HID upgrade question about baking housings

[mikesz]

I am planning on updating my headlights to HID's. I plan on baking the housings to take the lens apart so I can install the projector lens. Everything I read says to remove the bulbs, rubber weatherstripping but nothing about the wiring harness in the housing itself. will this survive the baking process? Exactly what should be removed from the housing before I put the housings in the oven?

[particlewave]

The corner trims, rubber weather stripping and both rear covers should be removed. You can remove the bulbs, but it's not necessary.
The wiring insulation will not be harmed by the baking, but there's a good chance that it's already brittle (most are after 10+ years).

Bake @ 225f for 15 minutes.
Have you seen my lens removal video?

[mikesz]

Thanks Particlewave. haven't seen your video will check it out. the wiring isn't brittle. Before I do this want to make sure I ask all the right questions. Thank You!

[particlewave]

Glad to help

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sjOnfMHED0

[geraintthomas]

You could use a heat gun so you can direct the heat towards the edges of the lens, rather than all of it. May be a little safer that's how I'm planning to do it, when I eventually man up and get the balls to do it.

[particlewave]

A heat gun is excellent for melting/warping your lenses. Take my word for it and use an oven. Better and more even temp control.

[mikesz]

might try cooking the headlight his weekend. I have bought a cheap RH with a burnt inner reflector. I figured it gets tossed anyway do the burnt lens doesn't bother me and if its gets messed up I still have my headlights on the car. I have to find the time when the wife is not around, she is very protective of "her" oven (full blooded Italian).

[itsnotanova]

Originally Posted by particlewave

The corner trims, rubber weather stripping and both rear covers should be removed. You can remove the bulbs, but it's not necessary.
The wiring insulation will not be harmed by the baking, but there's a good chance that it's already brittle (most are after 10+ years).

Bake @ 225f for 15 minutes.
Have you seen my lens removal video?

I left a good corner piece on a headlight that I was baking. It was a ball of plastic goo when I went to get the headlight out of the oven.

Great video by the way

[jb92563]

Originally Posted by itsnotanova

I left a good corner piece on a headlight that I was baking. It was a ball of plastic goo when I went to get the headlight out of the oven.

Great video by the way

You needed to buy clear corner pieces anyway right?!!!

Kudos on killing the Orange corners "by accident".

Anyone know a good inexpensive source for the clear corners?

I noticed that my oven temp reading is off by 20 degrees, no wonder the turkey was semi raw at thanksgiving, it was reading 20F higher than the actual temp.

Might want to verify that to avoid under cooked or molten lights.
Also you need to Preheat the oven (10 mins) and let it reach a stable even temp before putting the light in to cook.

[geraintthomas]

Originally Posted by particlewave

A heat gun is excellent for melting/warping your lenses. Take my word for it and use an oven. Better and more even temp control.

We've got smaller ovens in the UK it won't fit. I've split headlights with heat guns before.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by geraintthomas

We've got smaller ovens in the UK it won't fit. I've split headlights with heat guns before.

If you try to split these with a heat gun, that mistake is going to cost you $hundreds$. Heed my advice or don't. It won't affect me one bit.

It may be cheaper to try to source a decent sized oven at a scrapyard than it will be to buy new headlights.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by jb92563

Might want to verify that to avoid under cooked or molten lights.
Also you need to Preheat the oven (10 mins) and let it reach a stable even temp before putting the light in to cook.

Excellent advice

[geraintthomas]

Originally Posted by particlewave

Heed my advice or don't. It won't affect me one bit. :

Even though that's pretty much stating the obvious, I appreciate you going out of your way to give me the option.

Either way, I can't help to wonder how splitting these with a heat gun is different to most other headlights that I've split. The principles are the same; gradually heating up the sealant to a point where it's soft enough to come apart. The plan is to try it on a scrapped, old broken pre-facelift headlamp with a heat gun before trying it on my main headlights, avoiding the costs of mistakes being made. Should be fine.

I'm glad it's not affecting you though

[particlewave]

1) These headlights cost a helluva lot more than your average headlight.

2) The sealant sits in a tongue and groove. You can't apply heat to it directly, which is why even heating of the entire assembly is required. If you try to apply heat to the area to soften the sealant, you will also be heating the outer edge of the lens and you will melt it. I've seen it happen multiple times, which is why I warned you against it. If you want to ruin your headlights, go right ahead. However, suggesting that this is a good idea and potentially causing others to ruin their headlights is incredibly irresponsible.

3) I've retrofitted 76 sets of these headlights, so I may have a general idea of what I'm talking about.

4) It's late there and I suggest you get some sleep.

[geraintthomas]

Originally Posted by particlewave

4) It's late there and I suggest you get some sleep.

Yes, Mum.

But to clear something up, none of that was meant to be offensive or cocky, so apologies if it came across as such.

Is it literally impossible to do with a heat gun? I'm trying to weigh up options as it just seams really illogical to go and buy an oven for this task only, if you can see what I mean.

[particlewave]

No, not at all!
I feel like I always come off as a jerk when I'm really just a cynical smarta$$ who thinks he knows everything. I didn't have my coffee this morning...

It's just risky. If you have no other choice, just be sure to use a large box (at least 2 to 3 times the size of a single headlight) and a temperature probe to constantly monitor the temperature inside the box. Keep it between 200°F and 250°F and be sure that the heat gun is not blowing directly on the headlight.

What I was getting at is do not try to use a heat gun directly on the headlight. If you use a box with a gun attached to it like an oven, then it's probably going to work ok.

[geraintthomas]

Gotcha. Makes a lot more sense!

The only way I can do it though an actual oven is to leave the door open while it's in there, but obviously the temperature's going to drop drastically.

I know Gordon Ramsay's parents... I might just convince them to ask Gordon to lend me an oven, hah!

[DarkStar]

I'd never use a heat gun. An oven and hair dryer for when pulling away, keeps the glue warm and gooey lol. But not a heat gun, too hot.

Sent from my SM-G925T using Tapatalk

[itsnotanova]

You can find old electric ovens for free or pretty close to it. I got one from a friend who was remodeling their kitchen. I mostly got it so I could powdercoat but it came in handy with baking headlights too. You can always bring it to a metal recycler when you're done with it.

[mikesz]

That raises another question. I have a gas stove can I use it to bake the headlights?