Headlight Mod Problems

[Patterson]

Hey everyone,
I really want to paint the inside of my headlights the same color as my car so I decided to just do that. The problem i'm having is that when I unbolted the 3 bolts from the headlights, I can't seem to pop them out. I don't see any more bolts and the headlights are loose enough to make me think that I have all the bolts taken out but I can't wiggle the darn thing lose. Am I missing some sort of trick? Do I have to remove the bumper cover? Thanks guys?

How about you defiant? You always seem to help me out!

 

[DSMcrazy3]

did you get this one?? here are pics of different angles

 

[Thomas91169]

use the crowbar method

stick a crowbar between the back of the headlight housing and the frame, and pry them apart till the plastic braket snaps

since you dont even need that 4th screw anyways, and even if you manage to take it out the right way, i guarantee you wont put it back in. itll save you time if you have to take the headlights out another time.

 

[Defiant]

All I have is pretty much the same thing.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99973

 

[Killa_dsm]

I just used a hack saw to cut the plastic peace off.

 

[DSMcrazy3]

I used my awesome man strength to rip them off! haha

 

[EclipseSH21]

I didn't even know there was a bolt there...no wonder those were such a bi*** to get out.... !

 

[uni_gst]

I took away the bumper frame to reach that bolt when I put my projectors on, anyway after I did that I didn't used that bolt anymore to save time if something happens in the future.

 

[DSMcrazy3]

I retired that bolt, bolt hole too, i just used the holes that are in the frame that you put bolts through that go into the back of the headlight housing

 

[azdave]

All I have is pretty much the same thing.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99973

Just an FYI,

I keep seeing references to the above quoted thread on how to remove your bumper on a 2G but that's not really the way it should be done.

It's a lot easier to slide the entire bumper and support out as an assembly. That's the way the car was assembled. You don't have to remove the bumper cover from the inner support and you aren't required to rip out any bolts, tear any tabs, hack any housings or pry on anything. I can pull my bumper in just under 20 minutes and I'm not breaking anything in the process.


Just trying to save some un-needed damage. Ignore if you want...
Damage-free 2G bumper removal

 

[Attack Eagle]

if you take the time while you have it out the "right way" and cut the tabs atop the bumper that are clipped under the big metal piece into a U instead of a hole, you can remove the skin only next time you want to get in there.

I run my with the lower bolts in place and can still remove them in less than 5 minutes by removing teh top 5 bolts and the ones under the fenders... then the whole skin just slips off.

 

[ja3dawg]

i actually found out it is easier to take off the bumper itself... under the car 2 bolts on each side the bumper slides off... wont risk damaging the headlights that way...
i just did my fenders after a accident and found instructions on a personal site... since i couldnt slide anything under that....
~jae

 

[slow99eclipse]

I was wanting to do the same thing, how did they turn out ? Was is hard to get the clear lens off and back on ? What kind of sealent did you use to reseal em ? I wanted to do that to a pair of altezzas a friend gave em. I don't like them but we wanted to see what they would look like.... good thing they were free! They were hard as hell to get apart!! I scraped that idea. Post some pics when you get a chance guys!!

 

[Nanan]

Ya know, if you take that cover plate off that ties the bumper to the core support you can get your arm and a wrench in there just fine. Just hope your a bit more lucky then I as I broke 4 of the bolts that hold the cover to the bumper, but I doubt this will be an issue unless you live in the rust belt.