Dirt in headlamp unit

[renmure]

I seem to have some dirt in my headlight unit. There is a wee bit of condensation which disappears after a few mins of sticking the lights on, but I would really like to clean the dirt out of the unit.

Bearing in mind I am finding my feet with this diy lark, can anyone please point me in the right direction for doing this and putting them back together and perhaps reassure me that it is idiot proof.

Thanks in advance,

Jim

[confusionhunter]

Ive had this issue too and this is after I've resealed the back covers with spongue tape and waterproof tape
I bought a bag of silica gel that i was going to make som packs up to put inside the headlight and try resealing again!!!
Maybe some silicon this time!
I do have some of the usual etch primer cioming away on the front coveres but nothing has broken right the way through..

How are your rear covers sealed onto the back?

[renmure]

I assume it is coming from the rear of the unit since the front cover / bodywork join seems perfect. I have had a poke and prod around the back of the unit and it does look like it could be better sealed.

[Storer]

I am about to build a second front clip for my GTR (started it last year but not yet finished) and I will be using screws or tiny bolts to hold the light covers on. Probably use a small seal to keep most of the water out but many Ultimas seem to have the same problem.



Paul

[Abbosevolution]

I'm with Paul on this - I'm doing the same

[Ult-Jim]

Yes regular problem. but easier challenge than the drive shafts to take apart a give a quick clean. Another good way to see how the car is put together.

[DHGTR]

yep already done the same with the bolts, doesn't stop condensation but i can get glass off to clean them.

[AndreasW]

I have sealed the back headlight covers with wide bitumen tape. This sticks and seals very well. since no more problems (it even looks neat).

Edited by AndreasW on Monday 16th February 07:54

[confusionhunter]

^^ Sounds like a good solution! Although have you ever tried taking the tape off?
My idea.....! As before see how I get on with this....
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004D4LNUA?psc=...

[AndreasW]

It is not a very practical solution. Removing and refitting the tape makes some work. But this happens so rarely that this solution is fine for me.
I guess that if the covers are vented, the headlights will not fog up. I thought to attach a thin tube that is mounted in a way that water can not get in.
But so far, it was not a problem anymore since, so I left it that way. Silica gel would certainly be a good addition.

[renmure]

Can I ask for some helpful reassurance here:

I have removed the back panel covering the headlight unit and am looking at the back of the 4 individual lights.

The nice guy at the factory suggested the easiest way for me to do this was to remove the full beam light at the bottom and clean inside the unit by sticking a hand through this hole.

Does that light bulb unit simply pull out the back of the cluster? (I have got this far but then can't seem to get the bulb backwards out the hole) Is there a technique for doing this? Do I just need to persevere and wiggle / jiggle it around?

Grrrr. I hate stuff like this

[mt308]

AndreasW said:

I have sealed the back headlight covers with wide bitumen tape. This sticks and seals very well. since no more problems (it even looks neat).

Edited by AndreasW on Monday 16th February 07:54

Any chance of a photo? What width of tape did you use, and does it stick on directly once clean, or is some sort of liquid also required?

I guess no need for the foam tape either?

This sounds like a good solution to me - may well try this. On the very rare occasion the lights need changing it can either be pulled off or cut off, with fresh tape re-applied.

If I remove the lights and clean inside will the beam need to be re-aligned?

Mark

[renmure]

mt308 said:

If I remove the lights and clean inside will the beam need to be re-aligned?

Mark

The guy from the factory suggested I remove the main beam / spotlight because it would save me having to mess around with the alignment of the headlight beam when it went back in.

[mt308]

renmure said:

The guy from the factory suggested I remove the main beam / spotlight because it would save me having to mess around with the alignment of the headlight beam when it went back in.

Thanks - and then reach through, should work if not too much dirt.

Mark

[renmure]

mt308 said:

renmure said:

The guy from the factory suggested I remove the main beam / spotlight because it would save me having to mess around with the alignment of the headlight beam when it went back in.

Thanks - and then reach through, should work if not too much dirt.

Mark

Yes... but I would like someone to confirm that I just need to keep jiggling things to get the light out the back (and reassure me it will go back in again)

[mt308]

renmure said:

mt308 said:

renmure said:

The guy from the factory suggested I remove the main beam / spotlight because it would save me having to mess around with the alignment of the headlight beam when it went back in.

Thanks - and then reach through, should work if not too much dirt.

Mark

Yes... but I would like someone to confirm that I just need to keep jiggling things to get the light out the back (and reassure me it will go back in again)

I'll have a go at the weekend and let you know. Won't have a chance to do it before then. Have ordered bitumen tape.

[renmure]

Well, with a bit of wiggling and jiggling the main beam headlight did come out the back and with a combination of cloths and pipe cleaners and bendy things I managed to clean most of the inside of the unit, although it still isn't 100%. I will probably have another go at it during the summer once I see how much of a recurring problem it is. My rear cover for the light unit isn't a fantastically great fit against the back of the bodywork so I can see where the dirt got in an will have to try to seal this up much better. Stoopid car!!

[AndreasW]

mt308 said:

Any chance of a photo? What width of tape did you use, and does it stick on directly once clean, or is some sort of liquid also required?

I guess no need for the foam tape either?

This sounds like a good solution to me - may well try this. On the very rare occasion the lights need changing it can either be pulled off or cut off, with fresh tape re-applied.

If I remove the lights and clean inside will the beam need to be re-aligned?

Mark

I have used 35mm wide bitumen tape strips (self-adhesive) with one-sided aluminum layer, glued around the disassembled cover.

[F.C.]

confusionhunter said:

^^ Sounds like a good solution! Although have you ever tried taking the tape off?
My idea.....! As before see how I get on with this....
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004D4LNUA?psc=...

I wouldn't use this product it is not silica, the CaCi compound "attracts" moisture to be caught in a plastic cup affair beneath the basket in to which the compound is put.
The residue is nasty.

[confusionhunter]

arse, I was gonna pop them in a small sock and stick em in the back. Im guessing I'll need a silca based crystal.... dammit!
Good spot! I still have these sitting on my shelf. I guess I could pop them in a container in my daily driver in the winter.

How about these....put in a sports sock. then when they turn you can pop em in the oven at a low heat and make em dry again....
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SILICA-GEL-ORANGE-SELF-IND...

Edited by confusionhunter on Friday 15th May 20:05