Resealing Headlights with Retro Rubber

[@jonathansandiford4137]

Love this way better than shorts chris!

[@flyryde]

Thank you my friend! Glad to be back to it!

[@wusty23jd]

The longer, the better. Thanks for this video Chris. I need to reseal my headlights and I always enjoy learning new tips and tricks from you.

[@WanderingFriar]

I did watch the whole video and wish there was a service just for headlights in the UK. I will have to tackle this myself but this video guide is invaluable. Thank you!

[@itglows69XB]

I watched the whole thing, Chris. GREAT, informative video with lil nuggets of info that most people don't know!! Thank you for sharing and teaching us!!

[@Kyrios2389]

Thanks a lot for the videos, man. I will have to reseal my headlights son, so I watched a lot of times the video about opening them, and this just became the cerry on top. Maybe I'd start a little business here because no one offers thins kind of service here in Chile. Thanks again and have a great day, mate!

[@trllr6]

Much better then the shorts! Lots of info and detail. Keep up the good work Chris!

[@flyryde]

Thanks! Will do!

[@MarkNarvaez-s8g]

I watched the whole thing, bro, and it was very informative. Thank you for taking the time to educate us, DIY'ers. Great stuff. Thank you!

[@alexrezansoff588]

I don't know if this guy is making videos anymore, but follow his advice. I just retrofitted some HIDs into my mustang because I couldn't see shit at night and his content really helped me figure out the process as I had never done a project like that before. One piece of advice I have for anyone attempting this is DONT USE PINE 2x4s in the oven. They get hot and leak sap out and them you have to scrub it out. Ask me how I know lol. It does make your kitchen smell really nice tho

[@mikehunt8968]

Excellent, I've just taken apart an Audi TT headlight and was wondering what to use to reassemble it👍

[@Sckloste]

I watched the whole thing and thank you for putting in the time to show how this is properly done!

[@RauhdySS]

I watched the whole thing! I just picked up my e60 550i and will be separating my first set of lenses. I’ll be wearing my FlyRyde hoodie hoping to transfer some of your Jedi headlight upgrading powers. Wish me luck.

[@boomhauer1234]

I watch the complete video, much better than the short videos. I love all of the details that you have added.

[@MP5A3SD]

Hey Chris, I wanted to thank you a ton for making this video/sharing your knowledge! I've done a few sets of headlights over the years, and previously used silicone to reseal. I used this RetroRubber for the first time on my 370Z headlights, based on your recommendation from this video. Lets just say the headlights couldn't condensate if I wanted them to 🤣

[@JG0en187]

Watched the whole thing. Greatjob especially the finishing work of smoothing haven't seen anyone do that before.

[@TailEndCustoms]

Yeah much better than the shorts. I don’t even mess with lights but always enjoy watching your vids. 👍🏼

[@flyryde]

I appreciate that!

[@TailEndCustoms]

@@flyryde no prob. Keep up the good work.

[@MatthewN8OHU]

"I watched the whole thing". Educational as always, Chris. Thanks

[@frankblea5352]

I watched the whole thing ! I am planning on customizing my headlights soon. I am starting small with my fog lights now

[@OwOLink]

Thanks, watched the whole thing btw, I was trying to see how to open the assembly then I realized the glue and wasn't sure how to go about it, great stuff!

[@peterpontius]

I watched the whole thing and will use the same products that you used to rebuild a headlight for my 2002 Audi TT Roadster. Thanks for all the tips!

[@jeremygyles3492]

Love the longer videos. I watched the whole thing.

[@MrClunk999]

Longer videos are definitely better for me, but i thing everyone learns in different ways! just keep doing what your doing, because your doing great :-)

[@warpspeedracer]

Thanks for this comprehensive video. Doing my first reseal and your advice is gold. Retro rubber is definitely the way to go. It doesn't feel exactly like run of the mill butyl rubber sealant. The formulation must be a little bit different. It feels like the softening temp is a bit higher than regular butyl. And also holds its shape a little more at the same temp.

[@UthmanKhel]

The long videos are better gives me confidence to do this to my lights

[@xXSRS24Xx]

Here’s a video idea, you mentioned leaky headlights. Why not make a video on how you personally deal with leaky lights, such as steps on how to find a leak, how to repair a leak, different kinds of leaks ie standing water or fog or just droplets.. Or when it’s time to give up on a set that’s not fixable. Side note, this is the best tutorial I’ve seen on dealing lights. Love your vids!

[@jorgealves230]

Ballasts get hot as fire too. Is it a waste of time that I clean all the old butle out of the channel before putting new in?

