Honda Fit Headlight Tinting and Blackout Painting
Introduction
This guide covers customizing the Honda Fit headlights by smoke-tinting the internal amber reflector and running light cover and refinishing the plastic trim covers in semi-gloss black. The result darkens the amber sections and blacks out the surrounding plastic for a cleaner, more aggressive front-end look while keeping the main projector lens clear. Because the paint is applied to parts inside the housing, the headlight must first be opened and separated into its components, then reassembled once everything has cured. This is a cosmetic modification only and does not affect how the lights mount or wire into the car. Adapted from a community writeup by smeister on FitFreak (https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-interior-exterior-illumination/18060-diy-painting-headlights.html).
Reference
Tools Required
- Screwdriver
- Masking or painter's tape
- Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
- Lint-free cloth or rag
- Well-ventilated spray area
Parts Required
-
VHT Nite-Shades spray paint
-
Bond Aid adhesion promoter
-
Duplicolor Engine Enamel Semi-Gloss Black DE1635
Safety Warnings
- ⚠ Spray only in a well-ventilated area away from ignition sources; these paints and adhesion promoters give off flammable, harmful fumes.
- ⚠ The reflector and running light cover tabs are fragile, ease them out slowly to avoid cracking parts that are hard to source separately.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1 Open and separate the headlight assembly
Before any paint is applied, the headlight must be taken apart. Follow a dedicated Fit headlight-disassembly procedure to open the housing so you can reach the internal amber reflector, the running light cover, and the painted plastic covers. Work on a clean surface and keep track of the small hardware you remove.
2 Remove the plastic lens cover
With the housing open, back out the pair of fasteners that secure the painted plastic cover to the headlight lens, then lift it free. Set the screws aside where they will not be lost.
3 Release the amber reflector and running light cover
Work the clear running-light cover loose, then free the amber reflector from the assembly. Both parts are retained by small plastic tabs, so work them loose slowly and gently; the tabs snap easily and are difficult to repair if broken.
4 Mask and degrease the surfaces
Group the parts into what gets smoked (amber reflector and running light cover) and what gets painted black (plastic covers). Cover any area that should stay its original finish with tape, including the running light zone on the plastic covers. Wipe each surface to be painted with isopropyl alcohol to remove grease and fingerprints so the coating adheres evenly.
5 Smoke the reflector and running light cover
Apply VHT Nite-Shades to both smoke targets, coating the clear running-light cover as well as the amber reflector. Build the tint gradually with three light passes rather than one heavy application, allowing each to flash off before the next. Layering thin coats produces an even smoked finish and prevents runs or blotchy density.
6 Prime and paint the plastic covers
Lay down a light coat of Bond Aid on the plastic covers first to promote adhesion, then top-coat them with Duplicolor Engine Enamel Semi-Gloss Black DE1635. Apply five thin coats, letting each set before adding the next, to keep the surface uniform and free of runs.
7 Cure the paint overnight
Leave every painted piece undisturbed for a full night so the finish hardens completely. Handling the parts while the paint is still soft will leave fingerprints and smudges that are visible once the headlight is back together.
8 Reassemble and reinstall
After the paint has fully cured, refit the running light cover and amber reflector onto their tabs, reattach the plastic cover with its two screws, and close the headlight housing following the reassembly procedure. Confirm all clips and tabs are seated before sealing the unit.
Pro Tips
- 💡 Multiple thin coats always beat one thick coat: three light passes on the smoke tint and five on the black gloss keep the finish smooth and run-free.
- 💡 Cleaning each surface with alcohol just before spraying is what makes the paint stick; skip it and the coating can lift or flake.
- 💡 Adjust the number of smoke coats to taste, since more passes on the reflector darken the amber further.
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