Official Retrofit Thread
09-15-2013, 10:51 PM
#1384
Senior Member
Alright guys I need some insight:
My driver's side retrofit has been a nightmare ever since I've installed them. It's getting A LOT of water leaking inside of it. Water is literally pooling inside it overtime to the point where if the light isn't installed in the car you can pick it up and move the water around inside. It also fogs to the point where it pretty much covers the whole inside of the glass. Three times I've tried to fix it now:
I opened it up by taking the rubber backing off for a few days and made sure there was no water in it still when I installed it. The first I put a layer of waterproof silicone around the seal for extra sealing purposes. Installed it back in the car and the fog came back quickly.
The next time I tried the same process and I also resealed where the wire comes out for the highbeam solenoid. Still no luck.
The final time I've taken them out to try and fix this I picked up the headlight and with the water inside ran the water inside a full 360 degrees around the seal to see if any water would come out... it didn't. So I noticed that the rubber backing for the bulb spot thingy is quite dirty, especially compared to my stockers which were in the car for years. Also I noticed that that rubber backing will not by any means fit that space snugly. I tried using my OEM rubber backing and to no avail, the same thing happened where it wouldn't fit in properly. It seems like it isn't the rubber part's fault itself, but the space where the rubber backing goes is deformed or something and refuses to fit no matter how you try and get it in there.
I'm at a point where I THINK the water is getting in where the bulb is... but could that much water really be getting in there? Has anybody else ever encountered this problem before?
Any insight would be much appreciated- I'm sick and tired of the car looking the way it does with the headlight so fogged up. Also, due to constant water accumulation and drying out, a noticeable amount of dirt is starting to get inside the light which is also very frustrating... I'll post up some pictures tomorrow when it's daylight.
My driver's side retrofit has been a nightmare ever since I've installed them. It's getting A LOT of water leaking inside of it. Water is literally pooling inside it overtime to the point where if the light isn't installed in the car you can pick it up and move the water around inside. It also fogs to the point where it pretty much covers the whole inside of the glass. Three times I've tried to fix it now:
I opened it up by taking the rubber backing off for a few days and made sure there was no water in it still when I installed it. The first I put a layer of waterproof silicone around the seal for extra sealing purposes. Installed it back in the car and the fog came back quickly.
The next time I tried the same process and I also resealed where the wire comes out for the highbeam solenoid. Still no luck.
The final time I've taken them out to try and fix this I picked up the headlight and with the water inside ran the water inside a full 360 degrees around the seal to see if any water would come out... it didn't. So I noticed that the rubber backing for the bulb spot thingy is quite dirty, especially compared to my stockers which were in the car for years. Also I noticed that that rubber backing will not by any means fit that space snugly. I tried using my OEM rubber backing and to no avail, the same thing happened where it wouldn't fit in properly. It seems like it isn't the rubber part's fault itself, but the space where the rubber backing goes is deformed or something and refuses to fit no matter how you try and get it in there.
I'm at a point where I THINK the water is getting in where the bulb is... but could that much water really be getting in there? Has anybody else ever encountered this problem before?
Any insight would be much appreciated- I'm sick and tired of the car looking the way it does with the headlight so fogged up. Also, due to constant water accumulation and drying out, a noticeable amount of dirt is starting to get inside the light which is also very frustrating... I'll post up some pictures tomorrow when it's daylight.
Last edited by nobody2u; 09-15-2013 at 10:58 PM.
09-16-2013, 03:32 AM
#1389
New Member
Join Date: 03-31-11
Location: Skamokawa, WA
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have gen2 ccfls. Can I buy the mini h1 kit and install it? These stock projectors dont aim worth a **** in these gen 2s
Alright guys I need some insight:
My driver's side retrofit has been a nightmare ever since I've installed them. It's getting A LOT of water leaking inside of it. Water is literally pooling inside it overtime to the point where if the light isn't installed in the car you can pick it up and move the water around inside. It also fogs to the point where it pretty much covers the whole inside of the glass. Three times I've tried to fix it now:
I opened it up by taking the rubber backing off for a few days and made sure there was no water in it still when I installed it. The first I put a layer of waterproof silicone around the seal for extra sealing purposes. Installed it back in the car and the fog came back quickly.
The next time I tried the same process and I also resealed where the wire comes out for the highbeam solenoid. Still no luck.
The final time I've taken them out to try and fix this I picked up the headlight and with the water inside ran the water inside a full 360 degrees around the seal to see if any water would come out... it didn't. So I noticed that the rubber backing for the bulb spot thingy is quite dirty, especially compared to my stockers which were in the car for years. Also I noticed that that rubber backing will not by any means fit that space snugly. I tried using my OEM rubber backing and to no avail, the same thing happened where it wouldn't fit in properly. It seems like it isn't the rubber part's fault itself, but the space where the rubber backing goes is deformed or something and refuses to fit no matter how you try and get it in there.
I'm at a point where I THINK the water is getting in where the bulb is... but could that much water really be getting in there? Has anybody else ever encountered this problem before?
