I am trying to confirm what the headlight lens on 02-05 examples of our cars is made from. I assume it is polycarbonate. Another possibility could be polymethyl methacrylate. Hopefully someone on here knows the answer!
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02-05 headlight lens \ what kind of plastic?
- Thread starter The King
- Start date
Polycarbonate would be the most likely material. The NSX service manual body section lists the plastics used on the NSX; but, probably not the headlight because it is not a paintable / repairable item.
Thanks Old Guy. I figured if anybody commented on this, it would be you! I looked through the 97 service manual, the 03 service manual supplement, and the 95 body repair manual. Obviously the 97 and 95 manuals are pre fixed headlight, so I didn't expect to find an answer to my quest in these. Nothing in the skinny 03 supplement either.:frown: I wonder if Kaz would know?
Curious about why you want to know the material. Are you trying a repair of some sort?
In addition to the Service Manual and the year specific service manual supplement, there are two specialist manuals. The Electrical Troubleshooting Manual and the Body Repair Manual. I have a copy of the Electrical Manual for my year; but, not the Body Manual so I don't know what additional info is available in the Body manual. You may be able to find used paper copies of the manual circulating around for sale. If its listed anywhere, it would be in the Body Manual; but, I still give it a low probability that it is listed and its not like the Body Manual is going to be a useful document (hopefully).
In addition to the Service Manual and the year specific service manual supplement, there are two specialist manuals. The Electrical Troubleshooting Manual and the Body Repair Manual. I have a copy of the Electrical Manual for my year; but, not the Body Manual so I don't know what additional info is available in the Body manual. You may be able to find used paper copies of the manual circulating around for sale. If its listed anywhere, it would be in the Body Manual; but, I still give it a low probability that it is listed and its not like the Body Manual is going to be a useful document (hopefully).
I do have the 97-04 Electrical Troubleshooting manual and 95 Body Repair manual. Spent a good deal of time flipping through all four of the manuals I have today, but didn't come across what I am after.
I'll try and shorten up the sad sad story about my headlight. The car has been stored in a heated garage this winter with proper humidity monitored. It is also in a Showcase car capsule that has a fan with filter that does quite a job of changing up the air and keeping the dust out. The crap weather came fairly early this fall, (plus I had to have my act together before getting my new hip) so put the car away the first week of October.
A few weeks ago I unzipped the bubble and went in to do something, walked to the front of the car and noticed what looked to be some clouding at the top of the right headlight, and a couple of trails of what looked like water creeping from the top of the light and down the inside face of the lens. I couldn't believe what I was looking at. I tried to get the little marker light out of the top of the light, so I could stick a Q-tip in and wipe the "water" out. I couldn't get the bulb out and didn't want to break it. Waited till a body man friend dropped by to pop it out, but a couple of days went by. The trails had moved further down the front of the lens. Rigged up some sticks and Q-tip tools and tried to wipe the liquid out. It was sticky as hell!
I knew things could get ugly quick if I wasn't careful. I started off with glass cleaner on the Q-tips. It seemed to lift some of it, but basically just smeared it. Moved on to rubbing alcohol. It also seemed to work some, but didn't do the job very well. Methyl hydrate didn't do it either. Decided to try some dish detergent. It seemed to lift some of the lighter stuff at the top of the lens, but not so much further down the face. Plus getting the soap all out is a challenge. I am running out of things to try. A new light is 2K Can.
So this is how I have been spending my time in isolation. If I can't find something that lifts this crap, I may have to consider removing the light and attempt to bake it apart. I just got a smashed CRV light to practice on. Then I am still not guaranteed that whatever is on there would come off the lens anyway. I have also thought about sending both lights to Euro Boutique and get their fix done for the bouncing issue that some of these cars get, at the same time. They have done a fair bit of light baking I believe. But then I'm not sure they will get the lens cleaned up either, and I'll still have to buy a new light!
The only thing that I can think of that could have happened to cause this is, before putting the car away I gave it a proper detail. I think I may have given the lights a squirt of 303 protectant and wiped them off. I have used this stuff for years on all kinds of things. It's possible that I may have sprayed too much at the top of the light I suppose. It would have been wiped off, but some may have made it's way through/past the seal over time, where the lens meets the back of the light. It must have reacted with the seal and made it into a gooey liquid. And now with all the different things I have tried, it is hard to say what I've created in there. I am hoping to find something strong enough to lift as much of this stuff off as possible without resorting to any of these other options. Driving season is just about here!
