[TheCougarProject]

Ok...my driverside headlight looks like crap!!! Plain and simple... The person who owned my Coug last must have bought a brand new passenger headlight and decided to leave the drivers side the way it is. The drivers-side headlight looks like there is a discolored haz or fog over the lens and it is rought to the touch, almost looks like real finely woven spider webbing all over it. I'm thinking about removing the entire headlight and cleaning out the inside of it. I lost my owners manual so I'm wondering how to actually remove the driver-side headlight? The weird color and texture might be on the oustide of the lens so should I use sandpaper for that? Idk...I'm not too familiar with clear plastic sanding...will sandpaper mess it up?

Thanks, any help will be appreciated at this point. Can no longer stand looking at a perfect headlight...and then look at the other one and almost throw up lol.

 

[h8beingbored]

odds are it is only on the outside . . . the driver side headlight comes out just like the passenger side :shrug:

TRY THIS!

 

[TheCougarProject]

Originally posted by: h8beingbored
odds are it is only on the outside . . . the driver side headlight comes out just like the passenger side :shrug:

TRY THIS!

Yeah I am definately tryin that. The thing is, I don't know how to take any of the headlights out lol. I lost my Coug manual and I dont really want to mess with stuff until I know exactly what I'm doin. Afraid I might break sumthin...I'm prone to doin that.

 

[h8beingbored]

lol it's just a few screws holding it in . . . enscrew them and detatch all of the electrical harnesses going to it . . . slides out with some wiggle work . . . open up your hood and take a look . . . you will see how easy it is

 

[ReToM7]

take off the grill on the cougar (two screws, one on each side), below the grill screw is the first screw for the headlight, undo that. the second screw is on the top right of the headlight where it attaches to the frame (in plain sight), undo that one. The third is on the bottom of the back of the headlight. You'll see two tork-screws which come out on tabs (those are for adjusting the headlights position) and between them under it you should see the third screw. You don't have to take it out, just loosen it up, there's a tab on the headlight which slides under it. Once those two screws are out and the third is loosened, just pull it out. You might have to pull up on it slightly to get it over the bumper. Just be careful when you take it out not to let it hit the bumper while you detatch the two lights, because it could scratch the paint.

taking the headlights apart to polish the plastic is another story. you may want to ask if there is someone local to you who has painted their headlights, because you'll probably need a little help. You have to take off the plastic weather stripping by popping off the clips. Once that's done there are at least two ways of doing it. One involves putting your headlight in the over (not sure what temperature or for how long) to loosen up the glue so they come apart, or you can do it the way I did and slowly go along the glue line with two or more flathead screwdrivers sticking them in between the two pieces and slowly prying it again. I started at the end that is against the center grill, because the other end with the corner light is thin and more likely to break. Once you have them apart you can take out the amber lens and paint the headlights and eyebrows if you want. This process is only if you plan on polishing the inside of the headlights, which is something I still need to do. The outside and inside of my headlights are just like yours, so I need to do the same process.

 

[TheCougarProject]

Ok. No place around here sells 1500 grit sand paper. It has to be special ordered (which is retarded). So I got the next level down, which was 600. I sanded the lights and all and used plastic polish. I must admit, it restored the color from a brownish-white discoloration, to a white/clear. Only problem is, now my one light looks brand new yet, but the side i sanded is a cloudy white becuase of the sanding. I just cant seem to get a break around here with my car lmao. I'll keep this up to date then with the progress.

 

[TheCougarProject]

Well, it seems now my only other option will be to buy a new headlight. I could find another place which may sell 1500 grit sand paper, but its very doubtful that the light cover will be as clear as the passenger-side light.

(sigh)...new headlight...here i come

Junkyard got one for $130 + tax

Anyone know where I can find a nice one cheaper?

 

[ReToM7]

Originally posted by: TheCougarProject
Well, it seems now my only other option will be to buy a new headlight. I could find another place which may sell 1500 grit sand paper, but its very doubtful that the light cover will be as clear as the passenger-side light.

(sigh)...new headlight...here i come

Junkyard got one for $130 + tax

Anyone know where I can find a nice one cheaper?

your best bet would be ebay. Other than that, the junkyard is your best bet, and $130 isn't bad if it's in perfect condition. Ebay you will find them quite often when someone parts out the car. I usually see bidding get up to around $100, sometimes 80's. You could always try to make an offer to the junkyard... they might be willing to sell it for $100 if you tell them that's as high as you can go. Better to sell low than to not sell it at all