Anyone Know how to clean the inside of a 360 headlight?

There was a thread on this same subject some time ago.

If you do a search you should find it.

 

Here's one link:

http://www.thebestemployee.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113004&highlight=360+headlight

 

I have seen a guy take a sealed headlamp and cook it in the oven to get the glue to release. Can take the lense off, clean it and put back on. I know it sounds ridiculous but I have seen guys do it!!

Here is a DIY on a mustang site.. I know I know...

http://www.mustangtuning.com/headlight-condensation-remedy.html

Edit:

Here is a more compled FYI with pics of a WRX:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=384488

DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK. I think your nuts if you try it but hey its your car, and i'm just giving you another option.

 

Cooking H/L's is pretty tricky.

Why can't one use a high heat hair dryer or shrink-tube blower to just evenly heat along the seal?

If the glass does not heat evenly in an oven, it could crack and explode! I once experienced a glass pyrex oven dish explode!

I would say this is a risky process!

If you look at Rifledriver's photo, I think the the expression is that of one whose H/L assembly just exploded!

 

I would NOT recommend this !!!!! Once you break the seal you are asking for condensation to form when you reassemble the lamp unit . A great deal goes into assembling headlamp/taillamp units , and breaking the seal is just inviting problems/trouble .

 

Of course its risky but if you read the DIY, it says use 180 degrees. should not heat up to much to explode. Like I said, its up to you, but just another idea. If you reseal with proper adhesive the h/l would be fine. I have seen waaaay crazier crap then this on Fchat involving bodywork, turbocharging, etc... this is tame in comparison.

 

First of all, if the headlight assembly were properly sealed, there wouldn't be debris in there to begin with. Secondly, heating the assembly in an oven is WAY more controlled and even than any handheld device. And thirdly, this is all conjecture of course so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

 

I have open the headlights on my dads car before to do an HID retrofit, Altho it's not a Ferrari I was still concerned with messing up the housing and lense.

If you're going to go with the oven method simply preheat the oven to 250 and then turn it off before putting the headlight in. Hopefully you have an oven with a window and can watch just to be on the safe side as you let it sit in there for about 10 minutes.

After it's been in the oven take out the housing and slowly start prying it open with a screwdriver, if it doesn't come apart easily stick it back in the oven and let it warm up some more.

The main thing to remember is to leave the oven off so you don't melt the housing and just go slow when opening it, don't get rushed and try and pry it back open.

Since it sounds like you have a bad seal on your headlight to begin with I would recommend buying a new strip of headlight sealer. Nissan sells strips of it if I find a link i'll post it.

You can go with the heat gun method, but it will take much more time to do and the glue holding the housing together will not soften up evenly and come apart as easily. Hopefully this was a help if you have any questions I've opened a set up 3 times before. Good luck.

 

Giggs,

Yes please "illuminate" us with your successes!!

 

I've had two pyrex dishes blow up while making rosemary garlic potatoes! Right at the end too.. like I only had 5 minutes left and then "crack/bang" and the oven is a mess.

I hate when that happens!

Ray

 

Don't you hate when that happens?

A shattering experience for sure!

Say I am supposed to meet with your buddy, Tony C, while down there!

He said he didn't care what anyone said that you were all right!

 

Has anyone tried just taking out the light bulbs and putting a shop vac up to one of the holes? I just did it - worked pretty well. A few specks of dust are left at the top - I think I'm going to put the air hose in another bulb hole and - get this - blow and suck at the same time!

 

Bump...for those of us embarking upon into the great unknown.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=384488

 

The question is who is going to bake their 260 headlights first?

Thanks for the link!

 

I think I like the vac idea better. I don't know about the blowing and sucking though