Custom Headlight

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0f47f620.jpg" border=0 width="127" height="98" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Light" ><I><IMG SRC="0f750400.gif" border=0 width="80" height="64" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HondaAcura List "><U><B> <img src="HTMLobj-622/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="115" height="59">  </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About HondaAcura"><U>About Honda/Acura</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="members_rides.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Members Rides"><U>Members Rides</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tips Tricks"><U>Tips & Tricks</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Information Specs "><U>Information & Specs</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact HondaAcura"><U>Contact Honda/Acura</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pic of the Month"><U>Pic of the Week</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Downloads"><U>Downloads</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id94.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="34e55813.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Honda-Acura List  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC99" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT>   |   <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HondaAcura List "><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>    </B><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tips Tricks"><U><B>Back</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cold Air Induction"><U>Cold Air Induction</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remove Front H Emblem"><U>Remove Front H Emblem</U></A>   |   <B>Custom Headlight</B>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shift Knob Upgrade"><U>Shift Knob Upgrade</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Adjusting Your Throttle Cable"><U>Adjusting Your Throttle Cable</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Install Factory Fog Lights"><U>Install Factory Fog Lights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id111.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="After Market Fog Lights"><U>After Market Fog Lights</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id109.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HowTo Install a Short Shifter"><U>How-To Install a Short Shifter</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HowTo Install Coilover Springs"><U>How-To Install Coilover Springs</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to tell Vtec Cams apart"><U>How to tell Vtec Cams apart</U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="03cf4010.gif" border=0 width="500" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>Custom Headlight</U></B></div> <bR> <div> Ok so you want to take out that ugly reflector?  </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2f5fa620.gif" border=0 width="250" height="98" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Well, this is what your going to need:</div> <div>            Razor blade w/a handle </div> <div>            Liquid Nail All purpose caulk (white) or (Gray)</div> <div>            Bond Aid Paint Adhesive (optional)</div> <div>            Paint color of you choice</div> <div>            Clear Coat Paint</div> <div>            High Temp Clear Coat Paint</div> <div>            And plenty of TIME</div> <div>            Phillips and Flat head screwdrivers</div> <div>            Ratchet with a 10 mm socket</div> <bR> <div> 1. Your gonna have to take you front bumper off to get in to the inner bolt that holds your lights on.  Start doing that by getting a Phillips head screwdriver and taking the screws out that sit on topside of the inner fender well.  You may have to turn your wheels one way or another to get to it.  This is the screw that hold the end of the bumper to the fender so it is easy to find.  Make sure that you get both sides.</div> <bR> <div> 2. Next you have 2 bumper lower retaining bolt just on the under side of your bumper.  If you place you hand under there you will feel them.  Use a 10 mm socket and remover them.</div> <bR> <div> 3. Take out the 6 plastic snaps on the top of the bumper, do this by using a flathead screwdriver and just pry them off.  After you get the bumper off take the 2 screws out that are on top of the headlight.  There is one bolt in the front near the pointy looking like part of your headlight, yeah that's right take that one out too.  Now look towards the fender,  there is a bolt there too. Take that one out also.</div> <bR> <div> 4. After you get all the bolts out, DO NOT pull the headlight out yet.  First you have to disconnect the wiring harness that supply's you power to the light bulb,  do this just by grabbing it by the base and pulling it. It just slides right off.  </div> <bR> <div> 5. Now you can pull the headlight out.  Follow steps 3 & 4 for the other headlight.</div> <bR> <div> 6. As you have the headlight out you can see that it has the clear part and the gray back housing.  