My Headlight Cleaning Experience

94birdnj · 06-23-2003, 06:29 PM

Hey guys,.....well after a touch up paint mishap that i had on my roof, and trying everything i could to fix it (long story) , i decided to apply a similar process to my headlights.......here's what i did and the results:

NOTE : Your results will vary! This is purely meant to share my experience with this process. Hopefully yours will turn out just as nice.

Here are the products that i used:

Turtle Wax Polishing Compound ($1.96)
Meguiars PAINT CLEANER ($4.99)
Meguiars POLISH ($4.99)
Rags / Cloths / Applicator pad
Total Cost: ~$15

I already had this stuff from cleaning the exterior of my car, so the cost was really free. (with an initial fee a long time ago of course)

STEPS:

1. Start with 1500 Grit wetsand paper (depending on how yellow your headlights are, you may need to work with a more coarse grit and work your way up)

2. When almost all of the yellow is gone, wash the headlight lense with soap and water.

3. Wetsand some more as needed until all the yellow is gone (that you can get).

4. The headlight lense will look ok when wet, but when dry you may start to panic, as it will look dull and scratched to hell. This is fine (as long as you make it up to 1500 grit). The next few steps will cure the scratches and dullness.

5a. Take some TURTLE WAX POLISHING COMPOUND (or any other polishing compound you may wish to substitute) and apply it to the headlight

5b. When the compound becomes hazy, wipe off the compound.

5c. Repeat this process for a total of 3 times in a row.

6. Wash the lense with some soap and water again.

7. Repeat step 5a-c for 2 more coats.

8. Repeat step 6

9. Apply KIT SCRATCH REMOVER to the lense. Allow the product to haze and become white and flaky, then take a rag and remove the "chalky" residue leaving a nice surface.

10. Repeat step 9

11. Apply Meguiars PAINT CLEANER to the surface, allowing it to penetrate for 1-2 minutes, and then wipe clean.

12. Repeat step 11

13. Apply Meguiars POLISH to the headlight, allowing it too to penetrate for about a minute. Then wipe clean.

14. Repeat step 13

15. Apply a coating of wax to hopefully protect your headlights from turning yellow again.

I'm not sure how long this will last, but it's a pretty damn good alternative to new lights until i can save up the cash. Here are my before and afters:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I found it amusing that now i have to take out my corner lights because those are actually more yellow than my headlights now. lol. I'll have some pics on the car tomorrow for you all.....What do you guys think?

DanQ · 06-23-2003, 07:34 PM

Very nice

Came out actually better than mine.

1Bad-95Cougar · 06-23-2003, 07:36 PM

WOW! Very impressive. Keep us posted on how well its stays that way

BlackCat94 · 06-23-2003, 07:36 PM

WOW! That looks 100% better! I know what my next mod is gonna be! I already have the rubbing compound and plastic polish pictured, but on their own they're not worth much of anything. I'll get me some sand paper and some Meguiars products and get to work.

big mike · 06-23-2003, 08:13 PM

i used kit scratch remover for mine. the drivers side one was cleaned. the yellow around the edge is actually the glue between the lens and the housing.

Mark M. TCCoA VP · 06-23-2003, 08:21 PM

The "Kit" product is great stuff and I have been using it for years. It works wonders on small paint scratches and on a black car its always needed.

Mark.

BambiRambino47 · 06-24-2003, 07:47 AM

Craig attacked my headlights with my nail polish remover and his Dremel about a week ago. Here's the pics:

One Done, One to Go

Before...

After...

Good enough for me for now!

~*~ Molly

ornithophobia96 · 06-24-2003, 02:11 PM

Actually I was watching a car show (don't remember which because I watch millions) and there was a guy from mothers on there to talk about yellowing and hazing headlights. He said to use mothers mag and aluminum polish on them. It's a little bit grittier and he did a demonstration. Needless to say it worked. So my bro tried it on his Lumina and it did work!!!! So try it out guys...whataya got to lose right?