I'll try and shorten up the sad sad story about my headlight. The car has been stored in a heated garage this winter with proper humidity monitored. It is also in a Showcase car capsule that has a fan with filter that does quite a job of changing up the air and keeping the dust out. The crap weather came fairly early this fall, (plus I had to have my act together before getting my new hip) so put the car away the first week of October.
A few weeks ago I unzipped the bubble and went in to do something, walked to the front of the car and noticed what looked to be some clouding at the top of the right headlight, and a couple of trails of what looked like water creeping from the top of the light and down the inside face of the lens. I couldn't believe what I was looking at. I tried to get the little marker light out of the top of the light, so I could stick a Q-tip in and wipe the "water" out. I couldn't get the bulb out and didn't want to break it. Waited till a body man friend dropped by to pop it out, but a couple of days went by. The trails had moved further down the front of the lens. Rigged up some sticks and Q-tip tools and tried to wipe the liquid out. It was sticky as hell!
I knew things could get ugly quick if I wasn't careful. I started off with glass cleaner on the Q-tips. It seemed to lift some of it, but basically just smeared it. Moved on to rubbing alcohol. It also seemed to work some, but didn't do the job very well. Methyl hydrate didn't do it either. Decided to try some dish detergent. It seemed to lift some of the lighter stuff at the top of the lens, but not so much further down the face. Plus getting the soap all out is a challenge. I am running out of things to try. A new light is 2K Can.
So this is how I have been spending my time in isolation. If I can't find something that lifts this crap, I may have to consider removing the light and attempt to bake it apart. I just got a smashed CRV light to practice on. Then I am still not guaranteed that whatever is on there would come off the lens anyway. I have also thought about sending both lights to Euro Boutique and get their fix done for the bouncing issue that some of these cars get, at the same time. They have done a fair bit of light baking I believe. But then I'm not sure they will get the lens cleaned up either, and I'll still have to buy a new light!
The only thing that I can think of that could have happened to cause this is, before putting the car away I gave it a proper detail. I think I may have given the lights a squirt of 303 protectant and wiped them off. I have used this stuff for years on all kinds of things. It's possible that I may have sprayed too much at the top of the light I suppose. It would have been wiped off, but some may have made it's way through/past the seal over time, where the lens meets the back of the light. It must have reacted with the seal and made it into a gooey liquid. And now with all the different things I have tried, it is hard to say what I've created in there. I am hoping to find something strong enough to lift as much of this stuff off as possible without resorting to any of these other options. Driving season is just about here!
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Ouch. You have my sympathy.
When I got my car it had rock bulls eyes on both signal light lenses so I replaced them with new. Rather than throw the old lenses out I thought I would see if I could repair the bulls eyes with one of those rock chip repair kits for glass. In order to do the repair I had to separate the lens from the housing which a lot of forum member implied was easy. I tried the hot water method and couldn't get them separated. Into the oven and I got it to the point that the housing was squishy; but, the lens adhesive would not let go. I gave up and stuck the lens back in my parts box for future consideration (with my fingerprints now firmly recorded on the lens housing). Short story is I would be real careful with the whole lens baking thing. Trusting it to a vendor with prior experience might be a good thing considering the price of those things (really liking my glass pop-ups right about now:smile.
When I got my car it had rock bulls eyes on both signal light lenses so I replaced them with new. Rather than throw the old lenses out I thought I would see if I could repair the bulls eyes with one of those rock chip repair kits for glass. In order to do the repair I had to separate the lens from the housing which a lot of forum member implied was easy. I tried the hot water method and couldn't get them separated. Into the oven and I got it to the point that the housing was squishy; but, the lens adhesive would not let go. I gave up and stuck the lens back in my parts box for future consideration (with my fingerprints now firmly recorded on the lens housing). Short story is I would be real careful with the whole lens baking thing. Trusting it to a vendor with prior experience might be a good thing considering the price of those things (really liking my glass pop-ups right about now:smile
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Interesting. Do you have a picture? I'm guessing this is the inside of the lens withing the housing?
