Turd Ferguson
Donating Member
If you are sick of your headlights looking frosted and crap here is a simple little How To in order to clean them up a bit.
Tools / Products:
Screwdriver
Socket set / shifting spanner
Glass Cleaner/ similar product
Maybe some glue/ silicone
Step 1:
Disconnect the battery
Step 2:
Undo the 2 top bolts and the one behind the grille.
You may find it easier if you remove the grille to make it easier for yourself, but it is not necessary.
Step 3:
Unplug the Loom on the back of the light and unscrew the screw which holds the indicator to the headlight.
Step 4:
Once you have the headlight removed from the car you can remove the clips which hold the glass lens to the back of the headlight, these clips are shown below, Note there is 4 on top, 4 on the bottom, and 1 on each side of the headlight.
Step 5:
Now you can remove the glass from the headlight assembly, this may require a little force depending how strong the seal is. Once off the glass cover should have the seal on it, or if it was anything like mine, half on it. but we'll fix this later, you might as well pull the seal off if it is already falling off.
Step 6:
Now we can clean up this thing, its not a bad idea to run it under the tap first just to wash out any dirt and duct that has collected over the years before you start spreading it around with a cloth...
Step 7:
Attack the inside the the glass cover with whatever you use for window cleaning, i used some cheapo foam glass cleaner that came in a can, once sprayed around evenly, use a microfibre towel or similar item to wipe off the excess cleaner on the light making sure you remove any marks or stains on the glass.
PLEASE NOTE: The following parts may ruin your reflective surface if you use certain products.
Step 8:
If you want you can clean the chrome relective surface around the headlight but be warned, due to the age of modt the lights this will be very weak and may already be peeling or flaking due to age, also using the wrong product may cause the reflective surface to be stripped away.
With my lights i just used a microfibre towel to carefully wipe away dirt on the reflective surface lightely, and i even noticed it peel at 1 point so be careful if you choose to do this.
Reassembly:
Step 9:
If you had the same problem as me and the rubber seal came off the glass lens you will need to reattach this, the way i did this was by putting the seal back in the headlight assembly (not on the glass cover) and i then lightely covered the seal with gasket glue, other products may also work.
Step 10:
Place the glass cover back against headlight assembly making sure it contacts the seal all the way around, you can now begin to reattach the clips, i found it was easier to start from the bottom, then do the top, then sides. the clips will require some force to go back on, if you cant force it using your hands, use a flat head screwdriver to pry them over.
Step 11:
Place the headlight back into the car and redo the bolts and screw. make sure you remember the screw that hold in the indicator otherwise it will fall out, (i know from experience, lucky the loom held it onto the car) Now reconnect the looms, stand back and admire your work.
Old and Busted:
New Hotness:
Tools / Products:
Screwdriver
Socket set / shifting spanner
Glass Cleaner/ similar product
Maybe some glue/ silicone
Step 1:
Disconnect the battery
Step 2:
Undo the 2 top bolts and the one behind the grille.
You may find it easier if you remove the grille to make it easier for yourself, but it is not necessary.
Step 3:
Unplug the Loom on the back of the light and unscrew the screw which holds the indicator to the headlight.
Step 4:
Once you have the headlight removed from the car you can remove the clips which hold the glass lens to the back of the headlight, these clips are shown below, Note there is 4 on top, 4 on the bottom, and 1 on each side of the headlight.
Step 5:
Now you can remove the glass from the headlight assembly, this may require a little force depending how strong the seal is. Once off the glass cover should have the seal on it, or if it was anything like mine, half on it. but we'll fix this later, you might as well pull the seal off if it is already falling off.
Step 6:
Now we can clean up this thing, its not a bad idea to run it under the tap first just to wash out any dirt and duct that has collected over the years before you start spreading it around with a cloth...
Step 7:
Attack the inside the the glass cover with whatever you use for window cleaning, i used some cheapo foam glass cleaner that came in a can, once sprayed around evenly, use a microfibre towel or similar item to wipe off the excess cleaner on the light making sure you remove any marks or stains on the glass.
PLEASE NOTE: The following parts may ruin your reflective surface if you use certain products.
Step 8:
If you want you can clean the chrome relective surface around the headlight but be warned, due to the age of modt the lights this will be very weak and may already be peeling or flaking due to age, also using the wrong product may cause the reflective surface to be stripped away.
With my lights i just used a microfibre towel to carefully wipe away dirt on the reflective surface lightely, and i even noticed it peel at 1 point so be careful if you choose to do this.
Reassembly:
Step 9:
If you had the same problem as me and the rubber seal came off the glass lens you will need to reattach this, the way i did this was by putting the seal back in the headlight assembly (not on the glass cover) and i then lightely covered the seal with gasket glue, other products may also work.
Step 10:
Place the glass cover back against headlight assembly making sure it contacts the seal all the way around, you can now begin to reattach the clips, i found it was easier to start from the bottom, then do the top, then sides. the clips will require some force to go back on, if you cant force it using your hands, use a flat head screwdriver to pry them over.
Step 11:
Place the headlight back into the car and redo the bolts and screw. make sure you remember the screw that hold in the indicator otherwise it will fall out, (i know from experience, lucky the loom held it onto the car) Now reconnect the looms, stand back and admire your work.
Old and Busted:
New Hotness: