Headlight dismantle? Got dust inside reflector (photos)

[X-UFO]

As the title says I've got dust in the reflector of one headlight. Yellow dots on the photo are between the reflector and the clear plastic on top of it. Not on the clear outer cover of the headlight.

This is following an 'amberectomy' which worked great but I cut the amber reflector with a dremel not thinking about the dust it created. Learning from that I did the other light with a soldering iron successfully.

I've taken this headlight out (a week ago), removed the bulbs, blown it with an air line, swilled it with water and it's much better than it was with most of the yellow dust disappearing. Still there are a few bits which I can't get to.

Is it possble to dismantle the whole headlight?

Any help would be appreciated.

Ian

[carsareart]

I too would like to take mine apart and polish the inner lens on my headlight. I have seen where some people bake em and take em apart. I am looking for a trashed light to experiment with.

Edited April 18, 2009 by carsareart

[perucho]

I wonder if you can remove them using something with a "charge" to attract the pieces. Could you remove a bulb and reach that area with a plastic rod that you have electrostatically charged by rubbing it with a rag? I'm guessing the plastic bits inside would cling to the rod the same way they are to the lens. I would definitely try something similar before trying to remove the lens. Or go to home depot and buy some vinyl tubing small enough to go through the bulb hole. Then use your shop vac at the other end of the vinyl tubing to try and suck the buggers out! Good luck!

[perucho]

I too would like to take mine apart and polish the inner lens on my headlight. I have seen where some people bake em and take em apart. I am looking for a trashed light to experiment with.

Are you sure they need to polished inside? Mine looked like the inside needed to be polished too, but after sanding and polishing the outside of the lenses, it was obvious that the problem was just the outer surface. It had tiny yellowed surface cracks that made it look like the inside was messed up.

[Richard Hamilton]

I know it's o/t, but what colour is your car? It looks gold in the photo - it would be nice to see a photo of the whole vehicle.

[X-UFO]

I know it's o/t, but what colour is your car? It looks gold in the photo - it would be nice to see a photo of the whole vehicle.

Richard,

My car is Speed Yellow but it does look gold in the photo. I've just added a small photo to my signature.

After a bit of searching on this headlight subject I've found via Boxster forums that the way to get the headlight apart

is to put it in the oven at 200degrees for 10 to fifteen minutes. Then use a knife on the glue around the edge.

This is a little beyond what I'd feel safe doing and not completely wrecking it.

I think as someone else has suggested I'll get some thin flexible tube (like off an air pipe for a fish tank) and stick

it on the end of the Dyson to see if I can get it out that way.

Thanks all for the replies.

Edited April 21, 2009 by X-UFO

[jose]

Sorry if I interrupt with an inappropiate answer to the golden picture, I just want to show some golden pics I found on the NET. This a Porsche coated with 40 lbs of gold. This pics was taken in Russia. :lol:

[carsareart]

I tried the baking on an old tail light. I must of over cooked it (10 min at 250 degrees) because it bent on my picking it up. I was able to get it apart but with the new angle it would of never gone back together. Good thing it was a throw away. The next time I will try at a little lower temp. Anyone have a trashed light they want to donate?