Removing Headlight Lense's

gilly02le · Post by **gilly02le** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:32 pm

I know a few ppl on here have probably done it, or seen it done so i figured i'd ask in here... does anyone know how to properly remove the lenses from the headlights, so i can clean the back sides of the lenses..?

I've read that you can put em in the over at 170*C and turn the over off once you put them in... let it sit for 5 or so minutes.. and then take them out and start pulling basically... anyone got any tips/pointers to save me some time when i'm doing this??? I'll be sure to take pictures once i decide to do this, and possibly write up a how-to, so people can clean their lights and get em looking new again!

this is why my lenses look like after a good bath in some oxiclean, and a good cleaning with Meguairs PlastiX,

You can see there is still a bunch of oxidization inside the lens, as well as some water spots now.. so i'd like to take em apart and polish the inside as well.

Jenni · Post by **Jenni** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 6:13 pm

Don't try to open them with the oven. It will kill the headlight. I opened my headlights with a dremel.

03neonse03 · Post by **03neonse03** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:32 pm

how did you clean your headlights using oxyclean? did you just wipe em down?

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:23 pm

I heard you can put it in the over at 200*F for about 10 minutes... but that is all I know.

try it and let us know how it works

I assume no responsibility if you do said above.

soul_sword34 · Post by **soul_sword34** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:44 pm

Jenni wrote:Don't try to open them with the oven. It will kill the headlight. I opened my headlights with a dremel.

I put mine in the oven, I don't remember the temperature, for about 5-10 minutes. Get a butter knife, you'll need it to help you along. Start pulling and using the knife to pry the clear lense out. If it won't budge what I did was turn up the heat by 20 degrees for a little bit and try again. Mine eventually popped off after I nearly cut my nose off....don't ask. Lights work fine. While you have them apart sand the chrome and paint em black.

Kevin_GP · Post by **Kevin_GP** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 11:40 pm

If they are stock headlights they wont come apart right in the oven. If they are depos or other aftermarket headlights then you can turn the over to 200, turn the oven off, put them in for 5 minutes, pry some and repeat the process. This way theres no way to crack/ruin the stock lenses. Stock headlights use a stronger glue that is easy to ruin the headlight in the oven, dremil is your best bet however gluing them back together might create more leaks than you have now, causing the cloudiness.

soul_sword34 · Post by **soul_sword34** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 1:21 am

Kevin_GP wrote:If they are stock headlights they wont come apart right in the oven. If they are depos or other aftermarket headlights then you can turn the over to 200, turn the oven off, put them in for 5 minutes, pry some and repeat the process. This way theres no way to crack/ruin the stock lenses. Stock headlights use a stronger glue that is easy to ruin the headlight in the oven, dremil is your best bet however gluing them back together might create more leaks than you have now, causing the cloudiness.

Wrong! Worked fine on my stock headlights. I glued mine back together using window sealant, still looks brand new and no leaks.

gilly02le · Post by **gilly02le** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:20 am

soul_sword34 wrote:
Kevin_GP wrote:If they are stock headlights they wont come apart right in the oven. If they are depos or other aftermarket headlights then you can turn the over to 200, turn the oven off, put them in for 5 minutes, pry some and repeat the process. This way theres no way to crack/ruin the stock lenses. Stock headlights use a stronger glue that is easy to ruin the headlight in the oven, dremil is your best bet however gluing them back together might create more leaks than you have now, causing the cloudiness.
Wrong! Worked fine on my stock headlights. I glued mine back together using window sealant, still looks brand new and no leaks.

Sounds Good thanks for the info soulsword.. And yea, i will definatly be painting inside to get the black outline look..

soul_sword34 · Post by **soul_sword34** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:29 pm

just remember to go easy and take your time. It is a bit frusterating to get the lense out but remember to just heat/pry, heat/pry, it'll eventually give.

atom · Post by **atom** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:33 pm

Maybe you could get one of those dent puller suction cups to aid your adventures.

lambostealth · Post by **lambostealth** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 6:58 pm

soul-sword might have gotten lucky or something, but stockers have melted in ovens many times, so, I wouldn't try it if I were you.