Headlight question
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
From: Hope Mills N.C.
Headlight question My headlights on my '02 still look good. However, the black rubber pieces that seal the gaps around the lights are getting ratty. Does anyone have a fix for this? New part? Modification?
TECH Junkie
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,917
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From: Western North Carolina
When you say 'ratty', is it just the looks or can they be improved with products that revitalize rubber? So many on the market. Even soaking simple Armorall into the rubber and massaging it in there several times over a few days will bring life back into it. That's certainly an inexpensive attempt. Mother's Back to Black will also give it that fresh 'black' look. If the rubber is actually disintegrating, that's another situation.
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I agree with the above; if it's just an appearance issue you can probably bring them back to life with any one of a number of products or combo of products. Grime on that particular surface could be removed with something like Simple Green or other strong detergent, but I wouldn't resort to solvents unless it's really bad (and then you might be able to get away with mineral spirits - this can be used on rubber but will dry it out and make it look gray/white, after which the color must be restored with a revitalizer as mentioned above, my personal choice would be 303 Protectant).
But yeah, if there is physical damage then surface treatments/cleaning won't help. GM never sold this piece individually, but replacement headlights (factory and OE replacements) come with a new gasket already attached, so somebody out there is making them. Just not sure who.
But yeah, if there is physical damage then surface treatments/cleaning won't help. GM never sold this piece individually, but replacement headlights (factory and OE replacements) come with a new gasket already attached, so somebody out there is making them. Just not sure who.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
From: Hope Mills N.C.
I'm sorry, I should have been more clear. The gaskets are broken in a few spots. I figured this must be a common problem, as old as these cars are getting. I was just wondering if there was anything people were using in place of the factory gasket.
