Headlight Restoration

[btvollmuth]

There's almost a dozen kits in Autozone. Which one is the best do you think?

[GetMeMyStogie]

Get one that includes a UV-absorbing sealant/coating. If you sand away the roughness, the lights will look much better, but will have no UV protection and will fade/yellow within a few months exposure to sunlight.
If you find such a kit, let us know about it.

[Ktorres1]

+1 didn't know this...

[LANDY]

i used the turtle wax compound and it worked pretty well.

[tbone]

My headlights were a mess on the inside of the lens as well. Check it out before you spend your money.

[fastblackmerc]

If your headlights are a mess inside you need new assemblies.

[sailsmen]

Crystal View sold at DAP.

[slickster]

Get 2000 1500 and 1000 grit sandpaper after cleaning the headlight with a bug scrubber then you can start WET sanding start with 2000 grit in a side to side motion make sure to keep adding water to the headlights to rinse the yellow stuff off the bumper as it falls and keep on wetin the paper then with 1500 do the same but in a up and down motion and then the 1000 in a side to side motion after this rinse of the front of the car. At any auto part store there's some stuff called headlight restore in a black and blue bottle use ONLY a buffer for this stuff Apply small amounts at a time of this on the pad then work in the headlight then remove with the same pad quickly then use a new pad for the other headlight. The headlight restore has a uv protection in it. Use microfiber pads. Do this out of the sun with a cool surfes

[kmastl]

you may not be out of luck if your headlights are a mess on the inside. mine were a mess and i put them in an oven and resealed them after cleaning the inside. i should do a write up

[snigalfriz]

You want to go 1000 -> 1500 -> 2000 with the sandpaper. (Coursest to Finest).

[slickster]

You want to go 1000 -> 1500 -> 2000 with the sandpaper. (Coursest to Finest).

Oops my bads

[GetMeMyStogie]

... then you can start WET sanding start with 2000 grit in a side to side motion make sure to keep adding water to the headlights to rinse the yellow stuff off the bumper as it falls ...

Alterntively, remove the headlamp assembly from the vehicle. 3 screws, 2 nuts (off the side marker lamp), and one connector and it's out. Then you can perform the work on a bench, without worrying about scratching your paint.

Also, I think wet sanding is overrated.
On my first headlamp, I used a random-orbit palm sander with 150 -> 220 -> 300 -> 400 -> 600 -> 800 grits, then wet sanded 1000 -> 1500 -> 2000. It came out okay, but was a lot of work. My headlights were severely pitted, which is why I started at 150 grit with the machine.
For the 2nd headlamp, I used the random-orbit palm sander all the way to 2000 grit, and it came out as good as or probably better than the first, and was faster and easier. The only difference was that any remaining sanding marks were swirly, instead of straight so a bit easier to spot when looking closely at the lens. But, getting them out only takes a bit more time with the palm sander.

[GetMeMyStogie]

you may not be out of luck if your headlights are a mess on the inside. mine were a mess and i put them in an oven and resealed them after cleaning the inside. i should do a write up


Like this? :beer:

http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showpost.php?p=892573&postcount=14

If actually cleaning the inside of the lens, don't touch the shiny chrome surfaces of the reflector with anything! The chrome comes off super super easily.

[Lignum]

I just used some maguire's headlight haze remover, it worked great. It comes with a buffing wheel for your drill motor. I think it will take a second pass and it should be like new.

[fastblackmerc]

If you take your headlight out, modify the tabs like this so you can remove them later without taking the bolts all the way out.

BEFORE
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Headlights/StockMMHeadlight.jpg

AFTER
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Headlights/ModifiedMMHeadlight.jpg