Resealing Headlights.....part 2

[Cous3]

Recently I split some headlight and sprayed them, unfortunately one started to let in condensation, so before I fitted my new HID's I took the headlight out and had another go. This time I used one of my original lights, I put it in the oven for 15 minutes at 100 degrees and pulled it apart quite easily. Then I started to push the grey glue back down into the groove with a screwdriver to get an even spread all around the light, something I didn't do last time. I kept putting it back into the oven to keep the glue soft as I worked. Also I cleaned up the lens once the glue left on it had cooled and hardened, for this my Dremmell made light work. Worth noting here is the light are not air tight, but have 3 small sponges accessed from the rear of the light via small hatches. The ones in my headlight were a bit shabby and so I made some of my own up and replaced them.

To reseal the light I put only the back part into the oven for 15 mins to get the glue really soft, then pushed the lens back into place, ensuring all the tabs relocated.

A few pics:

Keith

[DJ Wozza]

Nice pics & write up Keith.

3 questions...

1 What temperature did you have the oven at ?

2 Was the oven up to temperature before you placed the Headlight inside ?

3 Was the oven Fan assisted ?

[spikes]

great read and tips Keith :)

[Cous3]

Wozza..............

Oven was at 100 degrees.

Yes, pre heat the oven, then headlight goes in for 15 mins when at correct temp.

Yes, my oven is fan assisted.

100 degrees isn't too hot, even after 15 mins you can still touch the light, but do keep checking, say at 10 mins into it. Don't let the light touch the oven sides, although I just placed mine on the internal oven rack and was okay.

It kind of made sense to me to only put the back part back into the oven before resealing to melt the glue, also the lens at normal room temp doesn't flex and so seemed to go in better.

I don't know if the sponge parts I took out are "special", but they seemed pretty ordinary to me, plus they were kind of brittle like sponge goes when old. So I cut up a new sponge, the kind you wash up with that have a scouer one side, not the really cheapo ones (20 for a £1...lol).......I used "Spontex" from Sainsburys, 2 for under a quid, they are just a better quality sponge.

Keith

[DJ Wozza]

Nice one Keith, I asked on behalf of other members so they had an idea as to what to do :)

So are the sponges there to act as breathers somehow or for some other reason ?

[spikes]

Nice one Keith, I asked on behalf of other members so they had an idea as to what to do :)

So are the sponges there to act as breathers somehow or for some other reason ?

just for breathing, the fogs have short rubber pipes :)

[DJ Wozza]

Surely they don't do that good a job if condensation builds up......

[spikes]

Surely they don't do that good a job if condensation builds up......

its like inside the the car or home cold outside, warm inside causes condensation as the car bulbs get hot.

probs with splitting lights is they need sealing good to stop water leaking inside causing even more condensation

[rig-pig]

time to give it a shot lights in the oven just now Mmmm smells good

[TommyH]

Wozza..............

Oven was at 100 degrees.

Yes, pre heat the oven, then headlight goes in for 15 mins when at correct temp.

Yes, my oven is fan assisted.

Please dont laugh, my wife does all the cooking,

Whats the temp with gas, 1 To 9 ?

[rig-pig]

?????????????????????????????????????????

[Steviewevie]

Is the 100 degrees Celsius ? I presume so because I wouldn't think 100 Farenheit would be hot enough and I don't think a F-graded oven goes that low.

If it's 100 Celsius, then that equates to gas mark 1/4 (that's one quarter, not 1 to 4 !). Gas mark 1 is 140 degrees.

[aido]

Please dont laugh, my wife does all the cooking,

Whats the temp with gas, 1 To 9 ?

Gas mark 1 is 140 degrees.

Spot who does more cooking between you two :P

I've only ever used my oven once in three years and that was to cook a pizza :D

[TommyH]

Please dont laugh, my wife does all the cooking,

Whats the temp with gas, 1 To 9 ?

Gas mark 1 is 140 degrees.

Spot who does more cooking between you two :P

I've only ever used my oven once in three years and that was to cook a pizza :D

PMSL, even i know you bake a pizza, you dont cook a pizza :D

[Steviewevie]

Please dont laugh, my wife does all the cooking,

Whats the temp with gas, 1 To 9 ?

Gas mark 1 is 140 degrees.

Spot who does more cooking between you two :P

Or who's more willing to type in "gas mark conversion" into Google :P

[aido]

PMSL, even i know you bake a pizza, you dont cook a pizza :D

That'll probably by why it ended up in the bin

[TommyH]

i heard the bin was sick.

[aido]

i heard the bin was sick.

With all the cold pizza and burgers that bin has seen in it's lifetime I'm surprised it hasn't gone in for gallstones too

[TommyH]

i heard the bin was sick.

With all the cold pizza and burgers that bin has seen in it's lifetime I'm surprised it hasn't gone in for gallstones too

PMSL

[jamie07800]

ok ive been doing the same with my headlights only i found an old post saying 7minutes at 250c, my driver side was ok was a big struggle to prize apart and wow theres alot of glue on them the second went totaly wrong and melted after only 5minutes :o

so if u know where i can get a nearside front light plz plz plz let me know if not looks like will have to wait till monday and go main dealer !

so a note for first timers keep checking !!! and yes my oven was fan assisted

[Steviewevie]

ok ive been doing the same with my headlights only i found an old post saying 7minutes at 250c, my driver side was ok was a big struggle to prize apart and wow theres alot of glue on them the second went totaly wrong and melted after only 5minutes :o

Are you sure it didn't just say 250 degrees and it meant Farenheit (bearing in mind the Americans use Farenheit) ?

[rig-pig]

150 degrees C for 10 min thats what i did on 2 sets and it was fine