Cloudy, Pitted, UV Wrecked Headlight Fix From Motorweek

[Myk]

I PVR Motorweek each weekend, show is kinda crappy, but its car stuff, so i watch it.

Last week, Goss' Garage had a segment on cleaning cloudy/pitted plastic headlights. Here is the link...

http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/goss/2622.shtml

Recommends Permatex for the do-it-yourself-er...

Im sure its been mentioned here before, but here it is anyways....

http://www.permatex.com/products/automotive/specialized_maintenance_repair/auto_glass_lens_repair/auto_Permatex_Headlight_Lens_Restoration_Kit_1.htm

[Spyder01]

I saw that show on speed awhile ago... I was going to record it and post it on youtube. But it was already half way into the show.

[midnitehour]

so who's going to try it first? cus mine look like crap.

where can i buy this stuff?

[y2jay]

the issue with my headlight covers is that they are pitted with small scratches and nicks from debris, stones on the highway. Be nice if i could get those "buffed" or polished out somehow.

[Myk]

Im going to pick some up, I hope to have time on Sunday to do it.

Mine are really bad.

[Jon2000]

I just dry sanded mine with 280grit, then wetsanded with 400, 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000. I then used polish and wax. Looks a million times better as they were absolutely disgusting before (the lights developed some weird rash and had a crazy amount of chips). I'll check out that link.

[Myk]

I've heard and seen more than one person do 2000 grit wetsand, then use plastic polish and or the Mothers headlight polish/lens restorer.

[slowbird]

There is a good thread about this on the Grand Am owners club.

Here's the how to:

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75080&highlight=headlight+grit

[hemi]

for a quick fix you can use toothpaste and paper towel. just a couple dabs and rub in circular patterns


leaves it smelling minty fresh too !

[Perma]

^Nice, going to try that this afternoon ;)

[Nutella]

for a quick fix you can use toothpaste and paper towel. just a couple dabs and rub in circular patterns


leaves it smelling minty fresh too !

what brand toothpaste ??? :) some might be better than others, e.g with baking soda?

[TokyoRacer]

I did the toothpaste thing..didn't work out for me lol. BUT! Napa sells that suepr ahrdcore pimp lens cleaning kit. A guy I know here use dit on his neon..holy crap it had amazing results!

[Nutella]

^^ whats the name of this cleaning kit?

[TokyoRacer]

The second link in the original post.

[Myk]

A guy I know here use dit on his neon..holy crap it had amazing results!

Good to know!!!

[Marleymar]

As an FYI Napa sells the Permatex kit for $21.29

[Clappy]

..... waiting to see someone try the permatex kit ......

[TokyoRacer]

I'll buy it next pay..My headlights are awful.

[bubba1983]

ill have to grab this and do er over the winter fo shoe!

EDIT: now what about those headlights wehre they are loosing their clearcoat/uv coating whatever it is? any suggestions on a product to reapply that?

[Myk]

Yeah I tried this stuff and it SUCKS. My headlights are totally crap now. Before they had a bunch of tiny pits in them, not they are a glob of fine scratches from the sandpaper!

Im gonna get a pair of e-bay sedan headlights and do the conversion instead!!

[Junior]

Sucks to hear Myk.

When I saw your headlights last week, I wondered why they looked like clear matte. I guess you can't trust the internet, when it comes to information.

[CrazyCaker]

I guess you can't trust the internet, when it comes to information.

yup, sorta like trusting info on msprotege. :p

[Kansei]

yup, sorta like trusting info on msprotege. :p

oh no you didn't! That's it, you get 5 infraction points that may or may not expire ever, and may restrict access to arbitrary features on the forum until you perform sexual favours for Antoine :eek:

[RicecookerP5]

^LMAO

it's funny cuz it's true

[midnitehour]

Yeah I tried this stuff and it SUCKS. My headlights are totally crap now. Before they had a bunch of tiny pits in them, not they are a glob of fine scratches from the sandpaper!

Im gonna get a pair of e-bay sedan headlights and do the conversion instead!!

how did you sand them? did you use the different grits at 90 degree angles? polish didn't help at all?

should i just return my kit then?

[Azi]

i thought our lenses were pitted on the inside....not the outside :confused:

[Myk]

how did you sand them? did you use the different grits at 90 degree angles? polish didn't help at all?

should i just return my kit then?

Followed the directions, using the proper grit, in proper order, 90 degrees to each other, they used the polish as directed...looks like ass.

[midnitehour]

Followed the directions, using the proper grit, in proper order, 90 degrees to each other, they used the polish as directed...looks like ass.

you should call them and see if they'll pay for anything. but i'd like to see how they came out, cus at 2500 grit you shouldn't be able to see any scratches.

[slowbird]

Try the instructions from the link I posted...they seem to work.

[Myk]

Sucks to hear Myk.

When I saw your headlights last week, I wondered why they looked like clear matte. I guess you can't trust the internet, when it comes to information.

Thats the suck ass thing, it wasn't the net at all. I first saw these on a car TV show and the manufacturer is a very reputable one.

[cruisinblackp5]

2500 and you can see scratches wow, i would expect almost glass from that, that wont take anything off, didnt read the directions but i assume at 2500 its wet, no reason that shouldnt work

[Jon2000]

Followed the directions, using the proper grit, in proper order, 90 degrees to each other, they used the polish as directed...looks like ass.

I just used 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500 and 2000 sandpaper on mine ...used lots of water with a little dish soap to keep the paper lubed. I then used Meguires PlastX polish and turtle wax green to bring back the shine and remove the scratches. I now have some 2500 grit sand paper which should work even better.

Have you considered this option?

Jon

[Myk]

I think the kit was, 1000, 1500 & 2000.

It seemed to me that the sandpaper really wasn't doing its job. Didn't feel right. Made sure to keep wetting the sandpaper and then gave them a really good go with the 'special' polish that came with the kit.

Im going to get e-bay sedan headlights and be done with it!!!

[slowbird]

You probably just bung'd it up Myk.


...cause you're a dummy.

[CrazyCaker]

I've got some 4000 grit paper (Abralon), I used it to touch up one of my rims and the shit leaves a mirror finish. I'd personally be using that over 2000 imo on plastic.

[Gdskngdm]

Man, i'm so happy i found this Post!!

Soo, what's the best thing for me to do at this point for my headlights?
I really wanna do this clean up job; but so far nobody has given me any positive feed back on this topic lol.

Is there anything here that will make my P5 Lights look puuurty good?
Please....i'm dying to know, i'm itching to go and try it out!!!:D