How To: headlight black out for P5!

[whitemp5seattle]

I'm selling my painted headlights...so if there's anybody who subscribed to this thread but hasn't gotten around to baking their lights yet, check out the FS threads (or click on the link in my sig) to get to the FS thread!

 

[patsissons]

I posted this tutorial on the Mazda Guide Wikibook

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Mazda_Guide/Protege_5/Headlight_Blackout

 

[amsgator]

the glass stays clear correct? it doesnt affect the light output at all?

 

[whitemp5seattle]

the plastic lens does, yes. the only thing you paint is the plastic chrome insert inside your headlight assembly

 

[amsgator]

the plastic lens does, yes. the only thing you paint is the plastic chrome insert inside your headlight assembly

ok, thats what i gathered from the how to but i could tell from the final picture. i may do this...you dont do anything to the reflectors though right?

 

[whitemp5seattle]

if you're talking about the chrome parts behind the lightbulbs, the answer is no

 

[amsgator]

ok didnt think so. also, my friend said it pretty easy to get water built up inside them once you take them apart making the lenses fog up and sometimes the lenses even get burnt. know anything about that?

 

[CTt3P5]

ok, thats what i gathered from the how to but i could tell from the final picture. i may do this...you dont do anything to the reflectors though right?

No worries about the reflectors. After you bake the light and remove the lens you then remove the reflectors from the housing prior to sanding and painting.

 

[CTt3P5]

ok didnt think so. also, my friend said it pretty easy to get water built up inside them once you take them apart making the lenses fog up and sometimes the lenses even get burnt. know anything about that?

Just make sure you press them back together real good when you are done. I painted mine in November and have had no condensation with the Northeast winter or carwashes (by hand and automated).

 

[whitemp5seattle]

I painted mine way back in 2003 or 2004. No condensation yet.

 

[murda79]

If you're that worried about condensation, just squeeze some clear silicone sealant in with the glue like I did and you'll have nothing to worry about. Its been 1 year since I did mine.

 

[sp33d03]

i have a question, i have a mazdaspeed protege and i have the oranage reflectors, so in order for me to black out my headlight i would have to paint that reflector black correct?

 

[Rome04]

Do you bake the lights at 200 degrees C or F? its a big difference!

 

[whitemp5seattle]

200 fahrenheit

 

[amsgator]

how hard is it to install a headlight housing w/ a broken mounting tab?

 

[amsgator]

anyone have a diagram for where all the screws are on the bumper? I checked the ugly.net and didnt see anything, maybe i was looking in the wrong place

 

[njaremka]

anyone have a diagram for where all the screws are on the bumper? I checked the ugly.net and didnt see anything, maybe i was looking in the wrong place

section 09-10 outlines front bumper removal -
http://protege5.ugly.net/09-10.PDF

 

[amsgator]

section 09-10 outlines front bumper removal -
http://protege5.ugly.net/09-10.PDF

muchas gracias. diagram seems confusing though

 

[amsgator]

can someone take pictures of the bolts/screws that have to come out? i know of the ones in the wheel well but what else underneath and on top? i found like 8 bolts underneath that are 10mm and i dont wanna take out the wrong ones... thx

 

[CTt3P5]

Can't take pics 'cause I am at work and I also can't see the pics on the first page but I can try and explain.

3 bolts on fender well

3 or 4 screws on underside of each fender (start at the wheel and work your way to the foglight)

2 bolts on the underside of the middle of the bumper

Now for the tricky ones

2 screws on each side of the fender inside the well area. The first one is just inside the fender well and the second is in the area where the fender meets the headlight housing.

Just be careful with those clips on the headlight, they are easy to break. Take a small screwdriver and depress them while pulling the bumper down.

I know pics are more helpful but hope this helps you out somehow.