My headlights just look terrible, the outside lens is just fuggled up with haze.
Anyone know a forsure way to get this?
I might wetsand/clear it, any one got any opinions?
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My headlights just look terrible, the outside lens is just fuggled up with haze.
Anyone know a forsure way to get this?
I might wetsand/clear it, any one got any opinions?
Colgate extra whitening. Cheap and easy wet headlight, wipe on thick layer, let dry 15, rinse off.
I used this on my old echo worked like a charm if you didnt know any better you would have thought i bought new headlights Amazon.com: Turtle Wax T-240KT Headlight Lens Restorer Kit: Automotive
i have a bunch (30+) of complete headlight restoration kits from 3m.
They work well. its a sanding and buffing (comes with a air buffer).
the kits i have are very very expensive, but a similar one/method would work as well
i have these:
3M 02516 Headlight Lens Restoration Kit
You can sand or polish by hand or with a kit. No matter how you do it your taking a thin layer off the plastic. You will also be taking off most of the UV protection, so after you do it they will yellow faster. Get a plastic UV protectant coating and apply it to the headlights every time you wash the car. The one I've been using is Bluemagic Headlight lens sealer because that's all I can find in my area. Before I started using it headlights had to be redone about once a year. Now I can go 3. I miss the days of sealed beams and new glass every time you bought lights.
I'm a fan of Meguiar's PlastX . I've used it many times.
In fact, its what I used in the DIY I wrote here:
http://www.aveoforum.com/forum/f94/p...dlights-10179/
http://aveoclub.net/pictures/headlight05.JPG
I used that Turtle Wax polish, and worked fine, but after 6 months or a year, the lenses became a bit yellow and blurry. What I did was to use polishing compound to restore them again, and worked fine, at least by now :cool:
I appreciated and agree with all your comments - except the word "sand".
It's a very fine line between fine abrasives and polishes. Even toothpaste is rather abrasive, compared to some compounds. Hand washing and use of a plastic polish will probably do the job.
I too miss the days of glass headlights. Nowadays they would make the entire vehicle out of plastic if they could, with products lacking durability or permanence: touted as "affordable" and soon disposable, by design.
It depends on the damage. For just yellowing polish is enough. For deep scratches it would take forever. When I've been too low on $ for a nice kit I've grabbed 300, 500, 1000, and 3000 grit sand paper at the hobby shop and stepped through them to get the job done. You still have to finish with a polishing compound to get really clear, but the lower grit (Ha ha, low at 300 which is about the highest you go with paint!) helps rip off the scratched surface, and each progressive step higher gets you a bit closer to smooth again. But ya, if the lights aren't deeply scratched your just wasting material by sanding first. A buddy of mine with a newer Lexus asked me to do his. When I took a look I laughed at him and pulled out a bottle paint prep wax and tar remover and gave them a quick wipe. They sparkled. His "yellowing" was just build up of poorly done wax jobs.
Plastix or the Blue Coral brand works great. I've tried both and they are good.
wetsanding the headlights is the best method in my opinion. I was buying nasty yellow headlights on craigslist for $40. and restoring them then putting them up for $150. a set. 600/800/1000/2000 grit wet sand paper. must always go opposite direction when doing so. then follow with ScratchX 2.0 and then PlastX...I do this on my aveo now too. Here's the actual right up I follow
How To: Polish the Headlights
the headlight on the left used to look like the one on the right. when wetsanding headlights if they start to look worse than what you started then your doing it right...
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...d/DSC_0972.jpg
You really know your stuff about abrasives. :thumbup:
The only reason I took exception to the word "sand" is that most people think of sandpaper as being coarser than 400 grit. In other words, those who aren't so knowledgeable might end up doing more harm than good. :(
In the aircraft business we use something called Micro mesh. It is a series of finer grit emery cloth (up to 12,000 grit) and it basically polishes out crazing, cracks and fading very effectively. I have crazing from a past owner using Windex (ouch)...
Save time. Go right past the wax/polishes. Go right to the bodywork section. Buy the 3M headlight restoration kit. It works exactly as advertised, from lightly hazed to the worst oxidation. They will stay clear. You won't regret it. (And no I do not work for 3M!)
When I'm out of polishing kit products, I use toothpaste. It works just the same for me. But I normally use the Sylvania kit most of the time though.
