Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Here you go! =]

Did it yesterday.

Attachment 50896

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

I just used this product for my daughter's Accord headlights. Worked like a charm, they look like new. :D

http://www.crystalviewchemicals.com/myheadlight/

Re: Brilliant...
 

...thanks for showing this. Just bought a 2004 and have the fogged headlights as well, but on mine the top 1.5" or so seems to have some slight 'etching' in the clear plastic. I don't know if it's related to headlamp heat or what. Did you also have this etching?

Thanks,
Norm

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

It's said that toothpaste works as well as anything you can buy in the stores although I've yet to try it.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Yup I also had the 1.5 inch at the top and some on the outside of the light. This cleaned it like new. =]

Mine was also scratched up a bit from previous owner, this also helped that. Worked great. Did it on my bmw 5 too.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Thanks GD - Bough all the stuff last night and will give it a go this weekend. Appreciate the post.

- Norm

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Don't mention it. ;)

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

I was going to polish out my old chevy lamps, and was thinking, after I get them shined and polished maybe I should throw on a coat of clear coat, what do you guys think?

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

I think the mods should make this a sticky.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Agreed. This should be a sticky. :)

However, check with your Dealers. This is covered under warrenty.
I got mine replaced earlier this week due to the haze.
New is better than "good as new". ;)

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

I keep telling you guys, buy a Porter Cable Polisher and you can do the same thing, without the sand paper in 5 minutes tops. And you have an idiot proof buffer for your car.

Pat

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

sticky this thread please ... just trying to keep the repeat offenders from starting threads over and over again.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

I finally got around to trying out your procedures for cleaning up the headlights - your instructions worked like a charm. Headlights are clean and clear. :D

Thanks again GD!
- Norm

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

haha np. =]

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

My brand new headlamps went through their first rain/snow/cold spell...
Got moisture/condensation behind them... :p

Nothing I know of can be done about it.

Sucks big time.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

The original fix for this was a TSB which they would install a vent kit on each light, whether it works or not I don't know.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

I used 0000 steel wool. A lot less fog and the finished product looks like new.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

I think the venting issue is for headlights that fog on the inside. Pat you've seen mine and I think you had it too where there is an etching as well as haze on the outside of the lense. Two separate issues I think. I buff mine with Meguiars Scratch X and they really come out nice. I think there must be something in the water or soap that etches them over time. As for having them replaced I'd rather not have a dealer mess with them if I don't have to.
Pat

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

just got the materials... about to try this... will let everyone know how it goes.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Used this stuff myself, works just the way they say it does, except for the 5 minutes per lens part. Took me the better part of an hour and a half, but I took my time and had some deep pitting to deal with. :rolleyes:

See my picture gallery for before, during and after pics.

Just my Dos Centavos !

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

FP, I would think so. They are both made of acrylic plastic I would assume.

Just my Dos Centavos !

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Just did my headlights last night and they look great. I did use an orbital polisher though to work the Plast X and that took alot less time and elbow grease. Thanks GDrag.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

FP,

the material in automotive headlights is generally "polycarbonate" or Lexan. Softer than acrylic, but much more resilient and tougher to crack. Hard as heck to polish. Wet sanding then polishing is pretty much the only way I know to fix it.

Wind restrictors and the like is "cast acrylic" or Lucite. Harder (more brittle), but easier to polish. With this material, you can wet sand and fine polish, or even use a cotton "Buffing Kit" such as what Sears carries, and use gradually finer grades of polishing compounds (Emory, Trioli, Rouge etc.) just like jewelry. Just be careful not to get it too hot though, it will melt.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

I have found that Brasso or similar works just fine. I have used chrome polish as well, my advice is to try them in a small area first. Fogging inside the light is a problem I have had in the past, I try to ignore it.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Thanks, who makes Plastx?

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Meguiar's.

In fact, we just introduced a headlight restoration kit that comes with a bottle of PlastX, a wool buffing pad that fits any electric drill, and a microfiber towel. Right now it's only available at Checker/Shucks/Kragen stores but will be in wide release in a couple of months.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Thanks, I'll be looking for it, please let us know when and where we can buy it.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Like I said, right now it's at Checker/Shucks/Kragen and on our website (www.meguiarsdirect.com) but in another month or so it'll be in Wal-Mart, Target, PepBoys, Autozone, etc.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

I will try this first! Good tip! I have an 80,000 extended warranty, top level, from Chrysler. I have yet to use it except for a valve on the transmission that was responsible for moving the fluid. If they dealer says no go, then I will definately be doing that which is described here.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

plastx - Great stuff!

