Do it yourself cleared '02 headlights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-17-2002, 06:49 PM
  #1  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Do it yourself cleared '02 headlights

Did this today....was well worth the time...

Here is the starting point, remove front bumper..

Then take out the light housings and heat em up with heat gun...didnt take pictures here cuz once you start heating you cant really take a break, you have to keep going till its done...here are those two orange POS....

Here is the light housing with the orange removed..

And here is the fruit of my labor!!
Old 03-17-2002, 06:51 PM
  #2  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Some More>:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
Old 03-17-2002, 06:51 PM
  #3  
Banned
 
chadhova's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Age: 40
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Damn man, that looks so much better. Too bad it looks like a lot of work.
Old 03-17-2002, 06:51 PM
  #4  
Three Wheelin'
 
962.5tl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Toms River
Age: 40
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
nice job ... i hope you siliconed around the headlight and let it ahve time to dry before yo put it back on

if not i dont want to see what it looks like when it rains
Old 03-17-2002, 07:05 PM
  #5  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Its a lot of work, and that **** is sealed up tight... But it does look soooo much better. And know I know how to do it!!
Old 03-17-2002, 07:41 PM
  #6  
Shogun Assassin
 
fahoumh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Kitchener, Ontario
Age: 43
Posts: 3,395
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
looks great!
Old 03-17-2002, 07:48 PM
  #7  
¤ Club Inspire ¤
 
ElegantTL-S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: So Cal
Age: 42
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
haha....nice naqeeb! I'll see you when you come back from your trip..
Old 03-17-2002, 07:52 PM
  #8  
Peach Tea
 
badazzTL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Age: 39
Posts: 4,822
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
looks great! how long did it take you? i see its daylight outside during all of the pics
Old 03-17-2002, 07:55 PM
  #9  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by badazzTL
looks great! how long did it take you? i see its daylight outside during all of the pics
started at 8:30am and finished re-assembling the headlights by 2:30ish. Then let them cure and finished putting the car back together by about 4:15ish.
Old 03-17-2002, 09:00 PM
  #10  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by ElegantTL-S
haha....nice naqeeb! I'll see you when you come back from your trip..
Haha...Just make sure that you have a nice comfy chair that i can relax in while i tell you what to do!!
Old 03-17-2002, 09:07 PM
  #11  
¤ Club Inspire ¤
 
ElegantTL-S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: So Cal
Age: 42
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally posted by nameeri


Haha...Just make sure that you have a nice comfy chair that i can relax in while i tell you what to do!!
haha dammit!!! :thefinger imma go and get the sealant this week...
Old 03-17-2002, 09:08 PM
  #12  
Three Wheelin'
 
lilboykorea's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Calgary Canada
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
very nice!!:wow:
Old 03-17-2002, 10:43 PM
  #13  
Ex TL-S owner
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thumbs up

looking good
Old 03-18-2002, 02:29 PM
  #14  
Loving my 08 TLS!
 
TypeSDragon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Age: 47
Posts: 2,883
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
looks great, but i am too lazy to do this mod.
Old 03-18-2002, 02:37 PM
  #15  
Racer
 
03TLTYPES's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Newbie Question here

I don't know much about these headlights but I know there is some type of xenon gas in them, right?

Audviously the gas is not in the casing, right?

Is it in the bulbs?

If yes then why do people need a hid kit (or new casing) for the hid look? why not just HID bulbs?

How exactly do the HID lights work?

I'll probably do this mod and I just want to make sure I understand the make-up of these lights befor taking them apart.
Old 03-18-2002, 02:48 PM
  #16  
¤ Club Inspire ¤
 
ElegantTL-S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: So Cal
Age: 42
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Re: Newbie Question here

Originally posted by 03TLTYPES
I don't know much about these headlights but I know there is some type of xenon gas in them, right?

Audviously the gas is not in the casing, right?

Is it in the bulbs?

If yes then why do people need a hid kit (or new casing) for the hid look? why not just HID bulbs?

How exactly do the HID lights work?

I'll probably do this mod and I just want to make sure I understand the make-up of these lights befor taking them apart.
The Xenon your talking about is in the low beam bulbs. People need HID KITS, because their cars did not come with HID's from factory. HID Bulbs will not work without the igniter and ballast. Hmm...HID's has a gases in them so when you ignite it...it gets..umm..happy? :p haha. I'm not too good with technical things.
Old 03-18-2002, 02:54 PM
  #17  
Racer
 
03TLTYPES's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, Nuf said, I get it.
Old 03-18-2002, 02:55 PM
  #18  
Racer
 
03TLTYPES's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
One more ?