Was the protective cap behind the bulbs on?
If you're planning on opening it up I would probably send it to a professional. The repetition they get from their craft is well worth the price.
Was the protective cap behind the bulbs on?
If you're planning on opening it up I would probably send it to a professional. The repetition they get from their craft is well worth the price.
The light is sitting fully intact in the car just like when she rolled off the line. Hasn't turned 19K miles and has led a rather sheltered life. I expect you guys are correct in suggesting letting the professionals handle the task of separating the pieces. I'll still give the smashed CRV light a go for the hell of it. I don't have a picture of the light at this point.
Faron, time to upgrade to the Glass flip-up lights, this will solve your problems.:biggrin: (Smart Ass answer)
Sorry, about your lights, this would bug me too, so send it off to the guys down south to take care of it.....I suspect the seals got compromised so how.
Bram
Sorry, about your lights, this would bug me too, so send it off to the guys down south to take care of it.....I suspect the seals got compromised so how.
Bram
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Sorry to hear about your situation.
Your headlight should have a vent somewhere on the back. I am not an expert, but I believe it is to allow pressure to equalize when your change elevation? Or maybe to allow condensation to escape?
Anyways, my point is that it is not fully sealed and perhaps during storage fumes may have entered the headlight and condensed to a liquid?
On a side note, I also had a car sheltered from the elements since new. It had similar miles and noticed that the UV coating started to peel. That was a 12 year old car. Nothing last forever unfortunately.
Good luck with your project. I hope you get it sorted out without buying brand new headlights.
Your headlight should have a vent somewhere on the back. I am not an expert, but I believe it is to allow pressure to equalize when your change elevation? Or maybe to allow condensation to escape?
Anyways, my point is that it is not fully sealed and perhaps during storage fumes may have entered the headlight and condensed to a liquid?
On a side note, I also had a car sheltered from the elements since new. It had similar miles and noticed that the UV coating started to peel. That was a 12 year old car. Nothing last forever unfortunately.
Good luck with your project. I hope you get it sorted out without buying brand new headlights.
Not quite sure what kind of fumes fumes could be in the garage, although it is newly constructed. Maybe it's radon. :grey: I'm still leaning towards some of the 303 protectant getting in there, and reacting with another substance that was on the inside of the lens. Seems strange that the car was stored since the first of October and the problem only showed up about five or six weeks ago.
I may have to go the new headlight route. I'm not finished trying to make mine respectable yet. The car is still not out of hibernation, but will be soon. I'll get it as good as I can for the driving season, and decide what to do in the fall. I have an added incentive to dismantle the front end, as I have a Stmpo front chassis bar sitting in the basement for several years that I could take care of at the same time. Once I decide to bite the bullet on a replacement light, I may first look into baking this one apart and, in a perfect world, clean up the lens and reinstall. I might send it off to Euro Boutique to separate the lens and get the bounce fix at the same time, although I don't think I have the bounce issue at this point. The problem with sending it to Euro Boutique, is they may get the lens off and not be able to remove whatever is on there, and I'll still need a new light!:frown:
That is true, it is a risk. Although since they have the lens removed, they might be able to polish the defect off? (assuming it is only a thin layer that is discolored) Wouldn't hurt to contact them and ask for their feedback.
Once the headlight interior is damaged...there is no way to repair it. The inside coating will be further damaged. If you intend to send a headlight to get modified, send it to someone who does a lot of headlights and has great reviews :smile:.
I've use these guys: https://www.umnitza.com/
for my M6 headlights and NSX headlights, very professional & good.
Rich Wong
I've use these guys: https://www.umnitza.com/
for my M6 headlights and NSX headlights, very professional & good.
Rich Wong
What did you have these guys do to your NSX headlights? I realize plastic lights have a coating on the outside that degrades over time with exposure to sunlight etc. Didn't realize the inside of the lens would have a coating also.
I had the amber signal light lens removed, headlight 'bounce' mod & angel eyes added.
[MENTION=9191]03 raw nsx[/MENTION] : Rich, thank you for the link to umnitza. I ordered a R fog light module for our '08 TL-S (broken lens glass but bulb still illuminates) for $99 plus shipping, should be here soon.
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