absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Ok so I finally decided to bake my headlights because I noticed that they were a little cloudy and it wouldnt go away. I assumed it was condensation, but its not. While they were open, I was going to clean them and remove the LED strips that had failed over the winter. Well to my confusion and dismay, whatever happened to them is a mystery to me... http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs003.snc1/2782_522858126682_72100768_30992700_8266583_n.jpg I have NO IDEA why this happened, but I blame the LED strips. Its not a film, its almost like the clear lense has deteriorated on the inside, causing the cloudy effect. Not pleased. Any ideas? I'm afraid I already know the answer to my next question, but I thought I'd ask anyway... Is there anyway to purchase the clear headlight lense seperately from the entire housing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 17, 2009 Author Share Posted April 17, 2009 As you can see in the picture that I took about 15 minutes ago, the car is apart as I type this. The cloudy part almost seems like someone sandblasted it from the inside. The other headlight isnt as bad, but it has the same symptoms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGT Dave Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 How long have they been cloudy like that? Did it show up soon after putting in the LED strips? What did you use to hold the LED strips in place? If you used some type of glue or adhesive, it could have released a solvent that is harmful to the plastic the lenses are made out of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerboa113 Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 saw this once before. did you paint something? Someone suggested it could have been a cleaner or a paint that was inside the light. Some other people said it was improper sealing. The guy wound up just buying ebay lights. I dont remember his nick. "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocHolladay23 Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 wow man I'm sorry that happenned, it almost looks like the LEDs got really hot and burned the lens although that seems impossible. If you have luck enough to find a site that just sells the lense I'd be interested too, mine are pretty beat up. [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] You want stickers? Hit me up here!!! You want a shirt? Hit me up here!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 I think i was the third person to try the mod, so I've had them for a little while. Slowly the LED's started failing, and I finally got a chance to dig into the project. I'm not really sure when I noticed the cloudiness. They were fine for months, but then i started noticing what I thought was condensation... wrong I used a small amount of epoxy to secure them... maybe thats what caused it? It was supposed to be safe for plastics, but who knows. Now I think I'm SOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 Low power LED's like we use produce no heat... nothing compared to the halogen headlamps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruAlk Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 this happened to the very top of my lights right where the outer plastic piece curves, just on the top. it thought that it happened in the oven. Not sure, i bought eyelids to cover it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 yeah its the strangest thing. if you cant tell from the pic, its only in the front part of the lense that is cloudy in spots. the parking light part of the lens is still flawless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocHolladay23 Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 out of curiosity how long/what temp did you bake them at? I used 3M molding tape with mine, so maybe it was the headlights heating up the epoxy that caused it [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] You want stickers? Hit me up here!!! You want a shirt? Hit me up here!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkOblivion000 Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Wow that's crazy dude... sorry to see/hear that. I guess we should all be more careful when using LED's... and epoxy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 for the oven... i bake at 250 for 8-10 minutes. it wasnt that though... they were fine for months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 i really think it has something to do with cheap materials in the led strips... just look at the damage left behind... you can pick out each led.... maybe the material started to deteriorate and left off a gas of some sort which slowly ate away at other parts of the lense Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 hopefully removing the strips and cleaning the entire headlight will prevent any further damage until i can find reasonably priced replacements. Its not the end of the world... just sucks. I miss the functioning led strips ... and nice clear headlights :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkOblivion000 Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Just wondering, where did you get your LED strips from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 ebay... hong kong... epic failure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 i think i did mine right after doc and darkfox... at that time, i dont think anyone knew any other place to get them. i could be wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkOblivion000 Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 oznium.com is the place I hear everyone else is getting them now. lol dude stop flooding your own thread; no one's really getting a chance to get to respond to you lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwiener2 Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 I used a small amount of epoxy to secure them... maybe thats what caused it? It was supposed to be safe for plastics, but who knows. That's it. It's safe for plastics as in it doesn't have a reaction with them and turn them into a puddle of goo. But as the epoxy dries it outgasses and that is what is causing the cloudiness. It's ok to use epoxy in there, but you have to let it FULLY cure before sealing back up. anywhere from 24-72 hours My Mods List (Updated 8/22/17) 2005 Outback FMT Running on Electrons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerboa113 Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 ah.. see that explains it.. when I sealed mine I used automotive black silicone. "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 haha sorry about the quick/short responses and flooding... a headlight was in the oven and needed to be put back together as for the epoxy drying... i let it dry... they were fine for months its not like i did the leds yesterday... it was back in the fall... headlights started getting cloudy maybe a month ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwiener2 Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 the expoxy vapors have been in there for a long time, but it takes the right conditions for them to condense then harden on the lens. Or the LED's overheated and whatever they are housed in outgassed. My Mods List (Updated 8/22/17) 2005 Outback FMT Running on Electrons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 darkfox.. i've never had to add any sealant when putting the lights back together... i just put it back in the oven for a couple minutes to soften the stuff thats already there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 it sucks.... i guess just use my experience as a lesson and keep an eye on your headlights. if it looks like you MIGHT have condensation or even a HINT of clouding... pull the lights, bake them, and don't do whatever it was that i did so... anyone wanna swap headlights? live and learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerboa113 Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 everyone says that. I scraped the oem out and put new in. ... mainly because I got dog hair in the original stuff. thats what I get for clearing them on the floor I guess. "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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