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Ok, the local Walmart just got the PlastX. I got a bottle to try. My question to Mike is how abrasive is this stuff on paint. Should I mask off the area's around the headlight covers to protect my paint? My car is pretty new and I wasn't planning on using a buffer. I am going to use this stuff when I wash and wax the car.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

If you are going to use a buffer you might want to cover the area but to be honest I didn't and all was fine. If you are doing it by hand you should be ok. I don't think I've ever taped off the area around the headlights and I've done them for myself and other forum members. Mike In Orange could tell you how abrasive it is. What I have found is that the haze and etching eventually comes back but you just whip out the buffer and the plastx and 5 minutes later you are good as new.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

If you're going to work it by hand then there's no need to mask anything off except maybe just to keep the stuff off the rubber weather stripping. You certainly won't damage the paint with it. If you're using a buffer then masking is probably a good idea - if you're using a rotary buffer then it's almost mandatory.

Yes, the yellowing will keep coming back. Almost all of these modern headlight lenses have a protective coating that wears off over time, and once that happens the plastic will start to deteriortate. You can restore it easy enough, but you are then forever in a maintenance mode. Meguiar's just recently introduced a headlight restoration kit that includes a bottle of PlastX, a wool buffing pad that can be attached to any drill (cordless is fine but usually they don't have the power of a corded drill) and a microfiber towel. Pad and towel are reuseable, of course.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Hey Mike, happy New Year! Been a while, our last discussion was on polishing the swirls etc with a rotary buffer as opposed to the Porter etc. I did have really good results with the NAPA cpmpounds and the waffle pads at about 3000 RPM. Having said that, and on plastics now, have you had any experience with JANVIL products? I have used the 3 part kit with some wet paper up to 3000 grit with good success.
Like to get your thoughts in comparison to your new product. Also using BLUE MAGIC Lens Restorer as a protectorant. Thanks,

John P

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

John, I've never used any Janvil products so I can't make any direct comparisons. I have used different Meguiar's compounds designed for paint and they've worked well on headlights. Whether wet sanding or not, using a rotary buffer or D/A, I've gotten good results with all sorts of different products.

You have to keep in mind that from the perspective of the average consumer, they don't want to go to a specialty store (auto body paint supply, for example) and spend $30 on a bottle of compound that needs to be machine applied just to take the haze out of their headlights. Hell, the general public wants something that you apply like a wax and let it just sit there to magically remove the haze. Of course, that ain't gonna happen. There are a lot of ways to skin a cat, or polish a headlight, and Meguiar's headlight restoration kit makes it really easy. But if you like wetsanding and buffing, go for it. So much of it is technique and following directions - use ANY product wrong and you won't get results. Period.


And I just have to ask - you ran a rotary buffer at 3,000 rpm on your Crossfire!!!! Yikes, you are a brave soul!! My car sat on a dealer lot for almost two years and was a mess when I got it, and the D/A really wasn't doing much on this very hard paint. I got rid of everything using my rotary and a wool pad with M105 Ultra Cut Compound, but never ran higher than 1200 rpm.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

All plastic is damaged by sunlight, they can add chemicals to help but all plastic will eventually deteriorate, break or crack. Given enough years it will just turn to dust, we will not be around to see that though.
To protect the plastic as much as possible keep it out of the sun and heat. That's one, probably the only benefit of living in the North as far as our plastic parts are concerned, less sun and heat.

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Mike, this in reply in 2 parts. First re: the headlights. I have a 98 Intrepid and the lenses were really scuzzy. I arm wrestl;ed them 'till they got 1/2 way decent, then had a bumper cruncher with a pickup and had to have hood and headights replaced. Two Headlights with labor close to $1000. Don't know why people so afraid to spend 30 or 40 bucks for the "goodstuff"
Second: I mispoke when I said I buffed at 3000RPM. I have an ATD 10511 7" Shop olisher with variable speed 1000 to 3000 RPM. I used lower speeds prob about 1500 or less. Was verrrrrry careful. I used two 3M Compounds. Perfect it 3000, Swirl Mark remover, PN 06064 and Perfect It II, Rubbibg Compound, no silicone, PN 05973. Not Cheap but you don't take a bath in it.
After that I went with Liquid Clay Bar Ice by hand and finally Meguiar's NX Tech Wax 2.0. I'll give it about 6 months and then give it a light rub and polish.
Horror story, I faithfully park in Garage when not in use. Christmas eve day, *&^$) &&^ Rat nested on engine block and chewed though a many wire harness. Took 3 weeks at dealer to repair including pulling the engine. $50 deductible paid off, bill was $1808. I now sprinkle a few drops of 100% Peppermint Oil, (not the cooking extract) in the engine bay. Supposed to keep them away. Nothing trapped in 5 weeks. XX

John P

Re: Sick of hazy headlights?
 

Never thought of using sandpaper but, one day when shopping for replacement lamps at PepBoys I found this stuff. The packaging states 5 minutes ... no way, it took about an hour to do both lenses. Mainly because I was too nevous to go quickly. I had my doubts when I started but, I am very pleased with the results. Another part that caught my eye on this stuff was that it was similar to products used to polish optics. So I figured what the heck ..... I'm glad I did it and I wanted to share my story.

Sorry I didn't do before and after pics ... I never think of that until after the fact. I am attaching pics of the product box.

adoni