Mechanical Problems?

How ya doing there.. Not really a mechanical question, but has to do
with switching out the headlights on a 1997 CVPI.

The headlights (and lens) on one of my 1997 PI's are not quite as clear as they
use to be, maybe getting a slight case of the 'dreaded headlight yellowing'.

We have a 1997 donor car that has crystal clear headlights. I've never
done much in the way of body work, and wonder how hard it would be to
switch out the lights/lens? Any special tools needed? Would hate to try it
and get something screwed up..

Well, actually...
(sorry to butt in)
Headlight yellowing can be eliminated by removing the headlight lens and sanding it with ultra-fine wet dry sandpaper. (Use about 3 stages from "coarse" 400 or so to just about the finest you can find.) Removing the lens is simple, and so is replacing it... just make sure that you have someone to help you line it up when you put it back in!

I had thought about doing that, but the donor car is just sitting there so I
thought it might be easier to replace the whole headlight assembly.

What is involved with just switching the len's between the two cars.

It's pretty simple, the first time I did this I just pried the clips off the back of the headlights with a pair or needle nose plyers and a small screwdriver. A pair of bent nose "c" clip plyers does a better job (about $25. at Sears) but no matter how you do it , a clip or two is bound to break, so suggest you have a few extras on hand. The lights from 1992 to 1997 seem to be interchangable.

Thanks for the replies

Looks like I have a weekend project, and I will be sure to
have some extra clips on hand..

..

Hi. I'm in the market for a 98+ CVPI. I am from Northern California. My question is what should I be looking for when buying one? Should I try and get a detectives car or a CHP car? I have heard that I should check for body damage as it implies that the car has been hit. Anything else I should look for?

6SecCVic said:

Well, actually...
(sorry to butt in)
Headlight yellowing can be eliminated by removing the headlight lens and sanding it with ultra-fine wet dry sandpaper. (Use about 3 stages from "coarse" 400 or so to just about the finest you can find.) Removing the lens is simple, and so is replacing it... just make sure that you have someone to help you line it up when you put it back in!

Click to expand...

So do you sand the inside of the lens?