Half-Headlight Clearing... no bake?

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Old Mar 10, 2008 | 02:13 PM
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Half-Headlight Clearing... no bake?

Hey everyone, this is my first post so please let me explain myself.

First of all, I don't have a TSX yet. I'm in the market for an '04 within the next month or so, and am in the same boat as I'm sure most of you were and am in dire need to do some modding as soon as I get it. I have a huge list of mods, all extremely detailed with DIY's, where to get them, and price- all due to the wonderful search feature on this site (THANK YOU!). All I'm tryin to say, is I know damn well how to use the search, and have been doing so quite intensely for the past month or so, and all day today (naturally instead of working) and haven't been able to find any info on said question. So without further rambling:

Has anybody tried to break the small circular amber lens in the headlight from where the bulb goes in, and simply shake the pieces out? I'm well aware the best way to clear it is to bake it, I seen the DIY, seen the pictures of it finished- both smoked and taken out. I'm also aware there is the JDM version for $450-600, but takes a long time to ship. I've heard of this 'breaking' method done on a few different cars, and as much fun as baking headlights seems, I don't really want to do it.

Thanks in advance!
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Old Mar 10, 2008 | 02:40 PM
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Please read the sticky thread at the very top of Parts, Perfomance, and Modifications. This discussion has nothing to do with performance. Moved to TSX Discussion.
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Old Mar 10, 2008 | 03:37 PM
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i've never done this to my headlights, but i've done this on my acura legend. i cleared out the bumper lenses with a pair of needle nose pliers. all i did was break the amber piece and kept on breaking it until it was small enough to be shaken out.
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Old Mar 10, 2008 | 03:54 PM
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Seems like a pretty risky maneuver on a ~$400 headlight assembly. What happens if a piece falls "out" instead of "in"? Plus won't it look kind of funny without some sort of diffuser there? You'll just see light bulb and the reflector then.
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Old Mar 10, 2008 | 04:11 PM
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yes 626tsx, precisely what i'm talking about.

and Luke, I completely agree it does seem risky, but one could always bake it to remove a piece that falls 'in'. This would of course negate the whole process, but this is why I'm asking the question in the first place. And i'm not sure who's this is, but this is an example of removing the amber circle entirely, thank you for the picture:

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Old Mar 10, 2008 | 04:13 PM
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Yeah, I guess that's not too bad looking. I didn't know what was going to be behind the lens.

Your point is valid as long as you damage anything in the process of breaking and removing the pieces. I'd be super paranoid that I was going to scratch the inside of the housing.
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Old Mar 10, 2008 | 06:26 PM
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i believe that's ilovemyhonda

the cgp is his wife's
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 06:49 AM
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Wow, that looks pretty hot. If I ever decide to open my JDM headlights to do the Angel Eye mod, I'll remove the orange turn signal reflector while I'm at it.
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 08:29 AM
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um, arent those the JDM headlights in the pic? you can see the clear corner, and it looks like there are lines infront of the bulb that usually has the orage lense you are talking about... meaning there is a clear lense over the bulb....
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 11:13 AM
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^^if i remember correctly, 04-05 jdm headlights did not clear out the turn signal lenses
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 11:19 AM
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Well this is my suggestion:

You want clear lights right?
Don't want to pay the price for JDM lights right?
Don't want to destroy your OEM lights right?

Then buy these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/04-05...em380005445563

They're not too expensive at all.
About 1/2 the price of the real JDM lights.
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by CGTSX07
^^if i remember correctly, 04-05 jdm headlights did not clear out the turn signal lenses
Correct. I have 04/05 JDM headlights which have a clear corner but not clear turn signal lense. 06+ JDM headlights have a blue corner and clear turn signal lense.
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 01:41 PM
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Okay, I'll clear this all up.

04-05 JDM lights below:



06-08 JDM lights below:


Ebay lights below:



So that should clear it up.

Stock = Orange on both
04-05 JDM = Orange only on blinker, clear side
06-08 JDM = No orange at all, blue side
Ebay = No orange at all, clear side
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 03:04 PM
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those ebays look tempting...
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 03:49 PM
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^yea
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 04:02 PM
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^^ I wonder if they were designed for left hand or right hand drive
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 04:05 PM
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Good look MMs, appreciate it.

Now the question is, what's wrong with the Ebay ones? It seems always something wrong with the ebay ones. Anybody try them out yet?
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 04:22 PM
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who knows what condition they are in (I bet they are take offs from totaled TSXs). also, who knows if they even come with anything other than the housing.

someone would have to be a real guinea pig to buy those.
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 04:28 PM
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those actually look sweet do they have tail lights that are cleared? i searched but couldnt find any on ebay.
i mean if they do ill take the plunge cuz the red tail lights are just bothering me
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 04:35 PM
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^^please tell me you are kidding
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 05:03 PM
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Originally Posted by CGTSX07
who knows what condition they are in (I bet they are take offs from totaled TSXs). also, who knows if they even come with anything other than the housing.

someone would have to be a real guinea pig to buy those.
I imagine they're much like you said - takeoffs from a totaled USDM TSX. The side marker appears to be a custom job, not dissimilar from the thread someone started on here or the "other" forum once about a DIY JDM light. That said, they look pretty well done. Provided I could verify they're properly sealed, I would experiment with these if I didn't already have genuine JDM headlights.

