help removing the headlight casing - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

greycamRy · 12-21-2010, 09:42 AM

Hey guys, I wanted to take my day off to paint my headlight housing black. Ive looked at a few DIY's and understand what do, but im getting mixed ideas about putting the headlight in the oven. some say 230F at 8 minutes, 200F at 10 minutes. Can some of the experienced guys give me the most accurate time and temperature? And is there anything you have to remove on the headlight before putting it in, so it wont melt? Thankyou

karbonfyber · 12-21-2010, 10:33 AM

Just do 200F at 10 minutes, pop them out, and see if you can pry it apart, if not, heat it up a little bit more at a slightly higher temp. I did mine at 220 for 10 minutes personally. Remove your bulbs and any plastic/rubber pieces you can remove before you pop it in.

molson.david · 12-21-2010, 10:57 AM

220-225 for 10-12 min. softer sealant-easier to open.
remove everything yopu can, don't forget screws!

CamrySExxx · 12-21-2010, 02:01 PM

what a coincidence, im doing my headlamps too today...
What paint are you using?

and I have used the oven method before and my buddy stopped by ... well my headlamp melted -_-

but I got a oem replacement for dirt cheap

.

Remember every oven is DIFFERENT no matter what.
A few approaches, high heat, low time.
Low heat, high time.
Or heat gun.

I would highly recommend going for a safer lower temp but higher time. I will warn you... KEEP AN EYE on them, time WILL go by SUPER slow but you wont have to worry about melting.

Its better to take your headlamps out and not have the glue melt enough and put them back in several times rather than to take them out too late and be screwed over in the end.

Sadly my oven isnt working at the moment so ill be using a heat gun...lets hope it works well.

A tip, get some silica packs which are those little packs found in shoe boxes, tape a few to the back of the reflector in each headlamp to asorb condensation. Also seal it back up with the original glue and if needed use some silicone II on top of it.

When putting it back you can use clamps but im using the ghetto method, wrap it up in a old towel and DUCT TAPE IT as tight as u can...

good luck

greycamRy · 12-21-2010, 03:18 PM

hey thanks guys, camrysexx, i see your approach, i hope both of ours go well! I am using some black high heat engine enamel paint as i saw in another DIY. Let me know how yours goes. about to put mine in

12-21-2010, 03:28 PM

i did 225 at 8min. i did my headlights twice and like 4 other cars. work for me everytime

CamrySExxx · 12-21-2010, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greycamRy

hey thanks guys, camrysexx, i see your approach, i hope both of ours go well! I am using some black high heat engine enamel paint as i saw in another DIY. Let me know how yours goes. about to put mine in

I used that same stuff on my accord two years back, I got the low gloss, its okay im trying the krylon fusion this time around. I also got a can of the textured metallic stuff to decide between but i think im going for the low gloss black.
Pics when your done, we got got grey cam's too. I should have the lamps out and apart tonight... Gonna leave them then head out for the night with a few buddies then head home and finish it off... Should have pics by tomorrow

LE05 · 12-21-2010, 04:13 PM

i've preheated to 300 (headlights NOT INSIDE!), then shut the oven OFF and stuck them in for 10 min. Works every time for me and little risk of burning/melting since the oven is off when the headlights are in there.

Once in a while i'll have to stick them back in for an additional 10 min cause the headlights cooled off too fast as i was prying them open. The oven usually doesn't cool off too much, as long as you close it right away after the first time... but oven's vary.

LNGasMan · 12-21-2010, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LE05

i've preheated to 300 (headlights NOT INSIDE!), then shut the oven OFF and stuck them in for 10 min. Works every time for me and little risk of burning/melting since the oven is off when the headlights are in there.

Once in a while i'll have to stick them back in for an additional 10 min cause the headlights cooled off too fast as i was prying them open. The oven usually doesn't cool off too much, as long as you close it right away after the first time... but oven's vary.

+1

. Preheat, turn off oven, then bake'em. This is my method and I've never melted a headlight during any of my retrofits. If the headlight is too big to go in the oven, use a heat gun.

DftMachine · 12-21-2010, 07:43 PM

I just took mine apart. it just would not come apart. First I tried 200 for 10 minutes but that didn't work so I did 225 for 10 minutes and i still had a hard time.
Oh and then I broke the clip that holds the shroud (is it called?) and then broke the corner of it trying to take out the reflectors so be careful taking those out.

Also what kind of paint is best? Is high heat paint necessary?

CamrySExxx · 12-21-2010, 08:04 PM

just took one aprt using heat gun. So far so good

CamrySExxx · 12-23-2010, 02:25 PM

Any updates on your progress?

greycamRy · 12-25-2010, 11:46 AM

wow camrysexx, looking good! My right one looks great! But I didnt seal up my left one good enough, its fogging and getting moist.

I will have to take it apart, dry it, and reseal it the right way!

gooooood job on your part though!

LE05 · 12-25-2010, 01:24 PM

looks good!

gen6 headlights look so easy to work on... they already have projector shrouds and the right adjustment/attachment points already. it's a pain in the ass on the gen 5's!

CamrySExxx · 12-25-2010, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greycamRy

wow camrysexx, looking good! My right one looks great! But I didnt seal up my left one good enough, its fogging and getting moist.

I will have to take it apart, dry it, and reseal it the right way!

gooooood job on your part though!

Did you open it back up yet? Try letting it sit for a bit or leave you high beams on for a bit. My headlamps have a bit of condensation in them too right after I installed them and went out side. It went away within a few hours. Happened when we first purchased the car. Happened again when the chrome was peeling and we get new ones from warranty. It went away after an hour or two though. Try letting it sit , if it gets worse than open it up throw a few packs of silica in and reseal.
I actually wrapped mine up in a towel and used some rope and tied up the headlamp tight in 4 different points, threw it by my fire place over night. Which would heat up and turn off periodically. Gave my headlamps a good seal ... i hope then i ran a nice bead of silicone II as a final sealent.