Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: duggs on 05 December 2009, 15:46:50
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Unless there is a cunning method I don't know of, looks like I need to remove condensation from inside my facelifts headlights. I used a hot hair-dryer, on the outside and it cleared. 10 mins of driving and its back.
The head light lense appears to have some clear plastic tabs which I assume you can lift and along with some hidden fittings, pull the lense away from the main headlight.
Am I wrong ? or is there a better, more effective way of removing the condensation ?
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headlight unit should be sealed and the lens is held on by a black gooey substance. THis can be melted and weakend by a hot hairdryer after which you should be able to prise the lens off.
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change the rubber seal on the plugs, using hot air in this weather can crack the lenses,.
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OOOOOOOO and then i'll need some more gooey stuff to seal it back again I assume. Thank you.
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OOOOOOOO and then i'll need some more gooey stuff to seal it back again I assume. Thank you.
I can't remember what has been suggested before, perhaps windscreen bonding compound?, but hopefully someone will be along to tell you exactly what to use. :y
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I have had quite a bit of experience removing these lenses for both cleaning and upgradeing to new plastic lenses.
You need to heat up the edge of the lense with a good hot air source(my daughters hair dryer was ideal)It was left on hot setting and applied to the outer edge which causes the blach goo to start to melt .You then need to apply even pulling prewssure as you continue heating and working the heat around the top and bottom of the lense..eventually the lense will start to work loose and will pull away leaving like a black meembrane which can then be cut with a sharp blade.
When the lense is totally removed clean up as much of the old goo as possible from the lense and gently mould it back onto the lamp body.
When you replace I put a couple of sachets of silica gel under the chrome reflector to absorb any further moisture..then apply an even bead with a cartrige gun of either Silkalfex 512 black ,or you could also use cam cover sealant as it will set .Replace the lense pushing it as tight back on as possible ensuring the clear plastic tabs are secured over the retaining mouldings on the lamp body.
Nice new lenses properly sealed with the added benefit of built in moisture removers.
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The outside of the lenses have also gone cloudy and need a good clean. Whats the best cleaning method.
I HAVE actually got the plastic lenses fitted already.
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Several methods,but I used Claygate polishing compound .Due to the condition of my existing lenses unfortunatley they did not really improve much,but others have had better success.
Also mentioned is Tcut and wet,n,dry in extreme cases....all require a lot of polishing..my option was just to find some cheap new headlights and swap over the lenses..that way you end up with new lights at a fraction of the cost and the added benefit of being able to replace any broken adjusters at the same time.
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toothpaste can remove the yellowing on the plastic lenses
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Think I'll try the toothpaste scheme in the morning ..
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Unless there is a cunning method I don't know of
Have you tried leaving them in the airing cupboard for a few days?
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Hell ! How big an airing cupboard do you think I've got. ?
Can't even get the car through the front door, let alone up the stairs, across the landing and into the airing cupboard ??
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Hell ! How big an airing cupboard do you think I've got. ?
Can't even get the car through the front door, let alone up the stairs, across the landing and into the airing cupboard ??
Get some beers in, a few mates round. Sorted ;D
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He he he..LOL.
Darn ! Why didn't I think of that ?
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As suggested, windscreen sealer will work well.
So will any mastic compound like Sikaflex, or a silicon compound used for sealing in bathrooms.
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Well toothpaste worked a treat....clean as a whistle now. Next job...condensation. Thanks for all your help guys.
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Condensation on the inside is caused by water in the light heating up when the lights are on, then condensing on the cold lens surface.
There are two things to do ....
1) stop the water getting in !!! for water to get in to the light you must have a leak somewhere .. propably the seal along the top edge.. that needs sorting first or the problem will just recur.
2) remove the water in the light. As already said .if you take the whole light off and stick it in the airing cupborad for 48 hours that will work. If you don't want to do that other options are, take the bulbs right out and blow warm air into the light through the bulb hole ... hair drier a good source for that, or take the bulbs out and leave the car in a warm dry place .. heated garage (?) ... for 48 hours.
HTH
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Wow ! Thank you for that.
Can you please tell me this...I cheated...used the hair dryer on the outside...it gets very hot and in the course of 15 mins or so...the condensation went away. Went for a short trip up town and the condensation returned...was it simply because the seal was leaking..or am i barking up the wrong tree.
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Wow ! Thank you for that.
Can you please tell me this...I cheated...used the hair dryer on the outside...it gets very hot and in the course of 15 mins or so...the condensation went away. Went for a short trip up town and the condensation returned...was it simply because the seal was leaking..or am i barking up the wrong tree.
You evaporated the water/condensation that was on the back of your lenses, however you didn't remove it, it wastill there. During your drive, the water then re-condensed, & you were back to square 1. You need the lamps out while you evaporate the condensate, ie the airiing cupboard, to stand a chance of clearing them permanently. ;)
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Thank you..Ok. another little question. whats the easiest/quickest way to remove a head light. Is there a how too ?
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Thank you..Ok. another little question. whats the easiest/quickest way to remove a head light. Is there a how too ?
Prefacelift needs the front bumper removing, or at least the top fasteners undoing to allow it to pull down a little ...... never done a facelift but would imagine it'll be similar.
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Thank heavens...found this.
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1154966960
Looks a bit simpler on a face lift.
Think initially I'll try taking a bulb or two out and try the hairdryer technique again..IF that doesn't work..its light off and a night in the airing cupboard.