Dusty Headlights Caldina GTT

[magnazan]

Just had my GTT fail a WOF for scattered dipped beam. Turns out that my headlights are dusty (Inside).

So the question is are there any quick fixes? Or is it a case of buying some new Headlights?

If it's the latter anyone breaking a Caldina or best to go to Mr Revhead? Just like to know whether it's my arm or leg i'm going to have to part with.

[Bling]

give me a washout, i'm guessing you can completely remove the bulbs from the lights, so do that, then take the lights themselves out of the car, get some water and detergent mix happening and rinse them out.

I'd try that before looking at buying new lights, if its just dust this should work. Make sure you leave them in the sun for a while tho to warm up and evaporate all the remaining water inside the light.

[barryogen]

You can put them in the oven at ~60C and it is enough to pull them apart and wide the inside... but replacing them if you fcuk up would probably be expensive...

maybe you could stuff a cloth through the bulb hole and wipe it?

[magnazan]

I think either way i'm going to have to remove the headlights. Anyone removed them before? Any Tips?

I know the Metal Clips that hold the bulbs in are a PITA to remove, but the whole headlight...

[Bling]

if you be gentle and take your time it will be easy and you wont break anything. its not exactly rocket science

[2LTR Rona]

if I remember rightly Caldina headlights are STUPIDLY expensive brand new, something like $700 or $800 a piece. I remember fivebob (think it was him) posting this a while back but cant find the post now.

So....if you do pull them apart Dont break them

[magnazan]

Damn defo don't wana be breaking them then. Will have a go at removing them on the weekend, should be fun

[cedwards]

I think either way i'm going to have to remove the headlights. Anyone removed them before? Any Tips?

I know the Metal Clips that hold the bulbs in are a PITA to remove, but the whole headlight...

Pretty easy to remove actually once you know how.

First step to remove the indicator, look at top of headlight there is a bolt on the fender end and just infront of it a hole in the plastic with a white hex key like fitting (adjusts headlight tilt I think) next to this fitting is a hole going down into fender.. Get a good torch an look into this hole. You need to push a flat head screwdriver into this hole and should find a clip that when gently pushed down releases the indicator. (If you have your service manual still, be it in japanese there is a diagram)
Step 2 undo two top bolts on headlight and also the screw in the centre of grill then unclip grill from headlight, also if I remember correctly there is a bolt exposed by the removed indicator.
Step 3 unbolt metal trim that sits under headlight and indicator and with some jiggling remove, (beware jiggling can leave small scratch on fender side of trim)
Step 4 Headlight should be relatively free now, will still be attached underneath to a clip that allows it to pivot forward and back, unclip wiring harness from back of headlight then you should be able to pull forward on headlight and have it pop out of this lower pivot. I found it easier to slide it sideways toward the indicator first then pull forward and up.
Takes about ten- fifteen minutes a side but dont rush it. Good luck

PS may wanna look at new bulbs while you are in there save some hassel in the future and may be part of failed wof cause although unlikely

[magnazan]

Well not sure if washing it is going to do any good. I took a closer look at it this arvo and well this is what it looks like:

Passenger side:



Drivers Side:



Wondering whether it's even fixable.

[flygt4]

if i remember correctly a caldina headlight is worth like a million dollars from toyota.
i remember when we got ours revhead mentioned to put something over them so they dont get cracked by stones

[cedwards]

They actually look pretty clean a bit of debri/corrosion on the reflector shouldn't really cause that much scatter, I wouldn't think.. You sure you have the right bulbs in, have had a car fail a wof before for similar reason and it had the incorrect bulbs fitted by prev owner.

[fivebob]

At $650 for a new one last time I checked you'd best try fixing them first.

Looks like brake dust or similar debris has got in through the hole where it's missing the park light bulb. Easiest solution might be to try an air duster through the hole to shift the dust to a place where it will do no harm. Failing that ,take them off and rinse them out, and make sure you dry them properly.

[magnazan]

Should my bulbs be the incorrect type what are the correct type? I'm pretty certain they aren't stock as they have a blue hue to them.

[Lloyd]

Just give them a quick blow out with an air gun if its only dust. The top picture it looks like the dark stuff is only on a surround? The reflector on the back look fine so I'd imagine it would give a decent pattern. Park a few meters away from a wall tonight and see if it gives a nice obvious line that goes flat and then slopes up to the left.

[cedwards]

Not sure ask toyota..
Also though I can't see properly from you photo's but the centre section the bulb feeds through into looks very different from mine? Can you when looking straight at the headlight see the end of the light bulb? Or is it covered by a centre cap, it looks as there is a hole through the centre cap to the bulb???
Check your bulbs also for a little cupped metal reflector within the bulb i'm pretty sure they should have them.
Are you sure it is these lights causing the scatter and not poorly aligned driving lamps in the bumper?

[magnazan]

The 'cap' you speak of isn't on my main lights just on my main beams. I took a look at my friends GT and his does have the caps on all bulbs.

Are they required?

What are they doing?

Can you buy them separately?

[cedwards]

Yes mine are definitely the same as the high beams.
I would think without the cap there you would get a pinhole effect of the bulb's filament which would produce an uncontrolled dipped beam. (more so than dust)
quite often though dipped bulbs have their tips coated in a grey like paint to help avoid this, is this the case with your bulbs?
Ask you friend nicely if you can borrow his bulbs for a trial run...

I don't think you would be able to buy them seperately new.. check with rev.
But you should definitely be able to source a broken headlight from a fellow ts member or wrecker for cheap from which you could salvage the caps. ( could possibly only need one headlight as contains two caps)
Or try swapping the caps from your high beams to your driving lights as it shouldn't affect warrantability on your high beams.

[magnazan]

It's at the Auto lecci now. Asked them to try some Hella Ultras in there. Hopefully should sort it out

[d1 mule]

failing a place here in chch called Braxtons fixes and reconditions car lights you could try there

[Bling]

depends how well sealed they are, I tried braxtons to take my rear lights apart but they are glued at factory so they couldn't do anything apparently..... either that or they were just too lazy to do something