Our Highs are HID ready, right?
Old 03-18-2002, 03:06 PM
  #19  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
first signs of condensation inside the housing

Allright folks, just went outside my office today to look at the lenses and i noticed some condensation in both the lights. Not much, very slight. Im hoping that this is some risidual moisture that remained in the housing after i reassembled it and put the bulbs back in. Cuz if there is a bad seal in both the lights i would be surprised. Ill keep you all updated on the outcome.


Originally posted by: 03TLTYPES
How exactly do the HID lights work?
HID's are a special bulb that have Xenon gas inside and the gas is excited by a very high voltage. This excitation gives off energy in the form of light. They work the same way that regular flourescent tubes work. The gas is only in the bulb, the light housing is just air and can be taken apart. The HID ballast is on the housing, but it doesnt need to be messed with to take the two pieces apart. Its safe as long as you work slowly and carefully and RESEAL everything up really good.
Old 03-18-2002, 03:12 PM
  #20  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by 03TLTYPES
One more ?


Our Highs are HID ready, right?
Our high beam ARE NOT HID ready. You would need to purchase a seperate ballast for each bulb in order to make them HID. Some people have converted the FOG lights to HID but they had to buy an HID conversion kit in order to do so. Only the lows are HID.
Old 03-18-2002, 04:59 PM
  #21  
¤ Club Inspire ¤
 
ElegantTL-S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: So Cal
Age: 42
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Re: first signs of condensation inside the housing

Originally posted by nameeri
Allright folks, just went outside my office today to look at the lenses and i noticed some condensation in both the lights. Not much, very slight. Im hoping that this is some risidual moisture that remained in the housing after i reassembled it and put the bulbs back in. Cuz if there is a bad seal in both the lights i would be surprised. Ill keep you all updated on the outcome.
oh no..not good! o_O*
Old 03-18-2002, 05:14 PM
  #22  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Checked the lenses again at 3:00pm and the moisture is going away! :p Hopefully it wont come back. There is still a little in one of the lights but it seems to be going as well.
Old 03-18-2002, 05:41 PM
  #23  
Sticky Rice OwnZ joO
 
Edub-TL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Bay Area & Sacramento, Cali
Age: 47
Posts: 4,246
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Those painted bulbs..
is that when just the parking lights are on or is that when flashing??
Old 03-18-2002, 05:48 PM
  #24  
Pro
 
Slammed99TL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Miami,Fl.
Posts: 693
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The bad thing about our headlights is that the ballast is attatched to the back of the headlight. The ballast is pretty heavy so when you put the headlight back on the car the housing is screwed on to the brackets and the back piece where the ballast is attached is beign pulled back because of the weight causing the rear part of the headlight and the housing to seperate if not sealed properly.


I know this because it happened to me. Both me and my friend did our headlights at the same time and sealed them with the same product we did everything the same & I get moisture in the headlight and he doesnt. Why? because his ballast isn't attached to his headlight pulling it apart
Old 03-18-2002, 05:53 PM
  #25  
Three Wheelin'
 
962.5tl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Toms River
Age: 40
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
th reason that yours leaked is cause you didnt seal it up enough... did you use any kind of silicon sealant to seal it up after you were done

ohh year refering to my last post: told you so
Old 03-18-2002, 06:35 PM
  #26  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by Edub-TL
Those painted bulbs..
is that when just the parking lights are on or is that when flashing??
When the parking lights are on or when its flashing. You can see the paint imperfections, and the lights is not that bright. If you look at bebbers original post the light seems really bright but he wasnt using the stock amber bulbs. Trust me, it looks bad, but the bulbs are cheap so try it if you want.

