Polishing Headlights - Part Deaux

New 11/20/2004

Is this the best method? http://v8sho.com/SHO/headlight_polishing.html
Any other methods or products that can clear up clouded headlights
and/or fix imperfections in the lens?
Skye
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Just came across this stuff not 5 minutes ago (looking for something
else).
Know nothing about it, except that they have a Gen 3 as their market
picture!!
http://tinyurl.com/6kkf9
Ron Porter
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Severely clouded headlights will need to be wetsanded, starting with 400
grit and working your way finer to about 1500 grit or so.

After that, you'll need to buff them as they'll be pretty cloudy. I've
found that Meguiar's Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner works very well, followed by
a wax of your choice to protect.

If they're not that bad, you can try a new product by Meguiar's, Plastix or
Plastx (not sure of the spelling). I used it on my 97 and it seemed to work
pretty well without wetsanding.

I've never tried the steel wool method described in the link, so I can't
really comment on that.

-Bob G.
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I've used the Meguires plastic polishes with great success on several cars ( even the crappy GP GT headlights took a polish ) .I use a clay bar before the polishes. Then you use with the cleaner #17( white bottle ) then finish with the #10 (blue grey bottle) follow the directions (of coarse -duh ) be patient and the headlamps will sparkle, nearly new . Have you checked the products at http://www.dccarcare.com/ ?
Rick B
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Buy a small yellow bottle of "Kits Scratch-Off" first and give it a try. I have even used it to clean up a friends Neon's headlights. Totally amazed me, of course a couple of months later they started clouding up again. It says it is safe for plastics and clear coats.

Carter Fuji
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I figured the stuff for clearing plastic rear windows on convertibles
would probably work, too. The guys who refurbish cell phones have a
novel method - the "sand" blast, but using baking soda.

Jim
'96 TR
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The guys that make "Eleanor" use this method for body prep .
Rick B
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It is unfortunate that once the UV coating has been compromised the plastic begins the inevitable yellow/clouding . Regular cleaning ,polishing and a good wax will prolong the life of the headlamp cover . Short of the method Skye posted along with a top coat of UV resistant clear coat , Nimz' method works the best . Semi regular replacement . http://www.directauto.com/ specify TYC/Genera (@ $80 per side )
Rick B
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OOPS ! been awhile ;-) only $67 per side ! WoooHooo
Rick B
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OK guys... Check this out... I have ordered this product, for the $ how can it hurt?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7934503688&category=50450
They have applied for a Patent too. 99.1% positive feedback...
I think it is worth $14.00
Take care and enjoy the weekend.
Rick Southwick ~ Omaha, NE
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I bought that same kit last summer. Works well.

Joe
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Really, all of these methods (baking soda, Meguiars Cleaner, Meguiars
Plastic cleaner, 1500/2000 paper, etc) all are fine abrasives and accomplish
the same thing. Probably doesn't much matter what you use, except I don't
see the benefit of starting with a clay bar on a hard surface, especially if
you are then using an abrasive to remove the haze/yellowing.
Ron Porter
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It bears a striking resemblance to the stuff I posted early this morning:
http://tinyurl.com/6kkf9
At least from the standpoint that the same blue Gen 3 SLO is used in both products!!
Ron Porter
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Agreed, but for half the price..
Rick Southwick
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One reason to use a clay bar before starting other processes
would be to remove contamination in the surface. There can
be bits of sand, steel, iron etc in the plastic headlights
as well as in the paint and even windshield. Clay can
remove most of these. The cleaner the surface you start
with, I would imagine the better the outcome.

Sanding might remove these contaminants, but sometimes it
doesn't and if you are just using a polish or compound, the
contaminants may not come out at all, or might release and
cause deeper scratches.

In reality it is a step that can't hurt, probably won't do a
LOT of good, but if you have the clay and can spare the
entire minute it would take, then why not use it.

Don Mallinson
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Because my headlamps are not yellowed/clouded , and if I can get by with a clay bar and a carnauba wax .... I mean why use abrasives if you don't absolutely have to ?
Rick B
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Not sure about the clay bar, I've never used one. As far as grit and method
though, it all depends on how bad the headlight is. On my 97, the Plastix
worked great, but on the 91 I had to wetsand first.
The Plastix also worked great on the windows of the soft top of my mother in
law's Jeep!

Bob
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*gasp* Not even on paint !?? Aye carumba . A fresh bar in my arsenal at all times , and the SHO is Not a garage queen even . ;-p
Rick B

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