it on fire, nobody needs me anymore.... __________________

10-20-2005, 01:17 AM	#3
SochBAT Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Abilene, TX Age: 39 Posts: 6,428 Trader Rating: (9) Rides Gallery: SochBAT Feedback Score: 9 reviews	Just use tireshine on the outside lense.

10-20-2005, 02:52 AM	#4
breakindrifts Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Agoura Hills, CA Age: 36 Posts: 1,006 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I know a bunch of people who have done it to paint the housing black, just make sure they are properly sealed with silicone after you are done.

10-20-2005, 11:12 AM	#5
shwyn510 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Encinitas, CA Posts: 6 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	hey, new to the forums, and i used to have a maxima which i painted the houseing black. all i did was stick them in the oven, about 375 degrees, and then i used a butterknife and a friend to help me pry the cover off. be patient trying to pull it off, make sure you use silicone after you're done or the headlight will show some condensation,

10-21-2005, 11:02 AM	#6
240SeXy! BANNED Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: CA, SoCal! Posts: 374 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Well i seperated s15 lights kekeke best ever, Well I used a heat gun around the edges and it worked flawlessly, just pull the outer lense from the housing and vawlla! then clean, I got my lights for 150, they needed a lil cleaning but still a damn steal! good luck!