Notices
SC - 1st Gen (1992-2000)

cant clear out tailights and headlights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 24, 2003 | 08:41 PM
  #1  
shoyu's Avatar
shoyu
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
Default cant clear out tailights and headlights

i used a heat gun and after a lot of bending twisting a few cracks and 3 hours later i gave up. i mean i couldnt even get it cracked open. im gonna try to use the oven heating tommorrow. oh yeah my point heat guns suck it melted the housing before it melted the silicone.

oh yeah if anyone has any suggestions for me i would be very happy to take them thanks again cl memebers

Last edited by pcmw; Jan 25, 2003 at 12:50 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2003 | 08:49 PM
  #2  
hiyabrad's Avatar
hiyabrad
Driver
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: ca
Default

Can someone please let me know what "clearing out" the lights means? Thanks!
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2003 | 10:57 PM
  #3  
kylesc400's Avatar
kylesc400
Lead Lap
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 597
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Default

hes referring to openning up the housing for his tail lights and headlights. people usually open up the headlights by melting the silicone around the edges so they can clean it/eliminate whatever condensation has accumulated over the years. as for tail lights, especially the 95-96 lights, people like to open them up to remove some of the colored pieces of plastic to get a custom look. in the 95-96 models, you can take out the bottom colored pieces so that the top of each tail light is red, and the bottom is clear/silver.
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2003 | 11:45 PM
  #4  
lex400sc's Avatar
lex400sc
Lexus Fanatic
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,387
Likes: 1
From: bat country
Default

The oven trick or hot water trick works well. Know that whichever method you try, it will always involve a decent amount of time, effort, and elbow grease. Expect to reheat the housings at least three times before you can pry them open fully. The adhesive Lexus uses is very, very resilient, but once you get a corner cracked open, the rest is cake. The whole housing will give in and open up. Good luck!
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2003 | 12:10 AM
  #5  
Grimpy's Avatar
Grimpy
Lexus Test Driver
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,374
Likes: 2
From: California
Default

I think you put the heat gun too close... The silicone should melt very quickly, I used a heat gun and my headlights didn't melt. What kind of heat gun are you using?
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2003 | 04:44 AM
  #6  
shoyu's Avatar
shoyu
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
Default

im using a cheezy heat gun from home depot that has a low and high setting.

turns out i was holding it to close but i still cant melt the silicone kinda burnt my fingers too on the hot plastic

ima try the oven trick now but ive never heard of the hot water trick though. is it as easy as it sounds
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2003 | 01:29 PM
  #7  
Jmai22's Avatar
Jmai22
Lexus Fanatic
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,203
Likes: 0
From: California
Default

don't leave it in one place. move back and forth in a 6 inch area. just keep oging back and forth. once it opens move on to next area.
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2003 | 01:57 PM
  #8  
The Ikon's Avatar
The Ikon
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,506
Likes: 26
From: Mississippi
Default

This will help from a thread (search) titled "DAMN" by The Ikon... https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...highlight=Damn

It's easy, just a lil' time consuming... BE CAREFUL WITH THE HEAT!!!!

The Ikon

Last edited by The Ikon; Jan 25, 2003 at 01:59 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2003 | 04:36 PM
  #9  
SilverBolt 219's Avatar
SilverBolt 219
Pole Position
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: DC
Default

Originally posted by shoyu
ive never heard of the hot water trick though. is it as easy as it sounds
I second that, what is this hot water trick? I've never heard of it before. I plan on getting myself a pair of the 95-96 tails soon & clearing them out, so naturally I'm trying to research & find out what is the safest & most effective method. Thanks everyone and good luck shoyu!
-Johnny
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2003 | 02:41 AM
  #10  
shoyu's Avatar
shoyu
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
Default

omg i did it i cleared it out jeezus!!! took forever but i did it. forget the heat gun that doesnt work do the oven trick it works so much better and no melting.!!!!!
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2003 | 04:20 AM
  #11  
lex400sc's Avatar
lex400sc
Lexus Fanatic
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,387
Likes: 1
From: bat country
Default

Hot water trick is to submerge the headlight housing in 190-degree water for 15-20 minutes. Remove and pry. Submerge again in a fresh batch of 190-degree water. Remove and pry. Repeat until the housing opens.
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2003 | 06:02 PM
  #12  
retrodrive's Avatar
retrodrive
Search Function Inc.
20 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,819
Likes: 2
From: California
Default

Did that with my LSheadlights today. Easy. Preheat oven to 250 degrees, keep the whole headlight assembly for 5 minutes in the oven, Take it out and easily pull the glass from the plastic. while silicone is still hot, remove it fron the plastic piece. this will make it easier to reinstall with new silicone.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
nimit1234
SC - 1st Gen (1992-2000)
2
Jun 5, 2006 05:22 AM
kiwidi
IS - 2nd Gen (2006-2013)
11
Mar 16, 2006 10:40 PM
alanhp
Lighting
1
Mar 7, 2004 01:40 AM
chrisgs
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
4
May 28, 2003 05:20 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:35 PM.