Consult with your vehicle’s manual if you have trouble finding how to open the hood.
Consult with your vehicle’s manual if you have any trouble finding the bolts on your bumper cover.
There may be 1 or 2 bolts along the bottom or side of the headlight as well.
Some wires will still hang out from the back of the headlight when you remove it. Don’t try to force the headlight out of your vehicle, or else you may damage the connectors.
Double-check for screws after you think you’ve removed them all. If you still have screws in the headlight when you try to open it, you could crack or break the lens. Some headlights may not have screws, meaning the lens and backing are only held together with adhesive sealant.
You do not have to remove the bulbs if you’re not able to. You can leave the rubber housing caps attached. Since the headlight reaches a similar temperature when it’s in use, the caps won’t melt. [9] X Research source
You may want to wear a pair of heat-resistant gloves underneath your disposable gloves so it’s easier to handle the headlight.
If you don’t have access to an oven, you can also use a heat gun and a cardboard box. Get a box that’s large enough to hold your headlight. Cut a circular hole in the bottom corner that’s the same size as the heat gun’s nozzle. Place the heat gun through the hole and turn it on to 250 °F (121 °C) to heat inside the box. [12] X Research source Avoid using the heat gun by hand since you won’t heat the sealant evenly and could risk breaking the headlight assembly. [13] X Research source
If you don’t have pieces of wood, you can also use a cookie sheet lined with 1–2 layers of baking paper. Your headlight will not get damaged from the heat as long as it doesn’t make contact with metal.
Be gentle with the tabs, or else they’ll break and your headlight won’t stay together as well.
The sealant will harden as it cools down and make it more difficult to pull the headlight apart. If you need to, place the headlight back in your oven for another few minutes to soften it again. Be careful not to scratch the headlight lens with the tip of your screwdriver.
Removing sealant works best while it’s still warm and malleable. If the sealant solidified, try putting the backing in your oven for another 5 minutes to soften it. Avoid leaving the old sealant in the headlight since it may form air bubbles and won’t seal properly.
If you need to wire new lights to your vehicle’s electrical system, make sure to disconnect the battery first so you don’t shock yourself.
You can buy butyl sealant online or from an automotive parts store. Butyl sealant is stretchy and malleable, so you can mold it into the channel until it fits perfectly.
Avoid setting the headlight directly on the rack or against the sides of your oven, or else the plastic could melt.
It’s okay if some of the sealant drips out from the channel when you reinsert the lens. Just wipe off the excess with a paper towel or scrape it off with your screwdriver.
Make sure the clamps are heat-resistant or made from metal so they’re safe to put in your oven.
Use new bulbs if you don’t want to worry about the old ones burning out.
After plugging in the connectors, try starting your vehicle’s battery and turn on your headlights to make sure they work properly. If they don’t, then there may be an issue with the connection or bulb.