Someone should go for it.
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 05:06 PM
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Originally Posted by CGTSX07
^^please tell me you are kidding
to be completely honest, im not.
it just sets things off in my opinion =/
everything all clear shiny and carbon gray
and i head to the back and theres these two red demonic strips
i was just gonna cover them up the static cling tints
but something will be done

and the more i look at those headlights, the more i want to buy them even though theres no reason at all >.<
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 05:17 PM
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I kinda doubt they're take offs from junked cars simply because Honda/Acura has never made headlights that look like that. It'd be a lot of work to swap out the amber diffuser.

More likely it's a Chinese made knock off. That isn't necessarily a bad thing if you're only concerned about the end result, i.e., not hung up on the "it must be JDM" thing (I'm sorry but I find that whole thing kind of retarded).
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 05:19 PM
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Originally Posted by LukeaTron
I kinda doubt they're take offs from junked cars simply because Honda/Acura has never made headlights that look like that. It'd be a lot of work to swap out the amber diffuser.

More likely it's a Chinese made knock off. That isn't necessarily a bad thing if you're only concerned about the end result, i.e., not hung up on the "it must be JDM" thing (I'm sorry but I find that whole thing kind of retarded).
motion seconded.
if someone sees cleared out tail lights im in, in the mean time someone buy them cuz i wanna see =P
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 05:25 PM
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Originally Posted by TaSeX
those actually look sweet do they have tail lights that are cleared? i searched but couldnt find any on ebay.
i mean if they do ill take the plunge cuz the red tail lights are just bothering me
+1

been waiting 4 years for altezza's! can't find em anywhere!!!
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 05:25 PM
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Well first off, they are NOT from totalled TSX's or Accord Euros.
They are NEW.

BUT...

They are not OEM. They are not JDM.

Everything should work with them, however the issue with quality
could come into play when you talk about projectors.

Usually, in other cars that is, the lights like this work just fine,
but at times the projectors for the lights are of a lesser quality.

They sure are cheap though.
I almost bought a pair just because, but that would be plain silly.
They should fit perfectly and work just fine, other than that possible
projector issue.

Nobody from the other forum has ever bought them either, so there's
not a single one to look at or to ask about yet.

Who's gonna be the first?
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 06:40 PM
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So, somebody super-ballin please buy the ebay ones, then retrofit the original TSX projectors into the ebay ones!
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 06:46 PM
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Honestly, if I would have known...
If my 06-08 JDM lights weren't already purchased...

I would try them out.

It's not going to be long at all before somebody tries them out.
They're just like the 06-08 JDM ones, but with their own sides on them.
And for less than half of the price...

Just a matter of time. Too tempting for many.
If one tries them and they work out good, they'll sell soooo many of those.
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Old Mar 11, 2008 | 09:32 PM
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Are they pretty much just PnP? Just swapping out the stock headlight for this ebay one? MMSTsx, in not so sure I know what you are trying to say with the projectors.
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Old Mar 12, 2008 | 07:04 AM
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Do the eBay ones come with projectors? Does it say so anywhere on there?

I'm going to assume they DO come with projectors and furthermore that they are USDM projectors. Call it a hunch. If that's the case, all you have to do is swap the ballasts and the bulbs.

Note: 04/05 ballasts and 06+ ballasts are differently shaped and sized. You can't attach an 04/05 ballast to an 06+ headlight or vice-versa without some interesting modification and fabrication. Before anyone orders these it would be smart to inquire what model year they're based on so that you can ensure you have the proper ballast to fit them.
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Old Mar 12, 2008 | 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Audioserf
Do the eBay ones come with projectors? Does it say so anywhere on there?

I'm going to assume they DO come with projectors and furthermore that they are USDM projectors. Call it a hunch. If that's the case, all you have to do is swap the ballasts and the bulbs.

Note: 04/05 ballasts and 06+ ballasts are differently shaped and sized. You can't attach an 04/05 ballast to an 06+ headlight or vice-versa without some interesting modification and fabrication. Before anyone orders these it would be smart to inquire what model year they're based on so that you can ensure you have the proper ballast to fit them.
Yes, they do come with projectors.
Yes, your ballasts/bulbs should just come out of your old lights and plug
right into these lights.
They're listed for all years, and I've seen plenty of folks with 04-05 cars whom
have the 06-08 JDM headlights installed. Claiming no problems at all.
The projectors are what focus and project the light from your bulbs.
If they're not great quality, your lights aren't going to perform as they should.
They won't be as focused and sharp.
Generic projectors do not have a good beam pattern as the OEM ones.
The light is diffused improperly causing the light to be slightly off in pattern and focus.
This is speaking in General Terms! These projectors could work great, nobody
knows at this point, nobody has bought them.

This is basically what you would buy when buying a JDM light set, however it's
from god knows who, and god knows where, with god knows what level of
quality. In appearance they look perfectly made and sized, but who knows really.

Only one way to really find out...
But I already have two sets of brand new lights, somebody else with only
one set will have to be the first to try these out.
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