Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

[JOES66FURY]

I know many of you have newer cars...and those newer cars have plastic headlight lenses.
those plastic lenses turn yellow and brown and severely affect night time driving...

I wish I had a better camera to give you an idea of just how different it really looks.

I figured I would share, just in case the obvious solution to this problem escaped everyone else as well.. ;D

So here are a few pics (low quality sorry). This only took about 30 minutes and was done with supplies I already had
I am sure many of you have these things laying around...

A drill, a cotton buffing wheel, polishing compound, #000 steel wool


I first applied the compound liberally with the steel wool, this removes much of the heavy haze
then I applied a bit more and used the pad...moving around constantly

this is what it looked like to start with





after a few passes with the wheel here is what you get...

[1988montecarloss]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

im gonna have to try this with the mustang. mine are BAD :D

[IRONHEAD]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

motorcycle helmet screen polish works better as it's made for plastic and should be finer grit..
but joes came out good..

[milner351]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

I've used regular old rubbing compound and a pad on an variable speed (non orbital) buffer - works good.

I would like to try plastic polish to see if it works better, it certainly should.

One friend spent the time to sand his down with several grits of wet paper first, like 400, 800, 1200, 2000 or some such, then buffed them - they looked new - but - I don't have that kind of patience!

Thanks for sharing - this is not only a looks thing - but a safety thing - the distance your lights reach through those blurred lenses is reduced by more than you'd think compared to clear lenses.

[JOES66FURY]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

I wanted to wet sand with a few different grits but that would have required me to spend money. I had this stuff laying around and it worked like a charm in a pinch. A good buffer would work much better as would removing them from the truck....but like I said...in a pinch.

[IRONHEAD]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

looks good...
and joe.. i'm sure used car dealers don't remove them either

[JOES66FURY]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

looks good...
and joe.. i'm sure used car dealers don't remove them either

they yellow quickly out here due to the sun...there are a bunch of places that charge 40 bucks a light to do essentially what i did...

[DanStokes]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

I just hit mine with the buffer and orange compound. It works pretty well but they eventually get foggy on the inside (like the Dakota). Is there any known cure? I'm wondering if you can pull the light, remove the bulb, and pour some kind of magic gunk in there. Open to suggestions.....

Dan

[Smack]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

i have done it to a few of mine, but they have all gone back to yellow again in no time at all.

i am giving up until someone finds a way that will work for longer than a month,

well, hell, i guess i am just bitchin a little, ... a month is not that bad because it definately does make the lights a lot brighter and it isn't hard to do.

[JOES66FURY]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

if you pull the lenses and wet sand with various grits and finishing with 1000..then polish with a buffer it will last for a longer period of time...but if you have priced replacements..you know that a little bit of elbow grease is worth it....

[milner351]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

it really depends on the vehicle as to how expensive replacements are - I got a pair of replacements for a '92-96 F150 for about $55 each, the old ones were not only yellow, but were separating also, and letting in water.

I took the HF buffer and 3m rubbing compound to the daily driver focus headlights yesterday - they were not bad, but were starting to go - it didn't take long at all to get them crystal clear and shiny again.

[Eliteman76]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

I did that on my contour, until the neighbor kid did me a favor and rammed my car with his ranger...


Funny how good NEW head lights make night driving a fun thing again.
That, and they just look better!

[Russell]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

I was thinking about spraying rattle can clear over them after buffing, what do you guys think good or bad idea?

[milner351]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

hmmmm - not sure about clearing over plastic - first you'd have to make sure the plastic was real real clean after having rubbing compound on it. Wipe it down thoroughly with prep solvent (make sure it's OK on plastic) then spray.

I'd be a bit worried about the clear flaking off over time - there isn't much for the paint to hold onto on that smooth of a surface..... ???

[DanStokes]

Re: Headlight restoration...how too--with pics.

I can probably come up with some foggy lenses and you can experiment. Seems like a lens sanded with 1000 grit or so should shine up nicely with clear over it just like shooting clear over a flat basecoat. The 1000 would leave a good tooth for adhesion and no worries about residual wax or such from the compound. But I'm guessing.

Dan