How to clean dust from inside the Valeo RS4 housings

[Sfarooq]

How do I clean the inside of Valeo Rs4 housings? There is dust inside both the turn signal and regular area.

[diagnosticator]

If it's only dust that you need to remove, try blowing the housing out with compressed air. Usually, the inside surface of the housing lens and the projector reflector and lens become coated with a foggy looking film. To clean this film from the surfaces, perform the following procedure:

First, remove the ballast and lamps. Next remove the support spring under the xenon projector, by levering the side so that the inner ends are moved toward the other end, to disengage the support spring from the housing. Next, remove the projector from the housing.

To clean the inside surface of the housing lens, Use clear uncolored ammonia and pour about a cup or so into the housing with the lens facing down. Shake the housing around to agitate the ammonia inside.
Poor out the ammonia and spray rinse the housing interior throughly with warm water using a kitchen sink sprayer. After rinsing in the sink, pour a couple of cups of DISTILLED water into the housing and agitate to rinse all of the interior parts throughly. Pour out the distilled water and let drain with the lens pointing upward. Shake out as much water as possible, then dry the housing interior using a hair dryer set on high. Next, carefully clean the projector reflector and lens using ammonia and distilled rinse water. DO NOT touch or rub the projector reflector surface! The silver electroplate coating is VERY thin, and any touching or rubbing will damage the reflector coating, ruining the projector! After the housing is completely dry inside, reassemble the projector into the housing and install the rest of the parts in the reverse order. Reinstall the housings on the car and check/adjust the beam aim as needed using the approved manual aiming procedure. Done.

The disassembly/reassembly advice above, pertains to B6 A4/S4/RS4 headlight housings. B7 housings are different,(?) but the cleaning procedure is the same.

[UnstableOS]

If it's only dust that you need to remove, try blowing the housing out with compressed air. Usually, the inside surface of the housing lens and the projector reflector and lens become coated with a foggy looking film. To clean this film from the surfaces, perform the following procedure:

First, remove the ballast and lamps. Next remove the support spring under the xenon projector, by levering the side so that the inner ends are moved toward the other end, to disengage the support spring from the housing. Next, remove the projector from the housing.

To clean the inside surface of the housing lens, Use clear uncolored ammonia and pour about a cup or so into the housing with the lens facing down. Shake the housing around to agitate the ammonia inside.
Poor out the ammonia and spray rinse the housing interior throughly with warm water using a kitchen sink sprayer. After rinsing in the sink, pour a couple of cups of DISTILLED water into the housing and agitate to rinse all of the interior parts throughly. Pour out the distilled water and let drain with the lens pointing upward. Shake out as much water as possible, then dry the housing interior using a hair dryer set on high. Next, carefully clean the projector reflector and lens using ammonia and distilled rinse water. DO NOT touch or rub the projector reflector surface! The silver electroplate coating is VERY thin, and any touching or rubbing will damage the reflector coating, ruining the projector! After the housing is completely dry inside, reassemble the projector into the housing and install the rest of the parts in the reverse order. Reinstall the housings on the car and check/adjust the beam aim as needed using the approved manual aiming procedure. Done.

The disassembly/reassembly advice above, pertains to B6 A4/S4/RS4 headlight housings. B7 housings are different,(?) but the cleaning procedure is the same.


I did this but used white vinegar instead of ammonia and it worked great.

[vhstejskal]

First, remove the ballast and lamps. Next remove the support spring under the xenon projector, by levering the side so that the inner ends are moved toward the other end, to disengage the support spring from the housing. Next, remove the projector from the housing.


diagnosticator, you had a drawing that I found on another thread that references the above process. I stumbled upon it but can't find it again. If you had the diagram and quick post can you post it or refer me to the other thread?

Never mind on this question... I found the information; and for anyone else that may stumble upon this...

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/251886-who-has-taken-apart-xenon-lights-before?highlight=xenon+projector