Sealing Headlights?
Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 02:50
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Kroozer
Hi all, i have some Hella H4 headlight inserts in my Cruiser, which are filling up with water very often when playing. You see they didnt come with the little rubber boots that they were supposed to so they can easily fill up with water.
What i wanted to know is can i just seal the holes and gaps with Duct tape or is there something else that would do the job better? Will duct tape be able to handle the heat of the light?
Duct tape just seems to be the easiest way thats all. Should i run some silicone around the back of the globe also cause there is some gaps there too. The main problem is where i think the park light globe is supposed to go, there is a great big hole there which lets water in quick smart.
Cheers in advance
Reply By: Ozhumvee - Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 08:10
Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 08:10
The Hella H4 inserts come with a big rubber boot that fits onto the back end of the actual globe before the wire plug and then sits against the back of the reflector.
Where it sits is in a circle cutting just across the park light socket hole.
The reflector is fitted with a plug and rubber grommet to fit/seal the park light hole if not required.
I put a smear of silicone where it goes over the park light plug but otherwise it seals
well.
If you bought the reflectors new without the necessary boots/plugs I'd be going back to the supplier and asking for them, virtually impossible to seal without them.
AnswerID:
348550
Follow Up By: Kroozer - Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 16:26
Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 16:26
Yeah got the headlights second hand, but still brand new in the box. Although minus the rubber boots. What if i put a bead of silicone around the globe to seal it, reckon it would last?
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616798
Follow Up By: Ozhumvee - Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 17:49
Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 17:49
I would go for a wander round a wrecking yard, you'll pick up some boots I'd imagine, not necessarily off the Hella's but lots of vehicles with funny shaped headlights have a round section at the rear which use very similar rubber boots.
Alternatively make some out of those rubber joiners that are available from plumbers supplies, they make a stepped cone shaped thing that is used to join large pipes to much smaller ones.
I wouldn't use silicon as if you need to change the globe you would be in for a big job, also the genuine rubber boot has a small breather to stop condensation.
You can probably buy new genuine boots too.
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Reply By: Mick15 - Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 11:17
Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 11:17
Or you could just run sealed beams, one less thing to worry about then, and they're cheap.
AnswerID:
348569
Follow Up By: Kroozer - Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 16:24
Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 16:24
Yeah and duller then a dead dingos eyeball.
FollowupID:
616797
Follow Up By: Mick15 - Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 21:58
Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 21:58
They really aren't that bad - i have them, and i can tell ya, theyre a heap better than fancy H4's that have had dirty water in a few times - been there done that, and wouldn't go back to H4's unless i had a newer car that you can't get sealed ones for. Match them with a good set of lights and theyre heaps.
But having said that though some guys like to run HID low beams, high beams, and multiple HID
driving lights!
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616869
Reply By: howesy - Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 23:20
Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009 at 23:20
I had the same problem on a falcon and used duct tape to go around over top of globe. I found most water was carried behind the light as i drove and then ran around the tape and not into the globe it worked OK.
AnswerID:
348667