Taking Headlights Apart to Black Them Out

sportfan
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Location: Ponca City, Ok.
Your Car's Year / Make / Model: 2013 Fiat 500 Sport

Taking Headlights Apart to Black Them Out

Post by sportfan » Thu Jun 18, 2020 1:41 pm

I've watch some youtube clips on heating up the headlights in an oven to separate the glue that holds them together. Has anyone tried this on a Fiat headlight ? If so how hot and for how long ? There are so many little parts and wiring in the Fiat headlights that I'm a little hesitant about heating them up. I'm waiting on the glue to come in so I thought I would get a jump on this mod.

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texanbrit
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Re: Taking Headlights Apart to Black Them Out

Post by texanbrit » Thu Jun 18, 2020 1:45 pm

I know Bryan at NGEN Performance has done this
2013 Abarth 500c (NGen Turbo'd) - Isabella
2012 500 Pop (broken, engine rebuild on hold) - Popabella
2014 500L (Daily workhorse) - The Hulk
2013 Abarth 500 (broken engine, current project) - Abby

sportfan
Posts: 263
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2018 11:33 pm
Location: Ponca City, Ok.
Your Car's Year / Make / Model: 2013 Fiat 500 Sport

Re: Taking Headlights Apart to Black Them Out

Post by sportfan » Thu Jun 18, 2020 7:35 pm

ok, thanks Paul

sportfan
Posts: 263
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2018 11:33 pm
Location: Ponca City, Ok.
Your Car's Year / Make / Model: 2013 Fiat 500 Sport

Re: Taking Headlights Apart to Black Them Out

Post by sportfan » Sat Jun 20, 2020 8:55 pm

After trying everybody else's way on getting them apart, I tried mine. I cut around the light with a Dremel tool where I could. You can't get to all of it. Then tried heating it to 220 degrees for 20 minutes. Still no go. Then back to the oven for 20 minutes at 240 degrees. It pulled apart easily. I spilt blood, spoke in tongues, and fought this half the day. I'm doing the other one tomorrow. I'm going to try just the heat first.

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MadFiat
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Re: Taking Headlights Apart to Black Them Out

Post by MadFiat » Sat Jun 20, 2020 11:42 pm

sportfan wrote: Sat Jun 20, 2020 8:55 pm After trying everybody else's way on getting them apart, I tried mine. I cut around the light with a Dremel tool where I could. You can't get to all of it. Then tried heating it to 220 degrees for 20 minutes. Still no go. Then back to the oven for 20 minutes at 240 degrees. It pulled apart easily. I spilt blood, spoke in tongues, and fought this half the day. I'm doing the other one tomorrow. I'm going to try just the heat first.
Yeah as I understand they're really quite stubborn. I'd be afraid of frosting the plastic with the heat required.
2015 Rosso Abarth 5MT - MAD FIAT - EC Phase 2 + Supporting Mods
2015 Granito Lucente 500T 6AT - Projecto Estupido
2017 Fiat 124 Spider 6MT - Another one???

sportfan
Posts: 263
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2018 11:33 pm
Location: Ponca City, Ok.
Your Car's Year / Make / Model: 2013 Fiat 500 Sport

Re: Taking Headlights Apart to Black Them Out

Post by sportfan » Tue Jun 23, 2020 4:54 pm

I tried heat on the second one first and it didn't help. I cut around the light with the Dremel Tool in the bottom outside corner except at the lock tabs. I then heated it to 265 degrees several times and it came apart. The next problem is the special rubber sealant I bought to seal them back together needs to be heated to 265 degrees. So far all the rattle can paint I've looked at says not to exceed 200 degrees. Some of the clips I viewed on redoing the headlights talks about resealing them airtight to avoid condensation. These headlights have two factory air vents built into them. I hope to finish this project tomorrow.

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texanbrit
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Re: Taking Headlights Apart to Black Them Out

Post by texanbrit » Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:41 am

The paints for engine bays and brake calipers have much higher heat tolerance (less colors of course).
2013 Abarth 500c (NGen Turbo'd) - Isabella
2012 500 Pop (broken, engine rebuild on hold) - Popabella
2014 500L (Daily workhorse) - The Hulk
2013 Abarth 500 (broken engine, current project) - Abby

sportfan
Posts: 263
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2018 11:33 pm
Location: Ponca City, Ok.
Your Car's Year / Make / Model: 2013 Fiat 500 Sport

Re: Taking Headlights Apart to Black Them Out

Post by sportfan » Wed Jun 24, 2020 2:41 pm

I'm not sure how well high heat paint sticks to plastic.

sportfan
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Re: Taking Headlights Apart to Black Them Out

Post by sportfan » Fri Jul 03, 2020 2:20 pm

I finally got done today with the headlights. I'm looking at the turn signals think they may be next.
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texanbrit
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Re: Taking Headlights Apart to Black Them Out

Post by texanbrit » Fri Jul 03, 2020 2:29 pm

Nicely done!

Now you just need some matching DRLs.... ;)
2013 Abarth 500c (NGen Turbo'd) - Isabella
2012 500 Pop (broken, engine rebuild on hold) - Popabella
2014 500L (Daily workhorse) - The Hulk
2013 Abarth 500 (broken engine, current project) - Abby

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