Refinishing headlights

[GeraldParticipant 3638]

I bought my daughter a car for Her birthday and it is an older car, with of course, yellowed and hazy headlights. I took a look around and the kits to fix get mixed reviews. Took some time and watched YouTube videos. Learned the steps and with a free weekend and little cash, I thought what the hell.

Took them off the car to make it easier, picked up supplies and did a pretty good job.

Started with a good cleaning. After that, took 400 grit paper and wet sanded the hell out of them. Once they were even, let them dry. Wet sanding with a lot of water. Next was same routine with 1000 grit until smooth. Then same with 2000 grit. By now the surface is very smooth yet still hazy, though now due to the polishing. All of the yellow is gone and when wet they look new.

I hit a curve here because I missed some supplies. The videos I watched mentioned polish with a buffer and plastic polish, but I had neither. So I went back to YouTube and looked around. Many mentioned toothpaste and a polishing wheel used slow.

So… Out came the cheap basic toothpaste and a lint free towel, polishing the entire surface, wetting when necessary as the paste dries out. When covered and smooth again, flush with tons of water and use soft lint free cloth to wipe down. Still a haze on them though now better.

Now the finish… Once dry, take rubbing alcohol and a lint free paper towel, soak the lens and wipe thoroughly
. Allow to dry for five minutes or so, until all has evaporated. Now lightly spray with Clear Coat enamel from a spray can. You are going to do three or more layers, so very lightly coat.

Every ten minutes, recoat until you are sure the three coats have covered the entire surface. They shout appear clear and nearly perfect now. Allow them to dry for 24 hours. Next, wax with carnuba based car wax. Polish off the dry wax, and reinstall. You should now have greatly improved headlights!

Very proud of it working and coming out good… If you are thinking of doing this, do your research, deep research then give it a shot. I do a lot of mechanical stuff, but was not sure this would work, but I am proud of how it did, not perfect but for an 11year old car they look great!

Men, you can do more than you imagine. Try new things, be proud of what you can do!

No longer can we walk away, we must run. Remove the motive power.

[Anonymous 42]

She’ll be able to park in a woman only parking stall and not appreciate a damn thing men do for her, because society treats her like a special princess snowflake.

I’m glad there’s not one woman I give a sloppy wet f~~~ about, it’s liberating!

[Anonymous 43]

I went on ebay and bought 2 new in box originals, shipped in 2 days, unscrewed the old ones, put the new ones on and bam, clear headlights, cost me $30 each.

I didn’t wanna bother doing the hokey pokey. Im sure your headlights look like new, but mine were new.

[GeraldParticipant 3638]

Anonymous wrote:

I went on ebay and bought 2 new in box originals, shipped in 2 days, unscrewed the old ones, put the new ones on and bam, clear headlights, cost me $30 each.

I didn’t wanna bother doing the hokey pokey. Im sure your headlights look like new, but mine were new.

Thought of that too, best I could find were about $70 each.

No longer can we walk away, we must run. Remove the motive power.

[Joey CusackParticipant 1044]

Gerald, I could not tell if you had bought a lens restoration kit or pieced it together, but I have had very good results with this $15 kit from Harbor Freight (Walmart has them too)

http://www.harborfreight.com/deluxe-lens-renewal-system-62663.html

[Anonymous 5]

We have a 2001 ford focus and the left headlight is very yellowed we tried headlight treatment like rain x nothing works so far Gerald thank you for the tips I’ll try it this weekend .

[GeraldParticipant 3638]

Joey Cusack wrote:

Gerald, I could not tell if you had bought a lens restoration kit or pieced it together, but I have had very good results with this $15 kit from Harbor Freight (Walmart has them too)

http://www.harborfreight.com/deluxe-lens-renewal-system-62663.html

I actually didn’t buy a kit, just the parts. I have heard there are good kits and ones that do nothing… I suggest reading a bunch of reviews too.

No longer can we walk away, we must run. Remove the motive power.

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