2000 GTP headlights???

[tblake]

Alright guys, this is my second set of F**Ked up headlights, I know I shouldn't have expected much from the 100.00 set off ebay. They looked real nice when I first got them.

Ok, so the original set is messed up too, but I thought maybe someone has the knowledge to share about how to fix them. They actually arent too bad except they are foggy and pitted on the inside of the lense, and I cant seem to figure out how to take them apart without breaking them. Anyone know how to fix them? I also noticed that the seal on the side of one of them seems to have bulged out the side. Possably exposing the inside of the capsule to the elements.

I also noticed that my foglights now have moisture in them, and that one of my 2 month old foglight silverstar just burned out.

Whats going on? Am I just bad luck? Dealership wants 300 a peice for a new set of headlights, but I dont want another crappy set that isnt going to be any good.

Any advice??

Thanks!!!!!!!!!

[grandprixgtx00]

here ya go T-Blake

worth the try right?? I'm gonna try it on my SE this summer, they are really bad

**edit** my bad, i just relized you are talking about the INSIDE of the headlight. not sure how to get the cloudyness out of the inside. i know i had moisture in the inside of mine, and i just removed the little black breather valve located on the back of the headlights and it fixed that problem.

[grandprixgtx00]

come to think of it...i was watching a show one time, i think it might have been like Trucks...or something. they were showing how to make homemade clear corners.

they just used a real small wheel grinder. they cut along the seal and broke the seal. they then removed the orange reflector, then used Epoxy to close it back up, and sanded it smooth...

i would imagine that MAYBE this would work for headlights? i guess if you still have your old set of headlights you can try it on them. then at least if you screw them ones up, you have a backup pair??

[tblake]

Yeah, Thats what I was thinking. I'm sure if I could get them open, I could fix the cloudiness. Thanks for the heads up. Any idea how to open them without damagine them?

[accuab]

Insert a large flat head screwdriver in between the clear and black part and twist slightly around the whole lens until the seal gives. It is made so that the clear front has a lip that slides inside a groove on the black piece. I recently took mine apart to fix the seal and to sand down cloudiness. I don't think you should have cloudiness inside the lens except for moisture. And as for removing the vent, that's asking for trouble. I prefer to do it the right way as to just a temporary fix.

[tblake]

Whats the right way of doing it?

Once I open it with a screwdriver, the seal is junk. What do I use in its place?

I think mine are cloudy on the inside due to moisture getting inside and then drying.

How likely is it that I will break my headlight capsule when I'm trying to open it?

[doctorhrdware]

I would use a high quality silicone rubber to reseal the head light. Like aquarium silicone sealant.

[accuab]

They make a windshield sealer that you can pick up at advance. It is also a lamp assembly sealer. It is more liquidy? than other sealers so it can flow into holes and not just stick where you put it. It is also a flexible bond so it can take the shaking from the engine. Be careful not to put too much or it will squeeze into the inside. I recommend a clamp or strap to hold constant pressure. It will require 24 hours for full curing. If it comes to the outside it is okay because you can go back with a scraper to remove the excess. It will dry a shiny clear so you can just smooth all the way around the seal and it will look good. It will actually make the dull plastic look better in my opinion. You could also just allow it to bubble out and scrape it off after drying. Check after about an hour to see if you see a spot that may have not gotten a good seal. I think a little too much is better than a bad seal. The tube of that sealer seams small but is plenty for both healamps. I did both and still had like a third of the tube left. You may actually find a spot on your original seal that is bad. Mine is a 2002 and I found a couple spots on each(both had moisture problems-key word HAD). I wouldn't plan on using the headlamps for at least one night cause you don't want to risk breaking the seal before it has time to fully cure. As to breaking the headlamps, I doubt it. They are more durable than you think. At most, you could chip the part that goes into the groove if you get too rough with the screwdriver. Just take your time and don't try to force it. As soon as you can get the screwdriver in between the two pieces, the rest of the seal goes with no problem at all. Don't use a small screwdriver because it will put too much pressure on the edges of the flat head and possible eat into the plastic. Watch for that and move to another spot if it looks like it is doing any damage. Keep in mind that no one can see the bottom side so if you need to do a little bit of harder work, do it there. Unbolt the headlamp lens from the assembly piece to get to the side of it.

[TRIK-56]

tblake,
How long did the ebay lights last and what went wrong with them anyway?
I was thinking about buying a set of those but after reading your post I don't know.
Some are priced at just over $100 and others are cloder to $200 a set.
Do you suppose one set is any better than the other?

[tblake]

Mine were 175 about shipped for both sides. They looked awesome about a year ago when first installed them, and they still do look really nice, its just that they have a lot of moisture on the inside of them that really doesnt seem to go away. They also sort of "bounce" while drivng 55+ mph and going over a lot of bumps, but it isnt excessive so it doesnt bother me too bad.