REPEL ..mosquito mist {not aerosol} 40% deet i spray on rag then wipe lens...whala...crystal clear...no buffing..no elbow grease...just magic...use with caution tho very potent
Has anyone tried the Novus Products?
https://novusautoglass.com.au/plastic-polish/
Never used it.
I have used this duplicolor kit though. It has a buffing compound to clean up the headlight housing. Then it has a UV resistant clear coat to protect the light from re-yellowing. I used it on a couple cars now and it has worked well for me. The longest I've had a car after using it was 1 year and the headlights were still clear.
Dupli-Color EHLR10000 Headlight Restoration Kit
I'd also be tempted to try this product by 3M. It also provides UV protection which is what you need for your fix to stay clear. Its also really cheap.
3M 1 Pack Quick Headlight Clear Coat, 39173
I used the Turtle Wax kit and followed up with Brasso. Brasso is a trick I learned from old TV's with plastic lenses in front of the old CRT. Don't forget to use the little sealant cloth that comes with the Turtle Wax kit.
hasnt hurt my lenses or paint...but thats why i spray on rag first...cant see it hurting paint..mild oil based chemical with enert filler..
I just went through needing to cleanup my lenses as they looked like they were literally painted over with yellow paint. Up here in the north (Ohio) our winters get interesting with plenty of days of salt on the road which really speeds up the process of damaging these lenses.
Anyways, 3M makes a white paste rubbing compound in a small pouch that runs around $4.00 that did the trick with a clean cloth. Most auto stores or hardware store will have this. I spent about 15 minutes per light. Applied a small amount and worked it in with a old rag. Before its starts to dry I began buffing it out with a clean cloth. Repeated 2 to 3 times each side and the lenses are like new. I did see a quick temporary fix is using WD-40 applied on each light which works for a good 24 hours if your just in need of that trip in the night and want some extra visibility.
Brasso and a wet sponge with the green scotch Brite.
1 Use about a quarter size amount of brasso 5 to 10 min a side.
2 wipe off the headlights until clean repeat if necessary.
3 apply another thin layer of brasso let dry to a haze, use a clean soft cloth and polish until clean. Repeat step 3 every other month or so depending on how much you drive it.
Brasso and a sponge with and abrersive side pollish each headlight with about a tablespoons worth of brasso use a wet sponge POLISH FOR 10 MINUTES WIPE CLEAN REAPPLY THIN COAT OF BRASSO let dry to a haze wipe with a clean rag repeat last step every two or three months depending on Drive and it takes about 30 seconds a headlight
recently replaced headlights , crystal clear as of sept. 2021, i'm thinking just turtle wax couple coats every four months shud be fine protection for road haze, occasional flying critter bomb, Tho I still stand by and endorse Repel mosquito repellant 40% deet, cheap and quick, couple squirts on rag, wipe over lens to remove critter stains and road haze for like new crystal clear finish
I couldn't take it anymore, I replaced my headlights with new from eBay and they are beautiful. Interesting that there is a connection on the sides of each for turn signals. When I removed the originals they had a place for turn signal but no actual hole like the replacements. I have the Aveo5 so my turn signals are in that long bar below the headlight. Anyway, it took me about an hour to install. Watch a video or two on YouTube to help.
Bought them from eBay seller dt_moto:
"NEW 2004-2007 Chevy Aveo 06-08 Aveo5 Hatchback Headlights Headlamps Left+Right
Limited Life Time Warranty,free return,SAE DOT approved"
Dave
Let us know how good or bad the light pattern is while driving at night. I had to return a set of reportedly good quality aftermarket assemblies that were awful and incapable of producing a good light pattern down the road even after adjusting and aiming. My old and cloudy (at the time) headlights produced a MUCH better pattern that resulted in being able to see better than the NEW aftermarket ones.
I ended up polishing my OEM ones and have been happy since.
I will check them tonight when it's dark. They seemed fine last night but I will super study whats going on
with this new set. BTW, they have to work because I threw the old ones out and the recycling truck just left.
Eg.h2o, I just got in tonight. Finally tested my new headlights on the way home. The driver side needs a slight adjustment but
the difference is night and day. These lights are so much clearer and I can see down the road now. Hands down a winner for me. I am very particular with my car and these headlights are a big improvement over the old yellowed OEMs.
Congratulations!
Take the win and drive on!
BTW driver side light is supposed to be a bit lower than the right.
I thought about that last night after writing to you. Thanks!