Celica Forums Install Guides and Technical Articles Exterior Guides Lights, Headlights - How To Paint The Inside

Okay, folks, I've solved our perplexing problem regarding the disassembly of the headlight casing so you can get the inside painted to match your car - or tint the inside of the lights to make them "legal"

Here's how:

1) Get the parents out of the house as you don't want them to know what you are putting in the oven.
2) Remove the headlight casing from your car (I don't have specific instructions - sorry - but it should be easy to do). Be sure to remove the bulb!
3) Preheat your oven to 250 degrees after placing tin foil on the bottom rack (the rack should be located at the very bottom slot).
4) Remove any nuts, bolts, and screws from the border of the casing.
5) Place your headlight casing inside the oven and set the timer for 10 minutes.
6) After the timer goes off, remove the casing using garden gloves (it'll be a little warm)
7) Take a flat tipped screwdriver and pry up the little plastic "clips", sliding your screwdriver beyond that clip into the joint between the casing and the lens. The adhesive will be very soft and pliable.
8) Pry and slide your screwdriver a little bit down, continue until you see it starting to come apart.
9) Then, increase your angle of prying to drive the two pieces apart.
10) When you see enough to get your fingers in the opening, use your hands to separate the pieces. You may hear a "pop". That may be the yellow reflector coming off, or it could be a tab that wasn't opened. Nevertheless, the pieces won't be damaged. After the lens cools down, you might want to take the opportunity to clean and polish the inside.
11) IF YOU ENCOUNTER ANY STRONG RESISTANCE, check to see that there aren't any nuts or bolts still connected.
12) To get the reflector out of the black plastic base, pry off the plastic cylindrical cover for the headlight adjustment screw. Loosen both nuts to take off the reflector.

To reassemble:

1) Do everything backward, including the oven part - you need to get that adhesive pliable again. Make sure you ask your body shop if 250 degrees will harm the paint (I doubt it). YOU CAN PUT THE TWO PIECES TOGETHER AS BEST YOU CAN AND THEN MERGE THEM TOGETHER AFTER THEY COME OUT.
2) I would seriously consider using clear adhesive like Liquid Nails Clear Seal to make sure you have an airtight seal all around.
3) Reinstall, and be sure to re-aim your headlights.


[EDIT]
Use Tester's Brand "SMOKE"/"WINDOW TINT" Spray Paint - found at most hobby shops for around $4

Transparent Black (WINDOW TINT)
http://www.testors.com/Product.asp?product%5fid=1634

Transparent Candy Apple (RED) - also used for red-out tails
http://www.testors.com/Product.asp?product%5fid=1605

Transparent Hot Rod Red (DARKER SHADE OF RED)
http://www.testors.com/Product.asp?product%5fid=1607

Transparent Candy Lime (GREEN)
http://www.testors.com/Product.asp?product%5fid=1601

Transparent Blueberry (BLUE)
http://www.testors.com/Product.asp?product%5fid=1257

Transparent Candy Grape (PURPLE)
http://www.testors.com/Product.asp?product%5fid=1617

ALL OF THE SPRAY COLORS...
http://www.testors.com/Products.asp?act_...8&First.y=4 [testors.com]

...

If you want to paint some areas and not the other, use masking tape over that area, then CAREFULLY use a razor blade to cut a circle outline and peel off the edges (leaving the masking tape circle over the space where you do NOT want paint to be sprayed)

The difficulty on this painting task is probably an 8 (out of 10. 10 being most difficult). If you take your time and think about what you need to do next, that comes dropped down to a 4.

sweet...thanks for the directions isaac...did you do this to your car? any pics?

i wanna do that but i dont want to take my headlight covers =(

m-spec lights?...HA! now we got are own custom lights for less than $3000 great post isaac

Isaac, I don't think it's possible to use primer when applying the transparent colors, because then it wouldn't be very transparent would it? Unless there is clear primer? Otherwise, using primer would be good if you were going for a solid color. So for those who would like to do transparent colors, will the paint stick enough?

huh? did I say primer anyplace???

I just got done doing mine!
I picked a color matched automotive paint. HUGE pain in the pee-pee to do this, but well worth it. I think it looks smooth. Too bad I've got some sparkles in the clear parts though. But overall, a very worthwhile and rewarding mod!

Isaac, no you didn't mention using primer. I was just wondering if the paint will stick onto the plastic w/o using primer or not? And how well it'll stick to it and such.

it's tester's brand paint... it was MADE for plastics

Gosh this forum is great! GT2000Quebec, did you use the same type of procedure to paint your lights? Your's look really nice. I'm jealous. I really want to try doing this myself, but I'm a little aprehensive. How long did it take you?

i didn't followed it,... but i did the same thing, you ca nuse it, it's great!!!!
it it take around 3/4 1 hour to open the light... paint it, wait for them to be dry... seal back the light put them on back and it's done... it takes a couples of hours...

wow it looks really good quebec
i think its worth a few hours. Im paranoid that i'll mess something up haha

Here are mine:









Not very hard to do, but very time consuming.

One question, can anyone post anything on how to remove the headlight assembly, I have been unable to find how to get to the 3rd bolt (I assume) that is on the bottom side of the assembly.

Thanks Isaac, Was having trouble with the retainer, will look into it after work

This is a very weird question that I never thought I would be asking. When cookin the headlights, do you bake, broil, etc. Now how weird does that sound.

Hey guys.. I attempted this feat, got about what I think was 1/2 way through with them and can not go any further... between the fact that I have no idea what I am doing, and the overall pain in the butt of this. I was wondering if anyone would be interested in making a few extra bucks and do this for me. Only condition tothis is that I want to see pics of the ones you have done. I will supply paint and lights (of course) and will overnight them to your place. Anyone interested name a price and we can take it from there. Thank you.

hey gt2000quebec i really dig the car .. well i am hoping i can do this to my car .. it make take me a while but hey thanks for the help isacc for giving me nice info..

Does anyone know how much it will affect the brightness of the headlight if I paint the reflector too? I have seen it done, but I dont know how much it affects the light.

There's a really detailed post (with lots of pics) here:

http://celicagarage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1185

Hey just did the mod, I suggestion though. Forget the oven I almost torched my casings putting them in there. Use a standard 1000 degree heat gun. It might take a lil longer since you have to go around and heat the whole casing but its worth it and after your done painting get some silicone silicone sealent or something to fill up the gaps after you re-heated the epoxy and joined the 2 peaces back together. **warning** The heat gun heats things FAST! if pointed to one spot...I have an annoying blister to prove it...good luck

i did mines and the plastic turned yellow a bit. is there any way to get it off?

Just did mine today. I strongly receommend 300 degrees for 15 minutes exactly...comes off really easy...just make sure you take everything off your headlight first. Came out beautifully!