I have heard about putting the headlight in the oven but DO NOT do that.  You will melt something and spend more money buying a new headlight.  </div> <bR> <div> 7. Get a razor blade and slowly start cutting the clear housing away from the gray back housing.  This will take some time so DO NOT rush it.  You need to take your time doing this step as you will need to put it back together later.  Take a flat head screw driver and after you cut some of the glue away pry the screw driver in to the headlight and slightly pry it apart.  Cutting the next few inches.  Move the screw driver over some more and pry it more.  Then again cut some more of the glue.  Do this all the way around the headlight until it breaks loose.  You will have to put SOME pressure on it but too much and you will break the housing. DO NOT FORCE IT.  It will come with time.  I spent about 2 hours on each headlight pulling them apart.  </div> <bR> <div> 8. Great now you got the headlight apart.  There are some screws in the back of the front housing that need to be taken out to gain access to the chrome part if you plan on painting it.  If you do plan on painting the housing skip to step #  11</div> <bR> <div> 9. The orange reflector will pop right out by pushing on it.  Make sure that you try your hardest not to touch the chrome housing, if you do get some window cleaner that DOES <U>NOT</U> have AMMONIA in it and clean the surface.</div> <bR> <div> 10. Go to a graphics shop or Wal-Mart and find you some Chrome sticker film.  Place it over the reflector and place it back in the headlight.  If you want to use a mirror then take you reflector to a shop who cut glass and have then cut you a piece that is the same shape and size.  You don't ant it too thick or it will stick out and look stupid.  You want it to set in there just like the reflector.  Use some of that Liquid nail or Liquid Nail All Purpose Caulk to hold the mirror in place. If your not painting the housing skip to step # 15</div> <bR> <div> 11. Ok so your going to paint the headlight.  Try not to touch the chrome part as the dirt and oil from your fingers will forever be there and will make a blackish brownish mark on your painted housing later in life.  Go ahead and just blow off any glue and dust that may be on there.  Get a dry soft rag and just kinda gently rip it off.  I suggest using a swinging motion and just bearly letting the rag touch the chrome.</div> <div> Make sure that you try your hardest not to touch the chrome housing, if you do get some window cleaner that DOES <U>NOT</U> HAVE AMMONIA in it and clean the surface.</div> <bR> <div> 12. After you have cleaned the surface use the BOND AID (found in the automotive section of Wal-Mart or Kmart) and prep the surface.  Read the directions on the can as they are very good.  After you have applied the coats, start painting the surface with the color of you choice.  Another thing DO NOT use some cheap 2 dollar paint, use a paint that is about 6 dollars or it will fade and look ugly.  Read the directions on the can and apply about 5-6 coats.  Make sure that you hold the can about 12 inches away from the surface and apply very light coats and allowing it to dry for about 15 - 20 min before applying another coat.  DO NOT get in a rush at this point because it will show later.  On the last coat of paint allow it to dry for about 5 minutes and apply a clear coat.  This allows the clear coat to mix with the color paint and basically sits on top of the color paint.  If you see that the paint starts to turn a whitish color then you are putting too much on.  And apply less to the rest of the area.  </div> <bR> <div> 13. After you have applied the last color coat and top coat of clear, let it dry for about 24 hours before applying 2 - 3 clear coats.  You have to let that paint dry. About 30-45 minutes between coats.  After the last clear coat allow to dry for another 24 hours.  If you rush the waiting time then you will accidentally touch it and scratch the paint right off.  </div> <bR> <div> 14. After the paint has dried and you are ready to put the headlight back together.</div> <bR> <div> 15. Put the clear housing back on to the painted or chrome part of the head light and screw it back on.  Try and clean as much as the old glue off the headlight edges and reapply the Liquid Nail All Purpose Caulk to the edge of the gray back housing.  Put the headlight back together and apply pressure to the edges of the headlight.  Making sure that you are putting the headlight back together the correct way.  If so it will slide in to the groove and snap together.  You have to hold pressure on that light for about 30 minutes allowing the glue to dry just enough for you to let go of it.  I put an old pillow on top the light and put a heavy speaker on it.  But don't break it don't make it too heavy.  </div> <bR> <div> 16. After the light has dried for about 5-6 hours put it back on the car and follow the same directions as to taking it off.  Just go backwards.  Just a reminder, the light has to be dry for 36 hours before it can get wet.  So don't get it wet.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ©2001 Honda/Acura. All rights reserved.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>