New front lights RF1

New front lights RF1

Postby Donut » Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:39 pm

I'm considering buying a 1997 RF1. Essentially a nice looking vehicle in great condition. However, as with the HRV we own the front lights have started turning yellow (degredation of the plastic I guess). Are the lights simple to change and could I just get a set of RV ones? They do look a bit grim as the vehicle is white...
Cheers
2001 RF3 :-)
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Re: New front lights RF1

Postby Vantastic » Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:21 pm

It is possible to get replacement headlamps from Japan - but this will cost around £400! It is also possible to restore them by using grit paper ... see this video for example:



You will need some of this as well (or similar)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plastic-Headl ... 2554c90c3c

Hope this helps.

Lewis
Loving the Steppy! ... my other car is also Vantastic!
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Re: New front lights RF1

Postby Donut » Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:55 pm

Thanks for the quick response - I won't be getting new ones from Japan - was hoping for a simpler/cheaper crv option - oh well
2001 RF3 :-)
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Re: New front lights RF1

Postby Vantastic » Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:24 am

Worth checking these dealers for spares too: http://www.stepwagonclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=372
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Re: New front lights RF1

Postby Donut » Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:23 am

Cheers, I'll give them a go
2001 RF3 :-)
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Re: New front lights RF1

Postby Stevef+ » Wed Jul 11, 2012 7:57 am

Hi there, if you have yellowing lights it is because UV rays from the sun are affecting the plastic.

You can get a polishing kit from McGuires, or alternatively try a company called Glass Polish in Dublin who do a really good range of products, including plastic polish. http://www.glasspolish.eu/?gclid=CI_NjL ... tAod7VhClA

Don't forget to get a UV blocker coating too. This is normally forgotten and then before long, its back to yellow headlights. SteveF
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Re: New front lights RF1

Postby PARR » Wed Jul 11, 2012 3:15 pm

UV blocker - good thinking - I'll need to do that after brightening up my lights.
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Re: New front lights RF1

Postby PARR » Fri Jul 13, 2012 4:50 pm

Having just about begun to 'clean-up' my headlights, I saw the remains of some sort of coating on the surface of one of them - It doesn't shift with thumb-nail picking or with white spirit or meths - anyone got any idea how to remove it?
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Re: New front lights RF1

Postby Stevef+ » Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:50 pm

Hi Parr, if you use the kit I mentioned in the earlier post, it comes with a drill attachment. This allows you to lean into the job and reduce the edge of the plastic coating. I had this problem with one of my lights and it really takes it down so you find it had to see which is which. SteveF
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Re: New front lights RF1

Postby PARR » Mon Jul 30, 2012 5:31 pm

Thanks, Stevef,

I used some stuff from ebay claiming to be used by aicraft riggers to polish windscreens - not sure about that, but it worked well with the old-fashioned 'elbow-grease' - took a litle while, but worth it. My headlights now match!

Does anyone know if the 1999 headlights (two reflectors and presumably two bulbs) will fit in place of the 1998 ones (one reflector and twin filament H4s)?
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