[@Donny_Bo_Danglez]

Watched the whole thing! I’d love to see more videos sealing taillights that were cut open

[@MrTredd222]

Dude, I literally watched the whole thing. It was actually therapeutic to see the process and see and hear about the little "what if" scenarios happening while doing it... also, the solid advice for why ppl shouldn't cheap out and rush through it...(bc you already there will be those ppl..lol) love it bro! Keep up the good work!

[@unforgiven101inc]

Thank you for your time, I watched the whole thing and learned a lot...

[@DEViLz1976]

"I watched the all thing" 😃, always great to learn, thank you.

[@car-nella8905]

I watched the whole thing! I loved it, you were entertaining and you know your stuff!

[@umangu]

Dude I watched the whole thing! I really wanna see a video of you using a hot melt gun or machine to seal up headlights. I need to seal up old school 7” glass sealed beams and there is no way I can use rolls of butyl. Really interested in: 1. The best machine to use 2. Whether I can use a hand held gun 3. Whether I need to find butyl glue sticks or can use ‘bricks’ of glue 4. The thickness of the melted glue and how fast it flows and how easy it is to control Thanks Chris!!

[@jackmarsh7328]

Can I use heat gun instead of oven to apply the seal and opening the lens

[@seanclarke4061]

Thank you for showing us how it's done with all your previous mistakes included🙏🏼 baking my lexus headlights ballast and all! Great point about the xomponents being totally rated for these Temps haha. Some people spend hours tearing down prior to heat. So many good tips and tricks here! Like and sub

[@juanespada1681]

Watched the full video. Very informative. Thank you.

[@Ben_Z33]

Thank you for this exact video. I got an Set of R35 GTR headlights coming in for an reseal. I know the earlier models have an common problem where they tend to leak.

[@veralucia12656]

GREAT video. The more detailed the better! Thanks!

[@08pileggi]

Watched to the end and learned a few things, definitely what I was after 🤙🏽🤙🏽

[@chrismic4835]

Might be a silly question but how come we can heat headlights up to open them and not do the same with tail lights? Everywhere I look, you are instructed to cut the tail lights open. TY

[@DL101ca]

Taillights are sonically welded, so no glue to melt. They need to be mechanically separated by cutting the housing or the lense open.

[@Gus247365]

I watched the whole thing!! :) Really useful - I'll be splitting my headlights down soon (I'm in the UK and the car is a Japanese import so I can't easily find replacements!!!) and resealing them was a big concern of mine... great information - liking the little sachet of Silica in there to catch any moisture which may occur.... Excellent work :)

[@bluspectre2042]

For my RX-8 here in the US, it's cheaper to pay for international shipping from Japan than getting used USM parts.

[@Patrick94GSR]

I’m confused. If I put the headlight in a preheated oven, the headlight heats up. If I put it in a cold oven and turn on the oven to 220, both the oven and headlight heat up together. Seems like it would actually be less thermal shock to heat both oven and light together. I just opened up my headlights that way the other day, heating them up from a cold oven, had no issues.

[@bbefox0]

I think the purpose of preheating is because you can precisely time to his recommended 7mins, since there are so many different kinds of ovens that may take different amount of times to heat to the desired temp, the consistency may be different at different times/temps, so by preheating (anything, not just headlights, like pizzas), you're ensuring consistent heating for a specific amount of time (maybe some ovens it can take 1min to ramp up to temp and others 5 mins or 10mins)

[@BIGH05S]

You should go over sealing wires coming out of a housing. Like halo wires if u don't have rubber boots on your factory lights.

[@shevaughngolding490]

Hey am from Jamaica and I have my headlight to seal back up again, the first time I did use Eurotain

[@jayq3550]

Watched the whole vid, nice tip with the soapy water ! 👍🏼

[@cfmcskog]

Very informative and I definitely watched the entire video, thanks for the advice.

[@johngreer9124]

Love the video Thanks. Do you know of a suppier for head light lenses? I've got a 2014 Acura MDX and need a new lens. THanks again for great content.

[@freedomfighter7976]

Watched the entire video, thanx for the input

[@ro63rto]

Have you ever opened up a set of Audi TTs mk2 xenon headlights?

[@A.Quintanilla]

I'm sure you've gotten this question as well, but can I use my regular convention oven.

[@gregorymckannan]

I watched it all. Pretty helpful stuff!

[@ThePumaboii]

Question. What are preheating procedures for the rubber?

