Old Headlight Seal Glue - There Has to Be A Trick To Get It Off
 

I am in the middle of replacing my headlight seals, and whomever did this prior was very "liberal" (gasp) with the black adhesive. So much so, that it shows beyond the normal seal position...unsightly and interferes with seal placement. Any tricks to removing this old adhesive?


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1475709429.jpg

This looks like a homegrown application - I am thinking the PO smoked some homegrown, then went to town with adhesive. If this is your 88 Coupe, with H5's - or earlier H4's for that matter - I think you should have a factory rubber gasket, and no goop.

Agreed. Just hoping someone has a miracle solvent to get the crap off.

Maybe Goo Gone? If it was a non painted or exposed area I'd use a heat gun on low and at a distance to very lightly heat the stuff and aid in getting it off. Just be careful not to mess up your paint.

- Steve

Goo gone, Goof off or you can try WD40. Bug and tar remover is another thing to try.

old seal
 

Automotive paint shops sell Prepsol, Autosolv,Clean and prep,Different names.
it is what painters use before final paint,and it is safe on your paint.

Yea, that stuff is NOT what the factory or anyone with brains would do. Good luck getting it off. WD-40 does wonders on many forms of goo.

Get new OEM type rubber seals when you finally get that crap off.

If it is flexible, it might be weather strip adhesive (looks like it to me).
If so, suggest you try 3M 38987 Specialty Adhesive Remover.

I'd give WD40 a try first. If that fails my next option is always mineral turpentine. It is amazingly capable at dissolving old glues and sticky stuff in general, and of course paint safe.

If that is the glue for windshields, good luck. That stuff won't let go.

Peanut butter. Seriously

If it's dried silicone try this.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&u act=8&ved=0ahUKEwjLwJvByMvPAhUE7SYKHSIXDYQQFggvMAM &url=https%3A%2F%2Fqbcpharmacy.com%2Fproducts%2F84 0853014669&usg=AFQjCNFm-KHH_CF2wt5tNQ2m8p0KRxoWdA&sig2=Z_us3evyaHatzJfdPK7 ykg