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Ben_nz
Gold Cloverleaf
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Posts: 575
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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 Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:04 am Post subject: How do I get inside a headlight? |
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The Alfa boxer virus got me and I bought another 33 - a grey s2 1.5TI.
Its price was pretty cheap for New Zealand ($350) because its warrant and registration have expired. I've been very busy cleaning it and fixing what I can, but I've hit a problem.
One of the headlight reflectors is loose.
I found it propped up with little wedges of wood inside the headlight!
Needless to say that didn't work.
I think I might be able to reattach it to the alignment screws if I could get the headlight open. How is the glass attached to the headlight body? Is it glued? Has anyone successfully opened a headlight up before?
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"Now, all that is left to do ... is wait that something else brokens, to fix up again!" |
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john 33_16v
16 Valve
Joined: 27 May 2005
Posts: 1406
Location: herts, uk
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:21 am Post subject: |
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Try this. Not done it on 33 lights, but have on 145.
Remove any clips holding the lens on, if there are any, prising against the plastic, not the glass.
Stick the headlight in a medium heat oven for about 5 minutes.
Remove the headlight and the lens (if glued type) should be easily prised off from the plastic- possibly remove adjusters first etc etc.
The oven heat melts the sealing glue which is like 'panel joint' if that makes sense. A decent scalpel/ stanley knife helps too.
John
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If it aint broke, fiddle with it until it is!
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93 33 16v Mirtle Met
08 Fiat Grande Punto Exotica Red
90 Yamaha FZR600 Genesis- Silky white/red/blue |
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bobbber
P4
Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 2162
Location: The Greatest Town on Earth - Swadlincote, UK
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:28 am Post subject: |
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Hot water soak perhaps?
Must be better than just prising it open which is what I did to a Series III indicator not that long ago. It kinda 'exploded'.
Actually Ben..... I've got a better idea.....
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STOP BEING SUCH A BLOODY CHEAPSKATE AND GO BUY ANOTHER HEADLIGHT! 
Bob
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Fiat Bravo 165 Sport |
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Ben_nz
Gold Cloverleaf
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Posts: 575
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| STOP BEING SUCH A BLOODY CHEAPSKATE AND GO BUY ANOTHER HEADLIGHT! |
Well y'know, I would like to spend a good fraction of the car's value replacing something I might be able to repair, but the car doesn't have a warrant yet. Say the warrant inspectors object to some difficult-to-fix rust and I end up scrapping the car. What will I do with my brand new headlight? 
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"Now, all that is left to do ... is wait that something else brokens, to fix up again!" |
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gritsop
Green Cloverleaf
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 766
Location: Ekali, Athens - Greece
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Bob...
I think you have not counted the fact that items on the 33 are now out production  especially the headlights that dip on the left...
Regards
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Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive
http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop |
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paulhide
P4
Joined: 20 Dec 2003
Posts: 1607
Location: Oh Beautiful Billingham
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Ben_nz
Gold Cloverleaf
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Posts: 575
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:35 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Stick the headlight in a medium heat oven for about 5 minutes. |
Ooops! 
140 degrees C on fan bake for 3 minutes managed to melt a corner of the indicator lens and the piece of trim running underneath the headlight.
The actual headlight housing was fine and the lens separated very nicely.
If anyone else attempts this in future, I would recommend removing the indicator (two screws) and the black plastic trim piece (three rusty screws) and going easy on the heat unless your oven cooks more evenly than mine!
With the lens off you can clean your headlight up all nice and sparkly.
Not that that does me much good now!
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"Now, all that is left to do ... is wait that something else brokens, to fix up again!" |
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john 33_16v
16 Valve
Joined: 27 May 2005
Posts: 1406
Location: herts, uk
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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Uh oh. The indicators are plastic.
There's a guy on ebay uk trying to shift 70 left hand orange ones.
Did you manage to fix the adjusters?
John
_________________
If it aint broke, fiddle with it until it is!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
93 33 16v Mirtle Met
08 Fiat Grande Punto Exotica Red
90 Yamaha FZR600 Genesis- Silky white/red/blue |
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paulhide
P4
Joined: 20 Dec 2003
Posts: 1607
Location: Oh Beautiful Billingham
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Ben_nz
Gold Cloverleaf
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Posts: 575
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Did you manage to fix the adjusters? |
I could have done, but I figure I should just chase a whole new headlight now. Might take a while and cost a bit though. =(
| Quote: |
| Bet that smelled nice in the kitchen. |
Smelt pretty funky for just 3 minutes worth.
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"Now, all that is left to do ... is wait that something else brokens, to fix up again!" |
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mt
Alfa Sprint
Joined: 19 May 2005
Posts: 177
Location: Portsmouth
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Ben_nz wrote: |
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| Did you manage to fix the adjusters? |
I could have done, but I figure I should just chase a whole new headlight now. Might take a while and cost a bit though. =(
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| Bet that smelled nice in the kitchen. |
Smelt pretty funky for just 3 minutes worth. |
D'oh! My original response to the thread title was gonna be 'curl up very tightly and breathe in' but it just doesn't seem funny now 
Looks nice though, what have you had before? |
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Ben_nz
Gold Cloverleaf
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Posts: 575
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:20 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Looks nice though, what have you had before? |
What car have I had before this grey one?
I still have a black s2 1.7QV.
Here's a photo of it I took just today, to see whether I liked the look of white writing on the tires.
http://www.axys.co.nz/ben/alfa33/WHTRTNG1.JPG
I got a second hand headlight and indicator off my mechanic, at the same time as he undid all the dodginess in the grey car's brake system. Somebody had replaced just one rear brake shoe with another of the wrong type, which had the pivot point in the wrong place. This was partly the cause of excess brake pedal and handbrake travel, so to counter it they'd packed out the handbrake cable with some nuts to take up the slack. 
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Toad
Alfasud
Joined: 19 Mar 2003
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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Don't heat in the oven. a radiator or hair drier produces enough heat.
use a scraper not a stanley. warm the lamp slowly on the rad. I usually wash the out side first and use the rad to dry and heat at the same time.
Remove any metal clips, and see if the lamp has any flex in it, some lenses have fallen out with little or no effort. if not pry around with the scraper, spreading the pressure across the glass, take your time.
Once opened.... I used the dishwasher... clean / fix whats required.
you'll need a sealant to reseal the lense to stop water ingress, I used a rain water gutter sealant that remained soft. you may find better. refit clips and your done.
This has worked on 75's and 145's oh and sprint lights
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