Cleared up my headlights.. PIC - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Snakebyt · 01-14-2004, 02:45 PM

I know alot of cars have this problem, damn foggy headlights, i did the drivers side, still needs more work, but you get the idea, Amazing what mag and aluminum polish and some elbow grease can do...
If anyone has headlights like these and wants to clean them up ill post more about how i did it.. otherwise just look at the pretty pictures

Before

After

DEI37 · 01-14-2004, 03:44 PM

Nice cleanup job. Please post up the procedure you used, and the exact materials used. My Olds' headlights are doing this, and it's annoying.

Snakebyt · 01-14-2004, 04:25 PM

i used Mothers mag and aluminum polish to clean them(see pic). if they arent very bad, you can just do alot of rubbing with the polish and a handtowel. Since mine were so bad i first took a WELL USED scotch brite pad, use a worn one since it will not be near as abrasive(will still leave scratches, but they can be buffed out with the polish). do a small area at a time to check the progress. Mine still need more work, but it looks alot better.. now to tackle the passenger side

Polish (about $5)

Wingless · 01-14-2004, 09:00 PM

Stupid question, but that's for cleaning up the outside of the headlight right? I ask cuz I have an OEM foglight which, ironically, fogs up sometimes, aparentally on the inside.

bikerdude · 01-14-2004, 09:41 PM

What a huge difference in the before & after pics! I recently bought BlueMagic Plastic & Plexiglass Cleaner but haven't used it yet. Hopefully it will work as well.

merkerguitars · 01-15-2004, 10:07 AM

All I have to say is WOW! What a difference. Looks like it was definately worth your time.

DEI37 · 01-15-2004, 10:10 AM

The hazing can occur on the inside as well. Best bet is to do the outside, and see the difference. If you have a problem with it hazing on the inside, however, you actually have a problem that will typically involve replacing the lens, the reflector, or the seal between the two. Any more, you usually have to get the entire headlamp assembly, though.

thadon · 01-15-2004, 01:28 PM

sweet, I have some of that polish at home. My girlfriend wrecked her Honda and has one new head light and one old fogged head light. I'll use the polich on it to clean it up. Thanks

neddy65 · 01-19-2004, 06:07 AM

Meguires makes a plastic polish(PlastiX) that also works very well.

Great job by the way

mystix · 01-19-2004, 06:33 AM

my friend's escort had a problem of fog on the inside. he just sealed it up and fixed the prob, never heard of outer fog though

Scorps · 01-19-2004, 10:51 AM

When I worked at this Dodge dealership in my hometown the mechanics would just drill a small hole in the lowest corner and they would never fog up again!

noblejr · 01-19-2004, 11:13 AM

I use a rubbing compound made for plastics. Works great.

mr_mcrafe · 01-20-2004, 05:02 PM

Does this also work for the lights that go yellow? On my Honda one light is yellowed (happens on lots of old Hondas), but I suspect this is something to do with it having sun on it compared to the other. I don't see how it could just fog up yellow in one light onlly when the other is clear.

herostar · 01-20-2004, 06:11 PM

Nice Avenger, I had the same problem, and used the same stuff, with my old Eclipse.

Wingless · 01-20-2004, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mr_mcrafe
Does this also work for the lights that go yellow? On my Honda one light is yellowed (happens on lots of old Hondas), but I suspect this is something to do with it having sun on it compared to the other. I don't see how it could just fog up yellow in one light onlly when the other is clear.

Although not a Honda, my dad's minvan does this. However the cause is quite simple: an accident a few years ago made him buy a new headlight on one side, and for some reason the new one is more yellow-ish than the other. Maybe one is a replacement instead of OEM.

01-14-2004, 02:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Snakebyt Psycho Location: Lubbock Texas	Cleared up my headlights.. PIC I know alot of cars have this problem, damn foggy headlights, i did the drivers side, still needs more work, but you get the idea, Amazing what mag and aluminum polish and some elbow grease can do... If anyone has headlights like these and wants to clean them up ill post more about how i did it.. otherwise just look at the pretty pictures Before After

01-14-2004, 03:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	Nice cleanup job. Please post up the procedure you used, and the exact materials used. My Olds' headlights are doing this, and it's annoying. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

01-14-2004, 04:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Snakebyt Psycho Location: Lubbock Texas	i used Mothers mag and aluminum polish to clean them(see pic). if they arent very bad, you can just do alot of rubbing with the polish and a handtowel. Since mine were so bad i first took a WELL USED scotch brite pad, use a worn one since it will not be near as abrasive(will still leave scratches, but they can be buffed out with the polish). do a small area at a time to check the progress. Mine still need more work, but it looks alot better.. now to tackle the passenger side Polish (about $5) Last edited by Snakebyt; 01-14-2004 at 04:28 PM..

01-14-2004, 09:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
Wingless Psycho Location: Metro Detroit, Mich, USA	Stupid question, but that's for cleaning up the outside of the headlight right? I ask cuz I have an OEM foglight which, ironically, fogs up sometimes, aparentally on the inside. __________________ Tommy Nibs is a funny word. So here I am, above palm trees, so straight and tall... You are, smaller getting smaller, but I still see... you. Jimmy Eat World - Goodbye Sky Harbor

01-15-2004, 10:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	All I have to say is WOW! What a difference. Looks like it was definately worth your time. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

01-14-2004, 09:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
bikerdude Upright	What a huge difference in the before & after pics! I recently bought BlueMagic Plastic & Plexiglass Cleaner but haven't used it yet. Hopefully it will work as well.

01-15-2004, 10:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	The hazing can occur on the inside as well. Best bet is to do the outside, and see the difference. If you have a problem with it hazing on the inside, however, you actually have a problem that will typically involve replacing the lens, the reflector, or the seal between the two. Any more, you usually have to get the entire headlamp assembly, though. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

01-15-2004, 01:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
thadon Cruisin thru life Location: Alpharetta, GA	sweet, I have some of that polish at home. My girlfriend wrecked her Honda and has one new head light and one old fogged head light. I'll use the polich on it to clean it up. Thanks

01-19-2004, 06:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
neddy65 Loves green eggs and ham Location: I'm just sittin' here watching the world go round and round	Meguires makes a plastic polish(PlastiX) that also works very well. Great job by the way __________________ If you're travelling at the speed of light, and you turn the headlights on, do they do anything? My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die! Drink Dickens' Hard Cider because nothing makes a girl smile like a Hard DIckens' Cider!

01-19-2004, 06:33 AM	#10 (permalink)
mystix Tilted	my friend's escort had a problem of fog on the inside. he just sealed it up and fixed the prob, never heard of outer fog though

01-19-2004, 10:51 AM	#11 (permalink)
Scorps Lost!! Location: Kingston, Ontario	When I worked at this Dodge dealership in my hometown the mechanics would just drill a small hole in the lowest corner and they would never fog up again! __________________ A.K.A. PainTrain

01-19-2004, 11:13 AM	#12 (permalink)
noblejr Crazy Location: Atlanta	I use a rubbing compound made for plastics. Works great.

01-20-2004, 05:02 PM	#13 (permalink)
mr_mcrafe Banned Location: auckland, nz	Does this also work for the lights that go yellow? On my Honda one light is yellowed (happens on lots of old Hondas), but I suspect this is something to do with it having sun on it compared to the other. I don't see how it could just fog up yellow in one light onlly when the other is clear.

01-20-2004, 06:11 PM	#14 (permalink)
herostar Psycho Location: South Dakota	Nice Avenger, I had the same problem, and used the same stuff, with my old Eclipse. __________________ Got time to chill?