Headlight Project
- Thread starter SubeSquad
- Start date
CoupedUpSubie
FWD-FTW
I'm not exactly sure because I haven't pulled mine apart but there are 4 or 5 metal clips that may be holding it together.
4WRXter
Skier!
I did it to mine on the WRX.
Remove light assembly from car.
On the back of the lights, there may be some small screws holding them together. On mine there were 3-4 as I remember.
Remove the bulbs and wiring/pigtails.
Put the lights in the oven at 195-200 for maybe 10 minutes. Check' em once or twice to see if they will start to pull apart. Better to take your time than leave them in too long.
Use some gloves, put some newspapers on the table or bench you are going to take them apart on. You will get some of the sealant on your hands/gloves and clothes. If you get it on your hands it sticks and can burn you pretty good.
Lightly sand the chrome reflector where you are going to paint. Mask off any place you don't want to paint. I left the parts around the actual headlight bulb and directional bulb, chrome.
After the paint is good and dry (a couple days), Put the reflectors back in, Put the lens and the housing in the oven, the sealant will get soft and sticky, re-attach the lens to the housing.
It actually is pretty simple. Don't rush it, think about what you are doing, and you shouldn't have any problem.
Here is one link that will help. Not the same year and model, but it should give you a pretty good idea of what to look for and how to do it.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1763677&highlight=paint+headlights
Post #3 here gives temp and time.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2041588&highlight=headlight+paint
Good one here also.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=749614&page=2
Remove light assembly from car.
On the back of the lights, there may be some small screws holding them together. On mine there were 3-4 as I remember.
Remove the bulbs and wiring/pigtails.
Put the lights in the oven at 195-200 for maybe 10 minutes. Check' em once or twice to see if they will start to pull apart. Better to take your time than leave them in too long.
Use some gloves, put some newspapers on the table or bench you are going to take them apart on. You will get some of the sealant on your hands/gloves and clothes. If you get it on your hands it sticks and can burn you pretty good.
Lightly sand the chrome reflector where you are going to paint. Mask off any place you don't want to paint. I left the parts around the actual headlight bulb and directional bulb, chrome.
After the paint is good and dry (a couple days), Put the reflectors back in, Put the lens and the housing in the oven, the sealant will get soft and sticky, re-attach the lens to the housing.
It actually is pretty simple. Don't rush it, think about what you are doing, and you shouldn't have any problem.
Here is one link that will help. Not the same year and model, but it should give you a pretty good idea of what to look for and how to do it.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1763677&highlight=paint+headlights
Post #3 here gives temp and time.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2041588&highlight=headlight+paint
Good one here also.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=749614&page=2
Last edited by a moderator:
gakosaurusrex
New member
great right up johny. I just wanted to add, never touch the inside of the lenses!
scubiecraig
New member
I know this is a bit old, but if you haven't already done this, be careful and make sure to really seal those suckers tight when you put them back together... otherwise you can get condensation inside the headlight housings, and you'll have foggy lenses. I did this on my old Mazda3 for some angel eyes. They looked awesome, but I had a small leak in the silicone somewhere and every now and then I would get condensation in the lense. It looked horrible. It does go away by itself after a bit of driving, but for that period of time where it is foggy it is embarrassing. Not to mention, it can get to your lighting connections and you can blow bulbs incessantly.
Good luck!
Good luck!