Clear Headlights - Civic

[pdiggitydogg]

(This is for 96-98 but the actual procedure is the same for the later 6gens and the 7gens)


Materials:
Razor or box cutter or utility knife
1 Medium Philips and 1 Medium to large Standard Screwdriver
Old pair of Gloves (trust me)
Windex or other cleaner
Big-Ass pliers or *Channel locks*
Silicon sealant
***Paint is optional


NOTE: Do this on a day where you have nothing to do and no where to go because it takes at least 24hrs for the silicon to set!!!

1- Preset your oven to 250 degrees...yes, do it. Well obviously the first thing you have to do is remove the headlights from the car. You’re going to have to remove the bumper to do this, because there is one bolt that you cannot get to otherwise.

2- Now that you have the headlights in your hands take the bulbs out and the rubber grommets off. Clean your housings…why not? Place 1 headlight in the oven on an oven tray and let it sit in there for around 10 to 15 minutes.

3- When the time is up take the headlight out of the oven and start working (quickly but carefully). (This is when you wear those old gloves that you don’t really care about). Take the standard screwdriver and gently pry up the tabs around the housing, separating the housings while you work (A friend is helpful but not necessary...I did it myself). When you get to a spot that has some really stubborn sealant use the knife and cut it. Keep doing this until the clear lens is separated from the back.

4- Now that you have the 1st housing apart pop the other light into the oven and let it cook while you remove all the amber (or as much as you like) from the 1st one. This part is pretty self explanatory so use your brain and remove the screws to what you don’t want in there. Paint if you want to.

Do the same with the other light

5- Now that your lights are De-Amber-fied its time to put them back together. If you didn’t paint its even faster, but if you did paint them it only takes a few more minutes. Just pop them back in the oven for a few minutes to re-melt the OEM sealant (Again 1 at a time). Once the glues all set put the housings back together TIGHTLY, use the pliers or the channel locks here, pinching all along the edges, so you get a better seal and fitment.

6- Now just take that sealant and put a bead along the entire edge between the 2 housings. You might want to wear some latex gloves here so your fingers don’t get water proofed, because using your finger helps get it in those tough to reach places. Use enough, more is better but don’t get crazy with it. Let the silicon sit for 24 or more hours.

7- Put them back on your car and admire your work, show them off to friends, family, and the like. Be sure to also brag that you did it yourself and saved yourself $100-$200 dollars. Just don’t lie and say they’re JDM. If at anytime within a few days you see that there is some condensation inside your housings just reseal with the silicon...its that simple.

Good luck, its easier than you think.