Any insight would be much appreciated- I'm sick and tired of the car looking the way it does with the headlight so fogged up. Also, due to constant water accumulation and drying out, a noticeable amount of dirt is starting to get inside the light which is also very frustrating... I'll post up some pictures tomorrow when it's daylight.
My driver's side retrofit has been a nightmare ever since I've installed them. It's getting A LOT of water leaking inside of it. Water is literally pooling inside it overtime to the point where if the light isn't installed in the car you can pick it up and move the water around inside. It also fogs to the point where it pretty much covers the whole inside of the glass. Three times I've tried to fix it now:
I opened it up by taking the rubber backing off for a few days and made sure there was no water in it still when I installed it. The first I put a layer of waterproof silicone around the seal for extra sealing purposes. Installed it back in the car and the fog came back quickly.
The next time I tried the same process and I also resealed where the wire comes out for the highbeam solenoid. Still no luck.
The final time I've taken them out to try and fix this I picked up the headlight and with the water inside ran the water inside a full 360 degrees around the seal to see if any water would come out... it didn't. So I noticed that the rubber backing for the bulb spot thingy is quite dirty, especially compared to my stockers which were in the car for years. Also I noticed that that rubber backing will not by any means fit that space snugly. I tried using my OEM rubber backing and to no avail, the same thing happened where it wouldn't fit in properly. It seems like it isn't the rubber part's fault itself, but the space where the rubber backing goes is deformed or something and refuses to fit no matter how you try and get it in there.
I'm at a point where I THINK the water is getting in where the bulb is... but could that much water really be getting in there? Has anybody else ever encountered this problem before?
Any insight would be much appreciated- I'm sick and tired of the car looking the way it does with the headlight so fogged up. Also, due to constant water accumulation and drying out, a noticeable amount of dirt is starting to get inside the light which is also very frustrating... I'll post up some pictures tomorrow when it's daylight.
09-16-2013, 07:59 AM
#1391
Senior Member
The Retrofit Source now sells a Retro-Quik that makes it so you can swap Mini H1s into most Spyder brand aftermarket headlights. They might work in other aftermarket projector headlights too. They seem to use the same crappy projectors.
Is your retrofit with Mini H1s or something different, like FX-Rs or EvoX-Rs? When I did my retrofit with EvoX-Rs, I ended up using GE Silicone II to glue the rubber backing into the groove. I used something as a weight to keep it down while it cured. Then I put some Silicone II down inside where the rubber went around the bowl of the projector and sealed that up. So far, I've gone through a few downpours without any moisture getting in. Anytime you have to use Silicone for your headlights, use GE Silicone II only.
Is your retrofit with Mini H1s or something different, like FX-Rs or EvoX-Rs? When I did my retrofit with EvoX-Rs, I ended up using GE Silicone II to glue the rubber backing into the groove. I used something as a weight to keep it down while it cured. Then I put some Silicone II down inside where the rubber went around the bowl of the projector and sealed that up. So far, I've gone through a few downpours without any moisture getting in. Anytime you have to use Silicone for your headlights, use GE Silicone II only.
09-16-2013, 08:55 AM
#1392
Senior Member
Join Date: 11-25-07
Location: St.Paul minnesnowta
Posts: 2,966
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was driving my balt this weekend and my headlights turned off and then back on, 3 different times. Anyone have any suggestions? I looked over the wiring and stuff and everything looked fine. No niked wires or anything.
09-16-2013, 09:37 AM
#1393
Senior Member
Stock headlights or retros? Also on low beams or high beams?
09-16-2013, 10:22 AM
#1396
Senior Member
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: 07-20-09
Location: Platteville, WI
Posts: 5,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
sometimes water gets in the connections depending where you have them located.. i've learned to keep them tucked up and behind things as much as possible
09-16-2013, 10:23 AM
#1397
Senior Member
Join Date: 11-25-07
Location: St.Paul minnesnowta
Posts: 2,966
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I didn't really try to see if the high beams work, all three times they went off I was sitting idle at a stoplight. They turned off and then about 30 seconds later they turned back on
I did wash my car about 2 hours before this happened.
I did wash my car about 2 hours before this happened.
Last edited by 09TcSedan; 09-16-2013 at 10:23 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
09-16-2013, 10:25 AM
#1398
Yeah it sucks dude, one of my headlights just started flickering and turning off yesterday. its bullshit, i'm running all top of the line morimoto stuff. all of the connections have the rubber grommets for water protection; i'm so sick of taking my headlights out and ****
09-16-2013, 12:14 PM
#1400
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: 12-07-10
Location: Chicago
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah it sucks dude, one of my headlights just started flickering and turning off yesterday. its bullshit, i'm running all top of the line morimoto stuff. all of the connections have the rubber grommets for water protection; i'm so sick of taking my headlights out and ****
You have the BEST parts in those lights, we have been tackling issues since day one. And I never had an issue with them in my car!