[@dynamiclightingllc]

So the way I do my process Chris is I put the rubber in cold. Run it along the channel. Heat it up with a heat gun. The I get a old flat head Screwdriver and smooth it out and push it in the channel if I have to. Install the lense and heat up in the oven after and clamp it down

[@colombianodny]

What about if you don’t have an oven? Kitchen oven works also? Would I damage the kitchen oven with the lamps?

[@bmxfuel007]

I can't stand the shorts. This video is worlds better, and I'd rather watch a video like this with some ads than a short with no ads Watched the whole thing!

[@joshuamarko87]

awesome vid man I watched the whole video love these better then your shorts :)

[@greenrogue07]

Hey, loved seeing the whole process of sealing the headlights. I might have missed it, but did you add the screws to the headlight at 19:15 or the headlight came like that. Might be a stupid question, but mine had only butyl tape, no screws on the outisde.

[@Giorgimm11]

Most of the headlights I have seen come with screws.

[@chadleblanc1800]

Can you do a video of ways to run and seal wires that are added.

[@fablighting7884]

I watched the hold thing 👍👍💚💚💚great refresher💚💚💯

[@Blackdragon010]

220F is 104.4C for those who don't measure in freedom units

[@ALFTECHChannel]

how do you open the sealant? because I heated it using the oven it didn't destroy the sealant. (Sealant not butyl glue)

[@davidmorgan2353]

Should the old sealant be removed if your adding new?

[@williamp6271]

I watched the whole video because I’m about to reseal mine. The soapy hands to work with the sealant was a great idea. Do you always place the sealant on the outer edge. Or you only do that for certain headlights like the GTR?

[@bruceaugustine6486]

I watched the whole thing have you tried a product called, The right stuff? How did it work for you?

[@Carlitosway211]

What kind of oven is that? I've been thinking about offering a reseal service to my customers since new lights on many vehicles are over a grand. I can make plenty of GP and save them a ton of coin.

[@iLoveBoysandBerries]

In Dubai on a normal summer day the temps in a parked car will exceed 200 degrees. When running, the headlights will reach temps over 400 degrees and that's totally fine

[@DL101ca]

They never reach even close to 400 outside the projector or the reflector housing near the bulb.

[@nicholasbrunick8921]

I watched the whole thing. I have a big question for you. I bought some custom headlights from this company call CW customs and I think they did a terrible job sealing it. As well as I don’t trust this guy or his craftsmanship so it makes me hesitate on paying to have the headlights installed just for them to shit out on me. Would it be possible to send them to you to look it over?

[@flubyux2]

So, Quick clamps and not the rubber surgical tubing?

[@bruzote]

Would LED lights get ruined at 200 degrees?

[@robertfolgersr6280]

Do you do this for other people? I can send you my unit from my Solstice GXP?

[@christopherhulett2620]

Watched the whole thing. Thanks

[@Crispy640]

Great video, im doing my 1st ones, thank you!

[@mv6160]

How do you clean projector lenses? I spent most of the time getting lenses clean, and still couldn’t get them perfectly clean.

[@DL101ca]

They're glass so any glass cleaner that doesn't leave residue will work. Personally I would use denatured alcohol and a clean microfiber towel.

[@seeharvester]

I just bought a set of Mopar OEM headlights for my 2011 truck and I want to make DAMN sure they never leak like the originals did (after about 8 years). Can I apply that retro rubber without taking them apart and without putting them in the oven? Or is there a butyl rubber caulk that I can just run a bead around the edge for extra protection?

[@DL101ca]

No point in fixing what ain't broken...and to do it properly, the old glue must be replaced with butyl, so baking is a necessary evil.

[@seeharvester]

@@DL101ca Too late. I put clear silicone all the way around the edge.

[@MePeterNicholls]

Do you take out the bulbs before going in oven?

[@MePeterNicholls]

Ok you answered. Lol

[@pete24p]

id love to team up and make a set of customized headlights and tailight s for my 09 prius to make it something special... or where could i get some of those electronics so i can diy? thanks a ton, -peter joseph

[@leemaicol8746]

Hey Christ, thanks for your videos. I'm thinking of changing the angel lights on my 2015 BMW X5 F-15 and based on your experience, what problems might I face? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

[@justrandom7752]

How much do you charge to swap lenses for both lights bro? What’s the average cost? I don’t have an oven I have a heat gun but idk if that’s enough

[@marcofiore1683]

Very interesting and informative good watch

[@CarlosVazquez-qr2qb]

Do you service headlights?

[@alejandrowatson2173]

Have you done a 2012 Acura Tl headlights?

[@DJ-xf9kq]

¿ How long does it take to dry the glue headlamps?

