DIY Cleaning Hazed Headlights

36486 Views 175 Replies 87 Participants Last post by SA_DC5_NW, Sep 29, 2011

Smilez

Discussion Starter · Sep 21, 2008 (Edited)

8

So I blacked out my headlights last week. The end result was very nice however I really could see the hazyness and scratches on my headlights.

This is what they looked like ( notice the hazyness )

So i decided to do a proper cleaning job and create a DIY for anyone who needs this done. I know there have been others made but not with detailed pictures. I hope this will help someone.

Supplies needed-
600,1000,1500 grit wetsand paper or whatever you feel will suffice this combo worked great imo.
Power poliher- recomended or you will be useing alot of elbow grease
Meguiars Plast-X- Can buy at any automotive store
paper towel.

Step one.
Clean car and headlights to rid of contaminents

Step 2
Mask around headlight to ensure you will not scratch your paint.

Step 3
Sand with 600 grit wetsand to get those big scratches out

Step 4
repeat with 1000 grit after wiping off with paper towel

Step 5
Repeat with 1500 grit

Result after sanding

Step 6
use your power polisher with a 4" foam pad and use a circle of Plast X and spead a nice even coat of polish over your head lights.

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Reactions: 1

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Smilez

Discussion Starter · #2 · Sep 21, 2008 (Edited)

9

Step 7
Now buff with a 6" foam pad

Step 8
Now for the best shine buff with a 4' cotton pad and clean again

Step 9
Unmask

end result notice hazyness is gone and they are more clear than ever

And thats it it is very simple. I know i was skeptical about the sandpaper at first but once you apply the polish it looks great!

Thanks for looking

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vash_the_stampede

· #3 · Sep 21, 2008

awesome! headlights look in better condition than the bumper :laughing:

good write up. i think i'll do it also

Smilez

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 21, 2008 (Edited)

haha ya fucking up here in Canada there is so many rocks on the road from when
it snows so my bumper doesnt stay in the best condition.
Thanks though =)

claymiester

· #5 · Sep 21, 2008

Would this help the headlights look less yellow? Mine aren't particularly hazy, but the plastic just seems to be yellow... much yellower than my friends '02.

Great write-up btw!

Smilez

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 21, 2008

claymiester said:
Would this help the headlights look less yellow? Mine aren't particularly hazy, but the plastic just seems to be yellow... much yellower than my friends '02.

Great write-up btw!

Hey thanks dude the whole process took me no more than an hour.
If the yellowness is somesort of film or reside builtup on the headlights the sanding may remove it. Mabey start with a little lower grit sandpaper im not sure do you have a pic of what they look like?

vash_the_stampede

· #7 · Sep 21, 2008

id like to do this, then get some of that venture film to cover them with afterward so it doesnt happen again

Smilez

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 21, 2008

I Have never heard of it?

vash_the_stampede

· #9 · Sep 21, 2008

http://www.ventureshield.com/pdf/NEW_VS_SellSht.pdf

Smilez

Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 21, 2008

Cool! that looks alot better than 3m shield! thanks for the link! i could use that on my bumper after I paint it this winter.

vash_the_stampede

· #11 · Sep 21, 2008

exactly. yes this stuf passes the "brillo" test. 3m stuf scuffs white, whereas this stuf scuffs clear if that makes sense. also, if you dont wax the 3m stuff enought it cracks up, my mom has it on her bmw... my buddy has this venture stuf on his tsx and it still looks really good. got it put on in 04 right when he bought the car. wish i woulda thought of that

fast afghan

· #12 · Sep 21, 2008

claymiester said:
Would this help the headlights look less yellow? Mine aren't particularly hazy, but the plastic just seems to be yellow... much yellower than my friends '02.

Great write-up btw!

Yeah I have the same problem at the top of the headlights. It's like a solid line of yellow "haze". I've been told its due to chemicals/acid rain. :dontknow:
I've heard a lot of people have been able to clear it up with Meguiar's PlastX (same product as TS). I don't have a buffer but I'll just elbow-grease it in.
I'll do it next time I was the car (like 2 weeks) and let you know how it goes. I will NOT be sanding it, so hopefully it still comes out okay.

Smilez

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 21, 2008

vash_the_stampede said:
exactly. yes this stuf passes the "brillo" test. 3m stuf scuffs white, whereas this stuf scuffs clear if that makes sense. also, if you dont wax the 3m stuff enought it cracks up, my mom has it on her bmw... my buddy has this venture stuf on his tsx and it still looks really good. got it put on in 04 right when he bought the car. wish i woulda thought of that

ya i understand that thats some good shit. i will deffinatly have to invest in some. i just polished all the scratchs out of my quarter pannels from fuckers hitting them with their zippers getting into my car. i will have to use this when i restore my bumper so it looks as good as the rest of my body.

SouLRacer23

· #14 · Sep 21, 2008

damn that turned out nice manny, rep for you

Jsn

· #15 · Sep 21, 2008

damn came out clean.

FlyRsx said:

what kind of polisher is that?

Smilez

Discussion Starter · #16 · Sep 21, 2008 (Edited)

fast afghan said:
Yeah I have the same problem at the top of the headlights. It's like a solid line of yellow "haze". I've been told its due to chemicals/acid rain. :dontknow:
I've heard a lot of people have been able to clear it up with Meguiar's PlastX (same product as TS). I don't have a buffer but I'll just elbow-grease it in.
I'll do it next time I was the car (like 2 weeks) and let you know how it goes. I will NOT be sanding it, so hopefully it still comes out okay.

Sweet man let me know how it turns out and how your wrist feels after all that polishing hopefully it turns out good

SouLRacer23 said:
damn that turned out nice manny, rep for you

Thanks man! id rep back if i was a premi

Jsn said:
damn came out clean.

what kind of polisher is that?

Thanks man!
Its a SIMONIZ cordless random orbit polisher and sander.I picked it up for $40 on sale at Canadian Tire

jesselyons2002

· #17 · Sep 21, 2008

You didn't need to go from a small pad to a big pad and then to a wool pad. You should have went from wool pad to smalll pad and thats it.

Smilez

Discussion Starter · #18 · Sep 21, 2008

it turned out fine for me..
and the small pad was for applying the polish and the big one was used for a buffing pad and the wool pad was used as an extra buff after everything else was done. I wouldnt polish with my wool pad..

bulletK20

· #19 · Sep 22, 2008

i did this to my sisters '00 civic and they turned out great, like new. good write up man.

baadhabit

· #20 · Sep 22, 2008

vash_the_stampede said:
id like to do this, then get some of that venture film to cover them with afterward so it doesnt happen again

theres a few companies that make similar products. xpel is another one

www.xpel.com

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