best way to clean headlights

[tarun900]

Ok I have a 97 GXE with around 122k miles on it. The headlights are pretty clean, but one seems to be brighter than the other just a bit (the brighter one almost looks a bit Xenonish!)...and they both have a bit of a yellow film on top...dirt. What's the best way to clean this off? I've tried water and soap, you see some stuff come off onto the cloth when you clean it, but the headlight casing is still yellowish..

[SleepersOwn]

They have stuff online that gives a " new light " type of clean. http://www.headlightcare.com/Services.html

Search headlight restoration on google or something for the yellowing look.

[tigersharkdude]

go to wally world get some stuff called meguires plasticX(not sure name, little white bottle, cheap as hel) and get a powerball and drll. take the plasticx and put on powerball. go to town on each headlight.mine look brand new(although my R34 lights are in ups' hands right now.

[NISSANMAXIMA91]

my 97's were the same way. not bad, but not clear either. i used rubbing compound. worked great! dont let it dry on the plastic too long, and when you buff it off, make sure to do it in the swirl motion so you dont streak the plastic, or make it as obvious that you buffed them. im happy with mine because it was cheap!!!

[d13]

If the weathering is really bad, you could also go at them with some 2000 grit sandpaper, then rubbing compound to take the haze out of them. I also picked up a bottle of "headlight lens restorer" at autozone, it's a really nasty smelling petroleum distillate stuff that's supposed to help, but I didn't really see any improvement. You'd probably want to seal/wax them afterwards, too.

[Turbobink]

Brasso or Mother's Mag & Aluminum polish.

I just did this today.

I think I prefer the Brasso.

Removed film, dinge and yellowness.

Lenses look really nice.

Do a search in the Detailing sub-section in Maintenance, Tech & Care Section.

[JSMax]

You might laugh, but around these parts, people that want their headlights re-stored... some of the detailing shops are using flitz. here
They make a product specifically for headlights. I have not tried it myself. I have used the plastix and it looks good on the short term. After a few washes, it needs to be redone.

[99BlackMaxMS]

Xenonish!

[tradical1]

Originally Posted by tigersharkdude

go to wally world get some stuff called meguires plasticX(not sure name, little white bottle, cheap as hel) and get a powerball and drll. take the plasticx and put on powerball. go to town on each headlight.mine look brand new(although my R34 lights are in ups' hands right now.

This stuff works AMAZING. I just used it last week, and WOW. My headlights look brand new. I didn't use a poweball, just a shop towel.

[dgeesaman]

It's simple - you just use a mild abrasive and don't dig too hard. The lenses, whether plastic or glass, get pitted and scratched and you just buff out the roughness.

You can do it with a shop towel and medium cut car polish. Just keep some polish on the rag.

You can also buy a headlight restoration kit that fits onto a power drill. I would imagine that even a scotchbrite pad on a drill bit would work if you used plenty of water and appropriate technique.

Dave

[Snypa]

in the end, most of the cleaning is going to be needed on the inside....trust mi.

[maxx0831]

wut if both headlights are clean and bulbs are brand new, but the driver side light is brighter then the passenger side. bc thats wut i have right now.DO i need to aim them even tho they are 9004 bulbs

[aporozco]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
i have the same question. but i jus wetsanded mine with 800 thinking it was 1000 so i think i have to get a new headlight. I am pissed. plus its my birthday.

but what do you do of the driver is brighter than the passenger?

P.S.
will buffing it out fix my mistake? i have pics ill post. thanks ya'll

[Turbobink]

Originally Posted by aporozco

i have the same question. but i jus wetsanded mine with 800 thinking it was 1000 so i think i have to get a new headlight.

...will buffing it out fix my mistake? i have pics ill post. thanks ya'll

Trying going after them with the 1000 grit, then with polishing compound, then with the Brasso, then with wax.

[Snypa]

i would say do w/e you did to one to the other.try use the fine sander and some polishing compound or something. They sell this kit at pepbos for $10.00. Its like this round small pad with "formula" on the top and after wetting it and putting it on a drill.....shud do the work.

[Nopike]

Originally Posted by Snypa

in the end, most of the cleaning is going to be needed on the inside....trust mi.

Is it possible to clean the inside? Mine are clouding on the inside. Any good options for replacement?

[aporozco]

wow, i jus hit it owth 2000 grit, compund and hard shell, now its clear again. as good as its going to get. what a relief.

Driver



Passenger Before



Passenger after

[Snypa]

Originally Posted by Nopike

Is it possible to clean the inside? Mine are clouding on the inside. Any good options for replacement?

well....beein the pussie i am, i didnt wanna try the oven thing. But instead i found some stock cleaaaan headlights on craigslist then sold mines a month ago.


Those look clean man ^^

[Nopike]

Originally Posted by Snypa

well....beein the pussie i am, i didnt wanna try the oven thing. But instead i found some stock cleaaaan headlights on craigslist then sold mines a month ago.


Those look clean man ^^

Oven thing I never heard of that? Does it work?

[Snypa]

Originally Posted by Nopike

Oven thing I never heard of that? Does it work?

well people AE there headlights by opening them. they put them in the oven and the seal comes soft and they do there work. So in order to clean the inside, im assuming you would have to throw them in the oven for some time, get them seperated, clean them and be done with it.

[A99MAXIMA]

+1 for post #3

[tosheto]

I have the same problem. Cleaned my headlights on the outside 5 times...still dirty. I think I will take them off and clean the inside.

[Rob20]

heres somthing that worked i didnt read throught all those messages up there but...

i bought sandpaper very fine like 2000 grit i believe and wetsanded the headlights all this weird white stuff and yellow started coming off, washed and dried, then it looked really foggy. then i used polishing compound and rubbed till it was gone at the end i put some interior gloss to make em shine, black magic interior product and they look great now..this is easy way and not have to get drill or buffer or any other big expensive stuff..you might need stronger sand paper if your headlights are really yellow or dirty

Sand paper $3
Polishing compound $10
Black magic interior $5

[j2b4osan]

I went Over the headlights with the clay bar last time I did the car just to see what would happen and I was very pleased with the results. It cleaned them up nicely and I didn't have to sand or use powertools. I'll probably do this everytime I claybar now.

[tyler5619]

DO NOT USE PlastX!!! they will turn out worse than before in a matter of weeks. wet sanding is a waste of time.

brasso, 2+ applications each headlight, then wax.

they will look like brand new glass. search the detail section for more info

[snowboi1289]

I've never cleaned my own headlights, or even any headlights before, but I can say this, get flitz. People down at the car wash are using it, and if the customers ask for it, they add like $5.-$10. for that time they clean the lights.

They use it all the time, and everysingle car looks nice.

Glass headlights dont get that dirty at time, plastic headlights get dirty and get water inside the housing easily sometimes.

[zagato27]

Had the same problem with my 97 SE. First I went the restore route and it actually worked. The process involved wet sanding with really fine sandpaper. It worked.....for awhile. The yellow came back. My son bought me some glass headlights on eBay for my birthday and they are AWESOME! The headlight is actually the design of the 96 Max so the inside reflector is a bit different. I run some PIAA's Ultra white bulbs that have a blue tip. The blue tip shows up in the "open" bulb reflector on these lamps and looks good. It's nice to have glass. Do a search on eBay. As I recall they were from an eBay store. Price was a bit more than $100 and worth every penny. Cheers