Cleaning Yellow Hazy Cloudy Headlight / Headlights

[warrior]

My headlights look like crap. Probably the same with everyone else and I've read a bunch of different articles and what to use and blah blah blah, so I decided to experiment with various products and ideas and found out what works the best. What you will need.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/09/headlight_01-1.jpg
• A bucket/pot to hold luke warm water with very little liquid soap
• terry cloth towel, or buffer to make life easier
• Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish (Meguiars PlastX doesn't work as well)
• 600/1000/2000 fine grit wet sand paper
• applicator pad or a semi-soft coarse sponge

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/09/headlight_02-1.jpg
Those are pits and scratches that you want to get rid of. Using just plastX or a polishing compound to remove the yellow haze will work but if you want the smooth unpitted lens, you'll have to do some sanding

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/09/headlight_03-1.jpg
This is my headlight after sanding with 1000. My fog lights were really bad so I started with 600. You decide. Spend about 5 minutes sanding each headlight seperately. Make sure you're not stingy with the water on the headlight, after 30 or so circles on the headlight, soak the sand paper back in the water. The idea with the water is, so it traps all the airborn particles so you they don't fall back on your headlight and you end up creating an ugly finish.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/09/headlight_04-1.jpg
This is after 2000, you can see the difference

After you're done sanding, apply thoroughly your polish of choice. I tried PlastX and it wasn't as clear as Mothers Mag polish. With the sponge, apply in a circular formation pressing hard so the polish gets deep into the plastic. Then let sit for about a minute and buff with a towel or buffer.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/09/headlight_05-1.jpg
That's what you get after it's all done. One headlight takes about 20 - 30 minutes.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2006/09/headlight_06-1.jpg
Only the passenger side headlight was done, you be the judge if this was worth it or not :cool:

[Wiscon_Mark]

This definitely deserves to be here! :grin:

I found it actually does make a real lighting difference too :smile:

[warrior]

This definitely deserves to be here! :grin:

I found it actually does make a real lighting difference too :smile:

It does and it adds a whole new sexiness :lol:

[bubaru21]

very nice write up

[blueb3]

I did the same steps on my lights, but they are too far gone. Saving my pennies for a new set.

[badbasser98]

I was debating doing this as mine are starting to yellow. But they aren't pitted bad like yours were. I am worried though that mine will be worse if I sand the plastic as it is mostly clear, just the top 1/4 of the lens is starting to discolor. :-?

[warrior]

I was debating doing this as mine are starting to yellow. But they aren't pitted bad like yours were. I am worried though that mine will be worse if I sand the plastic as it is mostly clear, just the top 1/4 of the lens is starting to discolor. :-?

you can start with a 2000 grit sand paper, that will remove all yellow and sanding with 2000 won't sand away any noticeable plastic. Then just buff! If you're scared to sand, just try Meguiars PlastX and it will remove the yelllowing and if you're happy with it, great.. if not, then you have no other choice but to sand. Good luck!

[MoclovFlop]

I was debating doing this as mine are starting to yellow. But they aren't pitted bad like yours were. I am worried though that mine will be worse if I sand the plastic as it is mostly clear, just the top 1/4 of the lens is starting to discolor. :-?

I have the exact same thing on mine....must be a BE thing

[Wiscon_Mark]

if you polish it, it will get nice and clear, trust me.

I started with 400 grit, moved up to 1000, then 2000, then polish, then buffer.

[dverde]

I just finished cleaning up the headlights & fogs. It made a huge difference and I spent less than $20. Thanks for the post!

[blackgtbeauty]

Close-up of the finished product?

[dverde]

Thanks!

[warrior]

I am no photographer, but here is an after shot. Overall, I was pleased. However, none of the lights got as clear as I thought they would. I wonder if I should have gone over them longer? I used 400 on one of the fogs, but it left scratch marks. I had to work 2x to get them out. On the other lights I just used the 1000 and 2000 paper.


The idea with sand paper is, if you started at 400 (which is pretty low) when you go up to 600, you'll have to remove all the 400 grit scratches. After they are all gone, when you go upto 1000, you'll have to remove all the 600 grit scratches, doing this all the way upto 2000 grit.

If there are scratches still on it, you should spend a little more time on 1000 and 2000 grit sand paper.. and hopefully after you polish and buff you'll have a clear scratchless lens :wink:

[Wiscon_Mark]

Yes, exactly.

[dverde]

When I started this project the parts store was out of 600, so i got 400, 1000, 2000. There are no scratches left. I got them all out. Too bad 3 of the crappy grill brackets broke when i did this project. They were really worn when I took them off. I was really easy on them but they just didnt hold out. I will see if the dealership or junkyard has another set of 4.

[2.5GT]

Ive used Blue Magic Metal Polish and it works pretty good too.

[pdawg]

Just did this to the wifes 97 OB. Worked great. Thanks for the great write up.

[Brockley]

Just did it on my Wagon... no pics yet, but it worked GREAT!!!

thx for the advice on the Mothers polish... I already had some from my last car, so that was convienient...

[dodik]

Rubing compound will do the same if you dont have deep dings or scratches, takes 5 minutes with powerball. But its good only for polishing not for sanding so if you have dings and scratches dont use this its not gonna help much.

[drano]

Will this work on scuffed up tail lights?

[warrior]

Will this work on scuffed up tail lights?

Sure will, plastic is plastic! Just follow the same steps and you'll have nice shiny plastic again :cool:

[drano]

sweet i know what im doing this weekend....cleaning up the new jdm tails. this wworked great with my headlights. thanks again for a great write up.

[StatGSR]

i am the wetsanding master!!! haha, this was done going, 440-800-1500-3M rubbing compound-car wax..

