Headlight cleaner/polish

[Don W.]

Anyone have any input on which of the new headlight restoration kits work best for the plastic headlight covers? I'm planning on fixing my daughter's car over the holiday. 2003 Toyota Avalon hand me down.

Thanks,

Don

[Edward J.]

Re: Headlight cleaner/polish

Don, You don't need a kit, Ive used a little polish compound and orbital buffer or can be done by hand with aliitle more work.

[Don W.]

Re: Headlight cleaner/polish

thanks Ed...Don

[Rich C.]

Re: Headlight cleaner/polish

Used the Mothers kit, worked awesome on my Ford, which were heavily yellowed. Used same kit on wifes Grand Caravan, results were less impressive. The Caravans lenses weren't quite as bad to begin with. Kit was pretty cheap at walmart. By the way, just polishing with plastic polish is great, if you don't mind spending hours on them! I tried that method, it was an utter waste of time! For me time is money!

'73 LS-4 454 owned 21 1/2 years

[Ronald L.]

Re: Headlight cleaner/polish

If they are yellow like the stangs, the plastic does not have a UV protective coating on it and you'll have yellow again. Might be worthwhile to find a UV resistant clear to coat them with.

Most new OE headlamp lenses are coated, scratching them or polishing opens them up to this issue.

[George W.]

Re: Headlight cleaner/polish

I have had success with a product called "Scratch Out" by kitwax.com.

[Peter G.]

Re: Headlight cleaner/polish

I used the most expensive kit, the 3M complete kit. It was on a 2002 Lexus. The covers were scratched, yellowed and hazy due to UV rays.

The results were what I was hoping for..excellent.

It has been almost a year ago and the covers still look new. Keeping my fingers crossed that they stay clear for awhile.

Like someone mentioned earlier...I would never do the procedure on a new lens/covers if they did not need a complete restoration. I would just use some plastic cleaner/polish with a hand rag only.

[Matt L.]

Re: Headlight cleaner/polish

definetly try to hand polish them out 1st. always try the least aggressive if possible. if it is really bad,i always use 1,200 then 2500 grit wetsand paper with soapy water then machine buff but you can also hand compound then hand polish. a coat of wax is good too. dont forget to mask tape all the edges of the headlight to protect the cars paint. that will also help with keeping compound and polish and wetsanding residue out of the gaps between the car and headlights.

take care,
matt

[Terry M.]

Re: Headlight cleaner/polish

Several of my students have had success with the 3M kit. I too wondered if more common abrasives might do as well, but one of the little polishing pads looked very convenient as I watched one of them working on his headlights. I think one of the students had success with the 3M kit on a Dodge van and the other bought that product on the recommendation of the first one.

My Camaro headlights need attention, so I have been asking around about the scratch and haze removal kits. I was told by the guy who installed the plastic protestant on my newer Corvette that he can cover the polished lens with plastic protestant after I polish out the scratches and haze and this will stop or slow the future UV damage.

Keep those stories coming so I can go into my project with the most knowledge possible.