[@KenobiJediMaster]

Страхотна работа. Браво. Благодаря.

[@Gorilla_Jones]

This video is amazing. Why don't you make new videos? :(

[@tangarifelopez]

How long ur supposed to leave the butyl in the oven for?.

[@DL101ca]

Till it's golden brown...

[@georgetufenll9663]

I watched the whole thing.. I much prefer these to the shorts.

[@markkemp7531]

What about Urethane windshield silicone will it work

[@DL101ca]

Yes but it dries hard and you won't be able to take them apart again if needed.

[@ahmedal-hadi3900]

Love the vid, of course I watched and liked it

[@marcwonnacott3286]

Very good Video thanks.

[@myrnamer9920]

I did it and when my car is running and the butyl heats up my lense has play to it, why is that

[@gecko1406]

Hey question Is Diode Dynamics headlight butyl also good? 🙏

[@shorty4g6314]

Would u recommend this for tail lights that are heat welded, tail lights you have to use a dremel to cut open. This seems easier to work with than J-B weld.

[@DL101ca]

No, this could be used in conjunction with jbweld as alone it doesn't offer the structural integrity to hold the lense in place without a mechanical fastener(channels and clips in headlights) . JB weld is the way to go, maybe use in few places to hold taillights together then seal the rest with butyl if you feel you can't do jbweld all the way.

[@shorty4g6314]

@@DL101ca got it, thanks!

[@portresource3146]

Anyone know if flex glue would work as a replacement?

[@RS-fc3cq]

I watched the whole thing!!!

[@zzz-x7p]

Very helpful, thanks

[@pppall]

Silicone is not the fast way. But cheap, easy and reliable. It needs week or two to harden and stop excluding vinegar. I used the cheapest sanitary silicone and not hard version for sealing aquariums because i want the option to disassemble it. 2 years no leak, car stayed outside and used daily. But i completely cleaned lenses and plastic back from old butyl sealant. I tried to use butylalwaysstickymess from tube but it was too hard to press lens enough deep into plastic back of light. Butyl from tape like on this video is version which is easy to disassemble, but hard to seal properly. Small mistake = leakage. After 2 or more years i removed headlights because i switched a car and i wanted to know state of morimoto mini copy lights i used to modify the headlights. I was able to open silicone sealed headlights but i do not remeber how, maybe patience. It is more than 8 years so i do not remember exactly. I modified headlights in 2011 or 2012. I used morimoto mini h1 copycat modified for H1 halogen bulb. Not good for minis, they do not like about twice as much heat, so aluminium surface was started to peeling off and plastic holder of lens had broken one leg. But i liked light output.

[@DL101ca]

Silicone you can just cut and pry away, it doesn't bond properly to plastics anyway. It will pull off easily unless the surface is rough enough to grab it.

[@julianbreakseverything6397]

Whats that packet inside?

[@gixxerjay79]

Silica gel to manage humidity

[@PaulPaid]

@@gixxerjay79 Is that factory?

[@flyryde]

Yeah, on these lights they are built in. Very common with factory Xenon / LED

[@julianbreakseverything6397]

@@flyryde do they come stock on dodge chargers? Ive seen some inside a prebuilt oem set someone built and thought they added it

[@killerpenguin660zzz]

Great video!

[@DriveWithAndy]

Advice needed. My custom headlights keep missing up bad. 3 times now I have taken them off, heated up and with a vacume cleaner inserted to suck out the moisture. Yet they still mist up badly. I can't see any holes or damage that's letting water in either. What do you suggest? I did think what about blasting them in an oven on a low temp to hopefully get them bone dry? But what temperature and time

[@DL101ca]

Your sealing isn't done properly or the vents are plugged. Headlight have vents to allow moisture/air to escape while the inside heats up and expands. They're not completely sealed as you would think.

[@Reallypeople1000]

Hey, I am just trying to redo the reflective surface of the headlight bowl. I have an old 1995 Sidekick that water got in and (water/moister...you get it) it oxidized, so the headlights are non existent when they are on! Is there a paint that I can use to restore them or do I need to send them off somewhere to have it repaired?

[@DL101ca]

There are shops that could rechrome them, but why not stick some projectors in there and have proper lighting where you need it ?

[@braddubois6836]

Detailed videos, just like this one is perfect, since your wondering. That’s my opinion..

[@ericohman]

For whatever it's worth, I work in automotive field as mech engineer and the IATF 16949 standard have temperature range -40°C to +125°C (-40 to 257 F) so material typically made to withstand that, being electronics/mechanics/paint, what have you...