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/files/233736_aea58/M93JRQ1NJBV4UQL.JPG
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/files/233701_3e72c/NH7WH7N62181PU5.JPG

ill will be taking care of my legacy lights when i start my whole car painting process, and after i bake and black out the headlights.

[grayguy]

i am the wetsanding master!!! haha, this was done going, 440-800-1500-3M rubbing compound-car wax..


ill will be taking care of my legacy lights when i start my whole car painting process, and after i bake and black out the headlights.

and taking care of mine too....please.

[boxerpower]

i love you guys. u saved me big bucks by showing me this . now my head lights are so sexy and clear.!!! thanks a millon :grin:

[Wiscon_Mark]

*modest smile*

That's what we're here for, sir.

:lol:

[subaru_terrence]

I just used plastX and a buffer..

buffed until all those nasty stuff is gone...didnt use sand paper at all

[StatGSR]

^ well if all u have is stuff on your headlights then yea u wouldnt need sand paper, but when your dealing with pits and chips your guna need sand paper to take off enough material to make them look clear again.

[chipLRX-SLI]

i am gonna do this i did just the sanding and sprayed on some polish but frequent trips to the mtn pitted them again and i have onbe new headlight on one side so the left looks tacky

[WESTcoast]

Hey thanks it worked for me I used mothers and it did the job!!!

[biggtymefisch]

Do you have an idea about what to do if the inside the head light is hazy?? On average how much is new pair of headlights?

[decke48]

you would need to bake the headlights to remove the plastic lense. and rubbing compound and a foam pad atachment for a drill will take of the hazy unless the lense them self have yellowed the plastic. any what car are we talking about for head lights. prices can range from $138 (TYC) each to $223 (subaru) each (base on a 97-99 gt lamp)

[Brockley]

or get lucky on ebay and get JDM projectors for $147 shipped... hehehe

[Soul Shinobi]

What if you want to clear coat the headlights? I've heard of people doing this a lot. How would you prep them to do that? Would you want to use a polishing compound instead of a wax? I'm more or less a handicap when it comes to anything autobody, any other prep tips?

I did this to both my head lights and it made a huge difference driving at night, than my drivers side bulb burnt out hahahaha.

[MonopolyMan]

Did this during this weekend, man what a difference! I can actually see the road at night! Great write up!

[JunkerXL]

i used to polish headlights for a living. if you have an auto body grade polisher, and some :smt027 skills, you can get 90% of headlamps clear as new. you need 600 through 1500 grit sand papers (and 2k if your REALLY picky) and polishing compound and swirl mark remover. i use a hose and keep the paper wet and the ligth clean and just sand progressively higher until its ready for buffing then i used a wool buffing pad ( i dont like foam on this application). i buff with polishing compound, then swirl mark remover, and you can leave them on the car for this one, i usually buff out the bumper while im there, on my cars lol. anywho, using a random orbit does not quite give the mirror polish as a proper autobody buffer does, but u gotta look for one used since the avg 80$ and up new :shock:

the only caution here is that you keep moving on the lights, to avoid burning them...

also i have tried rattle clear (wheel clear) on yellow lights. they will clear up well. i shot it right onto the yellow haze and it made a major difference, but i would like to try it, by prepping with 600 grit first.

:smt020

[predent]

Nice work! I thought about doing this by hand on my own headlights however, the 3M Headlight Restoration Kit that is readily available at auto parts stores and even Walmart worked VERY well for me. It was well worth the $17, IMO.

I hate hazy head lights.

[01LGT]

Nice work! I thought about doing this by hand on my own headlights however, the 3M Headlight Restoration Kit that is readily available at auto parts stores and even Walmart worked VERY well for me. It was well worth the $17, IMO.

I hate hazy head lights.

Meeeeeeee too...

I just saw this kit at my local auto-parts store as well and was wondering how well it held up. I am looking to do my headlights and fog-lights. The kit says it's for a set of headlights and that depending on how bad your "project" is - you may need another kit.

Thanks man! :wink:

[Lone_legacy]

3M headlight restoration kit is awesome!

Results on fogs:
Before:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/11/DSCN3463-1.jpg
After:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/11/DSCN3469-1.jpg
Fog w/ shield removed, LED bulbs:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/11/DSCN3481-1.jpg

[Soul Shinobi]

I spent about 2 hours doing it, spending about ~5 min with each grit on each light (very thorough), and talking with my friend as I did it. I used 400/600/1000/1500/2000 grit wet sand paper then rubbing compound then buffing. I used a cheap sponge to wrap the sheet sand paper around to make it easier to hold and apply more even pressure. 400 grit is pretty coarse for this, but my lights were pretty pitted.

In this first picture the light to the right is untouched:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/222666_10150228804412527_681937526_9000665_2557963_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/231093_10150228804522527_681937526_9000666_4959572_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/229806_10150228804677527_681937526_9000667_6018748_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/221958_10150228804832527_681937526_9000668_6598443_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/224667_10150228805017527_681937526_9000669_6496023_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216285_10150228805197527_681937526_9000671_678706_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/227640_10150228805397527_681937526_9000675_1209654_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/230016_10150228805602527_681937526_9000677_532379_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/226812_10150228805802527_681937526_9000678_5707120_n.jpg

And again for comparison below the one on the right here is untouched:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/227087_10150228805947527_681937526_9000679_3300802_n.jpg


My friend Mike (Yint) died shortly after, due to sheer amazement.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/227468_10150228806267527_681937526_9000680_2798798_n.jpg

My member ride thread (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18011&p=249384#p249384).

[Dragon-Wagon]

I removed my lights to black out the blinker surrounds and decided to polish up the lenses as well. The write-up was perfect and now I have bright headlights again. Thanks for the great DIY!