Those headlight restorers

P

Pyromancer

Joined
Oct 30, 2005
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343
My headlights have that awful haze and are limiting my light output.

Any experience with either the wipe on/wipe off or the buffer type?

Thanks,
D
 
I used one kit with some sanding pads and and a polishing compound. It works OK for a while, but then gets hazy again within the year. It does not restore to original condition, and then needs periodic maintenance.
 
Sand it with 1500 wet or dry paper,clean with soap and water,spray it with clear coat.Get some good clear,it can be rattle can but needs to be a good enamal or urethane.
 
I don't believe any wipe on wipe off type product would work. The reason they got yellow in the first place is because the coating has failed. This needs to be sanded/polished off to restore clarity. After this is been done it will require more maintenance than before as the UV protection layer has been removed. This could be very minor depending on where you live or how you store your vehicle. You might need to lightly polish say once a year. If you wax your car regularly just do headlights as well and that will provide some protection. If you don't have a buffer or polisher you can get kits that attach to a drill.

What kind of vehicle is it?
 
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This what I've used over the years, with good results and the headlight clarity got better and lasted longer the more I used it.

[video=youtube;2ndeBdDezkM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ndeBdDezkM[/video]

I've also made my own kit with different grades of wet/dry sandpaper and using Meguiar's PlastX™ Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish.
 
try toothpaste, I think it actually works. :D
 
Actually, neither will work permantly. The abrasive type lasts longer than the wipe-off, but the hazing will eventually return as the lens
surface is now slightly porous. The only permanent solution I have seen is to cover the lens after using the abrasive with a clear film
like the kind made by Xpel for use in clear bra applications.
 
Rubbing compound and a buffing wheel should fix it up in about 30 seconds. The only problem is you will be doing this often because the plastic itself has been compromised by the UV light soooooooooo, it will continue to haze over until you replace the headlights.
 
Interesting. I had no idea it was a coating failure. I thought maybe the plastic was hazing due to headlight heat. My taillights are crystal clear, but maybe they're made from a diff plastic.
I dont have a drill, but do you think some fine grit wet/dry would work? Its a 2004 impreza, so its been driven, and lives outside.
 
Can you post a picture so I can see how bad it is?
 
I would not advise sanding plastic unless you know how to polish it. Get 3M rubbing compound and apply a small amount to a rag, rub headlight until clear. Very simple.

If this does not work find a local auto detail place and have them buff your headlights.
 
You gotta remove the oxidation,rubbing compound will work just slowly.1500 wet or dry and some soapy water will get the haze off fast.A good exterior clear coat will have the UV protector in it.Go to a automotive paint supply store,they will fix you up.
 
I've tried rubbing compound also and what works best is wet sanding by hand, using 4 different grades of paper (down to 2500 grit) and then polishing.

It's not like you're sanding with 80 grit. The super fine grades of paper today works wonders for fine finish work.

It'll take work to hand finish the headlights, but it'll be worth it when you see the finished results.
 
3M makes a kit and is available at many autoparts stores as well as the big box stores. It has a sanding pad, with progressive grit discs. I've used it and it works, but it lasts only about 2 months in the Arizona summer. Ultimately, replacing the headlight lens is the only way. There are also some films available from the dealership that when applied offer extended protection from UV light a well as chipping and ultimately breakage.
I'm about to repolish my headlights again. The lenses are about $180-$250 for aftermarket versions on my vehicle.
 
My body shop clear-coated the lens after polishing...has held up for several years in FL Sun- neither vehicle garaged.

Pretty sure automotive clear coat.

Best.
 
What they said. From what I have read, the headlight lenses have UV protection from the factory which wears away over the years. My 12 year old Camry has pretty
bad cataracts. It would cost $200 plus each for new headlights. Toyota won't sell just the lens.

It tried some rubbing compound. It made it worse.
 
Had a '91 F150. At 15+ years it failed inspection because of headlamp haze/light output. Half an hour with Mequiars clear plastic polish, and it passed inspection. For the next 7 years it passed inspection with only that one application. Gave the truck away earlier this year.
 
I've used the Meguiar's headlight polish that comes with the buffing wheel.
It works good, lasts about a year. Probably less if you commute by car.
I think the hazing us part UV and part sandblast...



Earlier this month, on a whim and tip from FB (where all the automotive genius types hang out) I tried OFF bug spray.
It worked with less effort than the Mothers. Sprayed it on a rag and rubbed the wet rag on the headlight.
The DEET actually melts the plastic and you are rubbing away the top, oxidized layer. If you don't wash off the DEET the plastic will continue to melt for a while and remain tacky.
We'll see how long it lasts. :)

There is a you youtube video that explains about the bug spray and it's plusses and minuses.
 
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