PING: lkng4chubs. Did you ever get the water out of your headlights?

[RacerHead]

I recently responded to a post of yours that was about 4 months old,
so I doubt you saw my response. Anyway......the entire headlight
housing is sealed so there is no way (that I know of), to just remove
the glass. HOWEVER, what I did when I encountered this same problem
was first I lifted the hood and removed the grill, which was very
simple. Next I loosened the parking lights found on the outside of
each headlight and just let them hang by the wire. Next I removed the
entire headlight housing from the car (the whole dissasembly process
took about 20 minutes) and poured alcohol inside the headlight housing
and sloshed it around to get all the water droplets. Because Alcohol
mixes with water, and evaporates quickly, the alcohol removed EVERY
BIT of the water. I then let the housing sit over night because I was
a bit paranoid about reinstalling them with alcohol fumes still
present. Anyway, it worked well for me, so good luck.

Oh by the way, Dont seal the vent holes in the housing because water
will then condense inside the housing again. I would recommend some
sealer around the edge of the headlight glass. Take care.

[Mark]

Post by RacerHead
I recently responded to a post of yours that was about 4 months old,
so I doubt you saw my response. Anyway......the entire headlight
housing is sealed so there is no way (that I know of), to just remove
the glass. HOWEVER, what I did when I encountered this same problem
was first I lifted the hood and removed the grill, which was very
simple. Next I loosened the parking lights found on the outside of
each headlight and just let them hang by the wire. Next I removed the
entire headlight housing from the car (the whole dissasembly process
took about 20 minutes) and poured alcohol inside the headlight housing
and sloshed it around to get all the water droplets. Because Alcohol
mixes with water, and evaporates quickly, the alcohol removed EVERY
BIT of the water. I then let the housing sit over night because I was
a bit paranoid about reinstalling them with alcohol fumes still
present. Anyway, it worked well for me, so good luck.
Oh by the way, Dont seal the vent holes in the housing because water
will then condense inside the housing again. I would recommend some
sealer around the edge of the headlight glass. Take care.

I'm not the original poster, but I read your instructions with some interest,
having dealt with some hazy stuff inside the headlight last year myself. I
removed the housing and rinsed it out with water, and scrubbed the inside with a
rag stuffed in there. Then I let it dry in the sun for a day. In the process I
stretched the retaining spring out of shape.

It still isn't clear how I get the grille off without damage. When scrapping
POD-1 I broke one trying to remove it.

Getting ready to paint POD-2, thinking of white with Ford blue racing stripes.

Mark

Web site: http://www.mavn.us

[RacerHead]

On Sat, 06 Mar 2004 00:13:23 -0800, Mark

Post by Mark

Post by RacerHead
I recently responded to a post of yours that was about 4 months old,
so I doubt you saw my response. Anyway......the entire headlight
housing is sealed so there is no way (that I know of), to just remove
the glass. HOWEVER, what I did when I encountered this same problem
was first I lifted the hood and removed the grill, which was very
simple. Next I loosened the parking lights found on the outside of
each headlight and just let them hang by the wire. Next I removed the
entire headlight housing from the car (the whole dissasembly process
took about 20 minutes) and poured alcohol inside the headlight housing
and sloshed it around to get all the water droplets. Because Alcohol
mixes with water, and evaporates quickly, the alcohol removed EVERY
BIT of the water. I then let the housing sit over night because I was
a bit paranoid about reinstalling them with alcohol fumes still
present. Anyway, it worked well for me, so good luck.
Oh by the way, Dont seal the vent holes in the housing because water
will then condense inside the housing again. I would recommend some
sealer around the edge of the headlight glass. Take care.

I'm not the original poster, but I read your instructions with some interest,
having dealt with some hazy stuff inside the headlight last year myself. I
removed the housing and rinsed it out with water, and scrubbed the inside with a
rag stuffed in there. Then I let it dry in the sun for a day. In the process I
stretched the retaining spring out of shape.
It still isn't clear how I get the grille off without damage. When scrapping
POD-1 I broke one trying to remove it.
Getting ready to paint POD-2, thinking of white with Ford blue racing stripes.
Mark
Web site: http://www.mavn.us

To remove the grill, first remove the retaining screw (there is just
one screw) that is located either above or below the Grill Emblem.
Then with the hood raised, use a screwdriver and disengage the
retaining clips (4 of them, I think) found at the top of the grill in
front of the radiator. The entire process takes about 5 minutes.

I also tried inserting a rag inside the housing when I first had my
problem. I just couldnt get all the moisture out and the condensation
kept coming back. Since I did the thing with the alcohol, I have had
no moisture return at all. I think it would be important to let the
housing air out completely before reinstalling (if you can try the
alcohol). I don't know if alcohol fumes would be volatile immediately
after with the halogen lamp or not.

[lkng4chubs]

Yea, i figured this all out after I broke 3 drill bits. I kept thinking.
This is some tough plastic they used. Then it hit me, it's glass. So, yea,
I took it out, washed it up, then I used a blow dryer till I got all the
water out. I found where the leak is from, it came in through the metal
ring on the outside edge of the glass. It seems to be ok now. Thanks!

Post by RacerHead
I recently responded to a post of yours that was about 4 months old,
so I doubt you saw my response. Anyway......the entire headlight
housing is sealed so there is no way (that I know of), to just remove
the glass. HOWEVER, what I did when I encountered this same problem
was first I lifted the hood and removed the grill, which was very
simple. Next I loosened the parking lights found on the outside of
each headlight and just let them hang by the wire. Next I removed the
entire headlight housing from the car (the whole dissasembly process
took about 20 minutes) and poured alcohol inside the headlight housing
and sloshed it around to get all the water droplets. Because Alcohol
mixes with water, and evaporates quickly, the alcohol removed EVERY
BIT of the water. I then let the housing sit over night because I was
a bit paranoid about reinstalling them with alcohol fumes still
present. Anyway, it worked well for me, so good luck.
Oh by the way, Dont seal the vent holes in the housing because water
will then condense inside the housing again. I would recommend some
sealer around the edge of the headlight glass. Take care.