Kenrock1000
07-29-2008, 03:43 PM
MODS...if I could have this routed over to the DIY section for square xBs =) thanks
Colored insides of 1st Gen xB Headlights
(AKA blacked-out headlight mod)
The usual disclaimer…I’m not responsible for your actions…Mod at your own risk!!!
*If I missed anything, I may add things so look at the bottom of the thread for updated edits*
Here is the thread on ScionLife.com that I found on it…it has some pics for reference too :up:
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=159913&highlight=blacked+headlights
Now that the legalities are out of the way, I can begin :up:
#1 Rule: You must have patients for this mod…it takes time and care!
1) Remove headlights from the car. There are 4 screws that hold each headlight in place. In all honesty, it’s much easier to loosen or completely remove the bumper to get to the side screw (on the fender side).
2) Prepare to “cook” the headlights. YES, you have to put them into your regular kitchen oven. The reason we must do so is because the headlights are sealed with weather silicon. This silicon needs to be “softened” in order to break the housing loose from the lens. Now here is where everyone differs. The time and temperature. I pre-heated to 200 degrees and baked for 20-22 minutes. EVERYONES oven will be different so it does sometimes matter. The trick is….be observant. You just have to watch the oven. The headlights are pretty durable so I can probably guarantee 200 @ 20 minutes is fine…but again, I’m not an expert.
3) Once they have been sitting inside the oven for the duration, taken them out and begin IMMEDIATELY. You do not want to let the headlights cool. (It may be a good idea to wear a pair of thin gloves because there will be some warm spots.) There are multiple “clips” or “snaps” that need to be pried up to separate the housing from the lens. Take your time here. You do not want to break off any of these tabs.
4) Once all the tabs are loose, pry the lens from the housing. This next step is important too: Do your best not to disturb any of the silicon when the two pieces are separated. The silicon will look like putty or even gum when the two pieces are pried apart. Let the silicon rest within the groove that the lens and the housing meet. In a perfect situation, the silicon stretch (when the two pieces are pulled away) and then will cover the entire groove once its settles again.
5) Okay…the hard part is done. Now choose your favorite color and paint the insides of your headlights. NOW…another important fact. The “chrome” that is on the insides of the headlights is that cheap chrome paint. It is NOT durable at all. I would highly suggest NOT taping off the areas you don’t want painted! It may take longer, but in all honesty, use a paint brush to apply the paint to the areas you do want covered. The tape…even if using the low adhesion kind, it pulls the chrome paint up and it looks NASTY when it does. Now you’re going to want to paint the ribbed areas…leave the smooth areas alone. These are the areas that still reflect the light and project onto the road for visibility.
6) The corners lamp areas are another little side note. They unscrew from the housing itself and I would unscrew them for better ease of the project. This is the time where most people take out the orange reflectors too. Most people just break them off, which is fine and it works…but with a bit of budging…they unsnap out. Plus, you will minimize the chance of breaking anything else if you unsnap them instead of breaking them. Again, here, paint the ribbed areas, not the smooth areas.
7) Once everything you want painted is painted. That’s it. Make sure to let the paint dry. Oh…and I used Dupli-color 500 degree Engine Enamel just in case it gets too hot inside of the housing with the headlights on.
8/ Put everything back together. If you unscrewed the corner lamps, reinstall them, don’t forget them! Next push the housing and lens back together as best as possible. It is likely that you will not get all the tabs snapped back together…but this is okay.
9) Bake in the oven again for the same duration as before. Once done, now the silicon will be soft enough to where you can push the two halves together and snap all the tabs together.
10) Reinstall the headlights on the car and return back to Scikotics!
Colored insides of 1st Gen xB Headlights
(AKA blacked-out headlight mod)
The usual disclaimer…I’m not responsible for your actions…Mod at your own risk!!!
*If I missed anything, I may add things so look at the bottom of the thread for updated edits*
Here is the thread on ScionLife.com that I found on it…it has some pics for reference too :up:
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=159913&highlight=blacked+headlights
Now that the legalities are out of the way, I can begin :up:
#1 Rule: You must have patients for this mod…it takes time and care!
1) Remove headlights from the car. There are 4 screws that hold each headlight in place. In all honesty, it’s much easier to loosen or completely remove the bumper to get to the side screw (on the fender side).
2) Prepare to “cook” the headlights. YES, you have to put them into your regular kitchen oven. The reason we must do so is because the headlights are sealed with weather silicon. This silicon needs to be “softened” in order to break the housing loose from the lens. Now here is where everyone differs. The time and temperature. I pre-heated to 200 degrees and baked for 20-22 minutes. EVERYONES oven will be different so it does sometimes matter. The trick is….be observant. You just have to watch the oven. The headlights are pretty durable so I can probably guarantee 200 @ 20 minutes is fine…but again, I’m not an expert.
3) Once they have been sitting inside the oven for the duration, taken them out and begin IMMEDIATELY. You do not want to let the headlights cool. (It may be a good idea to wear a pair of thin gloves because there will be some warm spots.) There are multiple “clips” or “snaps” that need to be pried up to separate the housing from the lens. Take your time here. You do not want to break off any of these tabs.
4) Once all the tabs are loose, pry the lens from the housing. This next step is important too: Do your best not to disturb any of the silicon when the two pieces are separated. The silicon will look like putty or even gum when the two pieces are pried apart. Let the silicon rest within the groove that the lens and the housing meet. In a perfect situation, the silicon stretch (when the two pieces are pulled away) and then will cover the entire groove once its settles again.
5) Okay…the hard part is done. Now choose your favorite color and paint the insides of your headlights. NOW…another important fact. The “chrome” that is on the insides of the headlights is that cheap chrome paint. It is NOT durable at all. I would highly suggest NOT taping off the areas you don’t want painted! It may take longer, but in all honesty, use a paint brush to apply the paint to the areas you do want covered. The tape…even if using the low adhesion kind, it pulls the chrome paint up and it looks NASTY when it does. Now you’re going to want to paint the ribbed areas…leave the smooth areas alone. These are the areas that still reflect the light and project onto the road for visibility.
6) The corners lamp areas are another little side note. They unscrew from the housing itself and I would unscrew them for better ease of the project. This is the time where most people take out the orange reflectors too. Most people just break them off, which is fine and it works…but with a bit of budging…they unsnap out. Plus, you will minimize the chance of breaking anything else if you unsnap them instead of breaking them. Again, here, paint the ribbed areas, not the smooth areas.
7) Once everything you want painted is painted. That’s it. Make sure to let the paint dry. Oh…and I used Dupli-color 500 degree Engine Enamel just in case it gets too hot inside of the housing with the headlights on.
8/ Put everything back together. If you unscrewed the corner lamps, reinstall them, don’t forget them! Next push the housing and lens back together as best as possible. It is likely that you will not get all the tabs snapped back together…but this is okay.
9) Bake in the oven again for the same duration as before. Once done, now the silicon will be soft enough to where you can push the two halves together and snap all the tabs together.
10) Reinstall the headlights on the car and return back to Scikotics!