How To Paint Your Vehicles Lights
Fading vehicle lights?
Want to add a new out of this world look to your sweet ride?
Look no further.
In this dabble edition we go through the steps to helping you get your tail lights looking fresh and brand new. Whether that be simply learning how to open, clean, and reseal your lights or to repaint entire unit for complete new look.
Steps shown apply for headlights and tail lights.
Materials + Tools needed!
Tools:
– Heat gun (Got the one shown off Amazon)
– 10mm wrench (May be different size depending on vehicle)
– Large Flat head screw driver (preferably two)
– Container to hold bolts you remove
Material:
– Painters Tape
– Microfiber cloth
– Dupli-Color Adhesion Promotor
– Dupli-Color Acrylic Enamel (Colour of choice)
– Dupli-Color Clear Coat Gloss Finish
– Permatex *CLEAR* Silicon Adhesive Sealant
Materials + Tools needed!
Tools:
– Heat gun (Got the one shown off Amazon)
– 10mm wrench (May be different size depending on vehicle)
– Large Flat head screw driver (preferably two)
– Container to hold bolts you remove
Material:
– Painters Tape
– Microfiber cloth
– Dupli-Color Adhesion Promotor
– Dupli-Color Acrylic Enamel (Colour of choice)
– Dupli-Color Clear Coat Gloss Finish
– Permatex *CLEAR* Silicon Adhesive Sealant
Here is how my lights looked initially. As you may be able to tell these are cheap eBay tail lights that have had the lenses painted red with VHT transparent red paint.
Here is how my lights looked initially. As you may be able to tell these are cheap eBay tail lights that have had the lenses painted red with VHT transparent red paint.
First remove Tail Lights according to your vehicles Factory Manual.
For my car it was these four 10mm bolts located at the back of the light inside my trunk.
Place all removed bolts in container for later.
Before removing light ensure all bulbs or connectors have been removed. Bulbs for most vehicles require a simple twist and pull (lefty loosy, righty tighty)
May have to pull carpets back to access light were as some vehicles have access hatches.
First remove Tail Lights according to your vehicles Factory Manual.
For my car it was these four 10mm bolts located at the back of the light inside my trunk.
Place all removed bolts in container for later.
Before removing light ensure all bulbs or connectors have been removed. Bulbs for most vehicles require a simple twist and pull (lefty loosy, righty tighty)
May have to pull carpets back to access light were as some vehicles have access hatches.
Once the light has been removed begin heating the exterior of the lens where it meets with the light casing using the heat gun.
**Insure you do not get too close or linger for too long in one spot as this tool gets very hot and can melt/damage the plastic**
Once heated enough to see slight movement when pressing on the cover you can begin prying back the lens with both flat head screw drivers working your way forward slowly one flat head at a time.
**Plastic is now hot so insure you are very careful prying with the flat heads to avoid over flexing and cracking the plastic on either the lens or the unit itself**
This part is crucial to reinstalling the lens properly as we cannot allow any openings for moisture to enter your and destroy your new pretty lights.
As with most car related tasks, patients is key
Lights should look similar to this once lens is removed.
Once removed clean light completely with soap and water to remove any dirt and grime before paint.
Once the light has been removed begin heating the exterior of the lens where it meets with the light casing using the heat gun.
**Insure you do not get too close or linger for too long in one spot as this tool gets very hot and can melt/damage the plastic**
Once heated enough to see slight movement when pressing on the cover you can begin prying back the lens with both flat head screw drivers working your way forward slowly one flat head at a time.
**Plastic is now hot so insure you are very careful prying with the flat heads to avoid over flexing and cracking the plastic on either the lens or the unit itself**
This part is crucial to reinstalling the lens properly as we cannot allow any openings for moisture to enter your and destroy your new pretty lights.
As with most car related tasks, patients is key
Lights should look similar to this once lens is removed.
Once removed clean light completely with soap and water to remove any dirt and grime before paint.
Next step PAINT!!
Once Lights have been cleaned use painters tap to mask off areas paint is not wanted.
As seen in photo I taped surrounding black trim to insure I only paint the inside of the lens.
Once taped you can begin painting!
Follow the step by step paint instructions shown on the cans and insure you are in a warm dry location to apply.
I myself applied:
– 2 coats of adhesion promotor
– 3 coats of acrylic enamel white paint
– 2 coats of clear coat
Allowing about 10-12 mins between all Coats of paint.
Allow light to dry for about 24hrs before handling and reassembly
*I removed red paint from lens using gasoline on a rag (only needed because was previously painted red over clear lens…most cars come clear from factory so this step will be irrelevant)*
Next step PAINT!!
Once Lights have been cleaned use painters tap to mask off areas paint is not wanted.
As seen in photo I taped surrounding black trim to insure I only paint the inside of the lens.
Once taped you can begin painting!
Follow the step by step paint instructions shown on the cans and insure you are in a warm dry location to apply.
I myself applied:
– 2 coats of adhesion promotor
– 3 coats of acrylic enamel white paint
– 2 coats of clear coat
Allowing about 10-12 mins between all Coats of paint.
Allow light to dry for about 24hrs before handling and reassembly
*I removed red paint from lens using gasoline on a rag (only needed because was previously painted red over clear lens…most cars come clear from factory so this step will be irrelevant)*
Final step! Your almost done!
Once dry time has completed clean both painted units and lens’ with your clean microfibre cloth to insure no finger prints or dust resides inside the light before reassembly.
Now using your **CLEAR** Silicone adhesive add a fine line all the way around the casing of the light where the lens joins. Insure you do a full line without stopping as any gap could allow moisture in.
*you may not even need adhesive as some people are able to reuse the adhesive that was existing by reheating the casing. I personally reapply to ensure the longevity of my work.*
Once adhesive is added you may reattach the lens to the casing. Once attached find a 1lbs – 5lbs object you can rest on top or on the edges of the lens to hold it tight in place as the adhesive dries.
Allow 24hrs to dry.
Final step! Your almost done!
Once dry time has completed clean both painted units and lens’ with your clean microfibre cloth to insure no finger prints or dust resides inside the light before reassembly.
Now using your **CLEAR** Silicone adhesive add a fine line all the way around the casing of the light where the lens joins. Insure you do a full line without stopping as any gap could allow moisture in.
*you may not even need adhesive as some people are able to reuse the adhesive that was existing by reheating the casing. I personally reapply to ensure the longevity of my work.*
Once adhesive is added you may reattach the lens to the casing. Once attached find a 1lbs – 5lbs object you can rest on top or on the edges of the lens to hold it tight in place as the adhesive dries.
Allow 24hrs to dry.
Done!
After 24hrs of drying your headlights are now done and ready to reinstall!!
Reinstall procedure is the exact same as the removal except reversed.
Good thing you remembered to put all those bolts in your container ;)
Once tail/head lights are reinstalled always test them fully to insure every function works as it did before. Safety is key.
Thanks!
And remember, Success always follows hard work
Done!
After 24hrs of drying your headlights are now done and ready to reinstall!!
Reinstall procedure is the exact same as the removal except reversed.
Good thing you remembered to put all those bolts in your container ;)
Once tail/head lights are reinstalled always test them fully to insure every function works as it did before. Safety is key.
Thanks!
And remember, Success always follows hard work