shazapple
08-25-2006, 01:00 AM
This is the method I used to remove that ugly orange reflector from the corner in a 97-99 Legacy. The 95-96 years have a one piece headlight unit, so prying the two sides apart would be a bit more complicated.
There is an excellent writeup on scoobymods which is for a 2000 Impreza. Their corners are almost the same as ours, so it is a pretty good guide.
http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showth ... readid=474 (http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=474)
Tools
- Oven
- Knife
- Flathead screwdriver
- Phillips screwdriver
1) Preheat oven to 150*f degrees, or any low temperature.
2) Open your hood, and on top of the corner piece will be a phillips screw you will have to remove. The corner clips into the fender so you will need to pull it firmly. Once it pops out you will have to remove the bulb by rotating it.
3) I put my corners in the oven for 15-20 minutes. I put them on something soft and checked them every 5 minutes for any melting. Every time I checked them I would try to pry them apart with the flathead screwdriver. Be careful, they're hot and theres a screw and a few tabs that hold the two sides together.
4) So you don't get glue all over the place when you pry it open, use a knife to cut the stringy glue. Once they're pried apart, it should be easy to pop out the reflector. Either pull it out with your hand or use the flathead screwdriver.
5) I didn't use any extra sealant when putting the two sides back together, but it wouldn't hurt. This would prevent any condensation. Reverse the process and you're done!
While you have everything apart, you can replace the bulb. I find the orange coloured bulb reflects in the corner housing and doesn't quite get rid of all the orange. If its legal in your area, you can put in a clear bulb. If not, you can buy chrome covered bulbs which light up orange. I had a can of chrome spray paint, so I put a light dusting on my existing bulbs.
Heres a before and after picture.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/08/2004september9yr-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/08/2005september7oj-1.jpg
There is an excellent writeup on scoobymods which is for a 2000 Impreza. Their corners are almost the same as ours, so it is a pretty good guide.
http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showth ... readid=474 (http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=474)
Tools
- Oven
- Knife
- Flathead screwdriver
- Phillips screwdriver
1) Preheat oven to 150*f degrees, or any low temperature.
2) Open your hood, and on top of the corner piece will be a phillips screw you will have to remove. The corner clips into the fender so you will need to pull it firmly. Once it pops out you will have to remove the bulb by rotating it.
3) I put my corners in the oven for 15-20 minutes. I put them on something soft and checked them every 5 minutes for any melting. Every time I checked them I would try to pry them apart with the flathead screwdriver. Be careful, they're hot and theres a screw and a few tabs that hold the two sides together.
4) So you don't get glue all over the place when you pry it open, use a knife to cut the stringy glue. Once they're pried apart, it should be easy to pop out the reflector. Either pull it out with your hand or use the flathead screwdriver.
5) I didn't use any extra sealant when putting the two sides back together, but it wouldn't hurt. This would prevent any condensation. Reverse the process and you're done!
While you have everything apart, you can replace the bulb. I find the orange coloured bulb reflects in the corner housing and doesn't quite get rid of all the orange. If its legal in your area, you can put in a clear bulb. If not, you can buy chrome covered bulbs which light up orange. I had a can of chrome spray paint, so I put a light dusting on my existing bulbs.
Heres a before and after picture.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/08/2004september9yr-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/08/2005september7oj-1.jpg