Originally posted by 962.5TL
th reason that yours leaked is cause you didnt seal it up enough... did you use any kind of silicon sealant to seal it up after you were done
Ofcourse i sealed it back up. I used honda bond. i dont think that the lights have a bad seal. its just some risidual moisture inside the casing. Should be fine once the air inside becomes dry.
Old 03-18-2002, 07:26 PM
  #27  
TL Type-S Owner
 
mbeebe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Memphis, TN
Age: 41
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
What the HID ballast does is convert the 12v from the battery to 25,000v. It actually uses less power than halogens and emits a higher temperature light at more lumens. Be careful though, 25000v will not only light up HID's, but it will also light you up.
Old 03-18-2002, 07:34 PM
  #28  
¤ Club Inspire ¤
 
ElegantTL-S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: So Cal
Age: 42
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally posted by mbeebe
Be careful though, 25000v will not only light up HID's, but it will also light you up.
HAHA, you can say that again!!!!
Old 03-18-2002, 08:30 PM
  #29  
Three Wheelin'
 
962.5tl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Toms River
Age: 40
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
it can light you up your car up and even your dog( if you have a dog)

and thats a big
Old 03-18-2002, 09:08 PM
  #30  
Instructor
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 173
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
you really need to drop the bumper to this mod?:yack: Is there not an easier way ???? Just wondering...
Old 03-18-2002, 09:18 PM
  #31  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
bumper has to come off. Thats not the only thing that has to come off, the lights need to be heated and pried apart :wow: just to take out that damn orange plastic strip that shouldnt be there in the first place!! Damn honda! what were they thinking?
Old 03-18-2002, 09:19 PM
  #32  
Instructor
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 173
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
I guess they have us thinking a lot ))))):p
Old 03-18-2002, 09:46 PM
  #33  
¤ Club Inspire ¤
 
ElegantTL-S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: So Cal
Age: 42
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
i was hoping when they made the Inspires..it came with a clear reflector..but nooo!! It looks the same! ah well... :p
Old 03-18-2002, 11:42 PM
  #34  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Condensation pics

Here is the condensation inside the housing. Its really not that bad but its really anoying to look at. The sucky part is that the condensation is so light that i cant tell if its because of a bad seal or because there is just moist air trapped that cant get out.

You can see it here around the turn signal on the left side:


And also on the right side around the turn signal and on the front of the lens:


Its not so visible from this angle but its there..


This sucks man
Old 03-18-2002, 11:45 PM
  #35  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I just had a crazy thought!! What if i tell my insurance company that my headlights were stolen and then have them pay for new ones!! I only have a 250 deductible and thats a hell of a lot cheaper than the total cost for two lights :wow: :wow: Nah....ill just take care of this
Old 03-18-2002, 11:53 PM
  #36  
¤ Club Inspire ¤
 
ElegantTL-S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: So Cal
Age: 42
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
HAH! And how did they steal it huh Naqeeb?! you willing to act out this? by bending your fenders and breaking your bumper?!?! damn man...that looks horrible.....i hope that doesn't happen to mines.... how about removing the turn signal socket..and leaving it like that for like an hour in your garage..I seriously think it's humidity. take out a socket bulb and let the air out.
Old 03-19-2002, 02:29 AM
  #37  
Banned
 
Austin519's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Forgive the comment of the Comp engr. here...but with this 25kV talk I want to unscare the totally scared people...that high a voltage will spark...hence the HID lights...but it won't kill you without enough current.

Austin519
Old 03-19-2002, 03:00 PM
  #38  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by ElegantTL-S
HAH! And how did they steal it huh Naqeeb?! you willing to act out this? by bending your fenders and breaking your bumper?!?! damn man...that looks horrible.....i hope that doesn't happen to mines.... how about removing the turn signal socket..and leaving it like that for like an hour in your garage..I seriously think it's humidity. take out a socket bulb and let the air out.
Well ive gotten over the idea of making false claims to my insurance company. Instead, ive decided to try out your idea Ray. The humidity is barely 19% today over where i work so i took out my high beam bulbs and hopefully in the heat, the lights will dry out and the moisture will dry up. We'll see how it works out when i get off work today. Wish me luck!!
Old 03-19-2002, 03:13 PM
  #39  
Banned
 
Austin519's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 2,418
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
nameeri:
Ya know you could also do one of two things...1) get a hair dryer and sit there blowing hot air into it to or 2) go to a local gas station that has an air hose and just blow air into it...or hell even 3) grab one of those chemical packets you usually find in new shoes or clothes, and stick one in there to soak up the moisture.

Austin519
Old 03-19-2002, 03:31 PM
  #40  
Pro
Thread Starter
 
nameeri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ontario, CA
Age: 47
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Damn dude, thats a good idea.. I should use some of that dessicant crap that they put in jackets and shoes. You know I might just try that out. If the removal of the high beam bulbs doesnt help air it out, then ill try all of the above..thanks austin.


Quick Reply: Do it yourself cleared '02 headlights



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:02 PM.