Water in Headlights Options

[MonsterBOX]

Hey, i have water filled up about 1/4 the way in one of my brights and one of the normal headlights is fogged up on the inside...is there anyway to get into these to drain them and anywhere i can get new seals or do i just need alltogether new lights? do i need to take off my front bumper to fix this problem?

This post has been edited by MonsterBOX: Apr 9, 2005 - 3:21 PM

[usdm_at200]

the HARD WAY to "CLEAN Headlights from water droplets, yellowING........ect.."

*********Please read thur b4 applying labor.......

1) take off front bumper. becareful w/ the bolts from the fenders. take out headlight bulbs too.

2) take off the headlight(s) that needs cleaning; from the headlight retainer brace.

3) go and buy "CLEAR Silicone" (other color of silicone will show thur the lens, not so pretty!)

4) boil a pot of water about ~ 2 gallons(careful!)

5) wait for the water to boils.

6) remove the little metal braces; that hold the glass len(s) the headlight housing...i don't remember how many...maybe 4 braces.
dip the headlight glass lens in the boiling water. don't let the glass len(s) touch the bottom of pot. (hand will feel like burning, wear leather gloves!)

7) don't turn off gas(flame)

8) holding time: 10-15 minutes

9) set up work table: lay down towel on table surface.

10) use flathead screw driver, or anything thin to pry glass len(s) from headlight housing.
-don't allow the OEM glue seal to touch anything except a knife, that can cut off the OEM glue seal.

- cut off excess OEM glue seal if needed.

11) if glass len(s) don't come off, put back in boiling water for a few more minutes.
-turn of boiling water, might need to add water, for resealing.

12) becareful when pry, OEM glue seal is really messy and hard to clean up!
-don't allow the OEM glue seal to touch glass len(s).

13) clean glass len(s) w/ glass cleaner, don't spray glass cleaner on OEM glue seal.
-use a knife to touch the OEM glue seal from the headlight housing IF Needed(really a MUST).

14) clean headlight housing interior " the chrome part" (use proper cleaner: mirror cleaner; maybe even certain glass cleaner)

15) re-boil water, wait until water boils w/ steam. hold the headlight housing(withOUT len(s)) for a few minutes the steam will make the OEM glue seal soft.

16) apply the "clear silicone glue" to the headlight housing ONLY. don't put a LOT of silicone, there is also already the OEM glue seal too.

17) slowly re-center the glass len(s) to the headlight housing. don't do it so slow that the OEM glue seal gets harden.
--if OEM gule seal is hard, re-steam OEM glue seal.

18) use pressure to push the glass len(s) to the headlight housing. vise versa.

19) reapply the little metal braces.

20) put the whole unit (glass len & housing) over steam again! not too long; 1-5 minutes. then re-push the glass len(s) to the headlight housing. vise versa.

21) clean the excess glue on the exterior headlight unit.

22) use hair dryer to blow from bulb entrace, to remove water droplets.
-tilt housing unit to the air, then blow like turbo!

23) make sure, to use pressure to push the glass len(s) to the headlight housing. vise versa; yes! AGAIN!!!

24) reinstall on headlight retainer brace. put bulb in.
- correct lighting level.

25) if other headlight unit needs cleaning, repeat to headlight unit(s).

26) correct lighting level.

27) when all headlight units( high & low beams ) are cleaned: PUT BACK FRONT BUMPER.
- correct lighting level.

28) whip OFF EXCESS OEM glue seal or silicone glue.

29) look at your work, you did that! be proud of yourself!

30) go help out your buddies w/ there headlight units!

***not OEM glue seal is very, very hard to remove and clean up!
-take you all for your time and post(s)!!!

-sorrie i didn't point to direct product brands on cleaning glass len(s) and chrome housing reflector. sorry! checkers or autozone could help you on that!

-usdm_at200 ( i did this to my jz80's headlight too, then my at200 )

happy cleaning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!