can't get headlights apart

i feel like a retard. lol
ive tried doing the black headlight mod twice now, and i just can get the damn headlights apart. i hit a deer awhile back and had to get new headlights so idk if these ones come apart harder than the oem headlights but i just can not get the things apart.
when i heat them up the gray molding around the edges is soft and flexible but i cant pull the lens up outta the glue. they're supposed to be original toyota headlights so i think its just me being a retard and not being able to get them apart haha
any suggestions?? i know alot of people have done this mod.

 

I had to turn the heat up to get mine apart. I think I did 375 for 5 -8 minutes. Worked great.

 

alright ill probably try that this weekend. any other suggestions?

 

They are hard to get apart! I just heated mine up for 10 minutes at 200 degrees. Then I put on a pair of ove gloves and pulled them out and immediately started pulling and cussing until I had them apart! Note I did hafta put them back in a second time and reheat them to get them all the way apart.

 

Make sure you have enough roof clearance in the oven. I burned mine the first time. Stupid!

 

im supposed to pre heat the oven to 200 or so, some have said 300, and turn it off correct? then put the lights in? i dont leave the oven on with them in right?

 

yeah thats what i figured lol
alright ill try doing it again this weekend. hopefully third times a charm

 

Make sure when you're pulling them apart to pop open the locking tabs so they will actually come apart.

It's just not the sealant holding them together.

Did you remember to take out the hex screws?

 

I heated them up at about 300 for 8 mins I think and still had a bit of trouble. Had to use a screwdriver to seperate them a little more in some spots, but once I did that it came apart pretty easily.

 

yeah i had the locking tabs bent back and ive got the hex screws out.
idk ill try it this weekend with more heat if i get a chance. ive only done it at 200 for 8 mins, cuz i was kinda worried about melting my headlight lol

 

That temp and time didn't work for me either.....

I went with 250 and 10 minutes and it was still a small struggle, but I was also concerned about using too much heat.

 

I heated mine up in the oven set at 275 for 6 minutes and pulled them out. I was able to get them to start coming apart but then I had to use a scraper and heat gun to do the rest after a few minutes.


Oh and I bet if you go take the stuck on "ram air" hood scoops off your hood...I bet the headlights will come apart real quick.....j/k

Sorry, I had too

 

haha yeah yeah good one. the hoods scoops are gone now anyways lol they were dumb

 

Yes, preheat to 300 and then shut off and put headlights in for 10 minutes. Do not peak by opening the door. When the 10 minutes are up open the door, pull out the light and start prying at the corner. The first headlight I did I left in for 8 minutes and it wasn't quite long enough even though I got it apart.

 

x2............just did mine last week. 300 for 10 minutes worked good for me. Its best if you have another pair of hands holding the light while you pull apart the lens. Once it starts coming off, keep pulling until it comes off.

 

Thank god I have a set of practice headlights to do. If it goes well and I really like the way it turns out, I'll do it on the brand new ones that are on my fresh from the body shop truck.

 

heres a few pixs of mine took my time and let it dry overnight before putting it back together.

 

Looks good.... yeah you must be scared to put it in the overn for too long i pre heated mine at 350 then turned it off put the light in for 10 mins .. took it out opened a little bit then turned the oven on again ( without the lights in it ) when it reached about 275 to 300 turned the oven off and then put the light in again for likie 5 mins and it just came off very easy ....

 

My job is customizing headlights (CiNcity designs) so I take apart lights everyday.

230deg for 17 minutes. Use a screwdriver and razor to pry up the lense and cut the sealant. If your worried about fogging issues, go to your local Nissan parts dept and pick up a roll of the headlight sealant, they'll more than likely have to order it for you though.

 

when setting the headlight in the oven should you have your headlight resting on anything besides the grill that is inside the oven?