Audiobahnbird · 06-24-2003, 08:17 PM

ok heres my process

1000 wet
1500 wet
2000 wet
dry buff wheel on a dremel at 7500 rpm, looks great, as good if not better than most of the pics postd above, but it took forever.....3 or 4 hours

06-23-2003, 06:29 PM	#1
94birdnj Veteran Poster Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: NJ Car: 1994 LX Engine: 4.6L Posts: 855	My Headlight Cleaning Experience Hey guys,.....well after a touch up paint mishap that i had on my roof, and trying everything i could to fix it (long story) , i decided to apply a similar process to my headlights.......here's what i did and the results: NOTE : Your results will vary! This is purely meant to share my experience with this process. Hopefully yours will turn out just as nice. Here are the products that i used: Turtle Wax Polishing Compound ($1.96) Meguiars PAINT CLEANER ($4.99) Meguiars POLISH ($4.99) Rags / Cloths / Applicator pad Total Cost: ~$15 I already had this stuff from cleaning the exterior of my car, so the cost was really free. (with an initial fee a long time ago of course) STEPS: 1. Start with 1500 Grit wetsand paper (depending on how yellow your headlights are, you may need to work with a more coarse grit and work your way up) 2. When almost all of the yellow is gone, wash the headlight lense with soap and water. 3. Wetsand some more as needed until all the yellow is gone (that you can get). 4. The headlight lense will look ok when wet, but when dry you may start to panic, as it will look dull and scratched to hell. This is fine (as long as you make it up to 1500 grit). The next few steps will cure the scratches and dullness. 5a. Take some TURTLE WAX POLISHING COMPOUND (or any other polishing compound you may wish to substitute) and apply it to the headlight 5b. When the compound becomes hazy, wipe off the compound. 5c. Repeat this process for a total of 3 times in a row. 6. Wash the lense with some soap and water again. 7. Repeat step 5a-c for 2 more coats. 8. Repeat step 6 9. Apply KIT SCRATCH REMOVER to the lense. Allow the product to haze and become white and flaky, then take a rag and remove the "chalky" residue leaving a nice surface. 10. Repeat step 9 11. Apply Meguiars PAINT CLEANER to the surface, allowing it to penetrate for 1-2 minutes, and then wipe clean. 12. Repeat step 11 13. Apply Meguiars POLISH to the headlight, allowing it too to penetrate for about a minute. Then wipe clean. 14. Repeat step 13 15. Apply a coating of wax to hopefully protect your headlights from turning yellow again. I'm not sure how long this will last, but it's a pretty damn good alternative to new lights until i can save up the cash. Here are my before and afters: BEFORE: AFTER: I found it amusing that now i have to take out my corner lights because those are actually more yellow than my headlights now. lol. I'll have some pics on the car tomorrow for you all.....What do you guys think?

06-23-2003, 07:34 PM	#2
DanQ 6th Gear Poster *Membership Expired* Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Jacksonville, NC USA Car: 2000 Cougar Engine: 2.5 Age: 45 Posts: 626	Very nice Came out actually better than mine. __________________ Dan 2000 Mercury Cougar 6 cyl, 5 speed New Air Freshener (not a whole lot available for these)

06-23-2003, 07:36 PM	#3
1Bad-95Cougar Veteran Poster Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bradley IL Car: 1999 R/T Engine: 5.9 v8 :-) Age: 23 Posts: 715	WOW! Very impressive. Keep us posted on how well its stays that way __________________ 95 v8 cougar xr7 = Sold 1999 SVT contour = Sold 1999 Dakota R/T = Sold 2005 GTP COMPG = Sold 2007 Laser blue Cobalt SS/SC = Current car Too many mods to list for the cars above.

06-23-2003, 07:36 PM	#4
BlackCat94 Cougar Pilot Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: America Car: 1994 Crusher XR7 Engine: 155.54 FL.OZ V8 Posts: 3,330	WOW! That looks 100% better! I know what my next mod is gonna be! I already have the rubbing compound and plastic polish pictured, but on their own they're not worth much of anything. I'll get me some sand paper and some Meguiars products and get to work. __________________ TCCoA, there's no better way. BlackCat94 - The Revolution. 1994 XR7 - Mild Mannered Kittah - 15.11@91mph No mods or track time since 2004

06-23-2003, 08:13 PM	#5
big mike Motorboatin' SOB Headlight Cleaning Guru Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: H-town, TX Car: 93/5 Thunderbird Engine: 5.0/3.8 Posts: 6,804	i used kit scratch remover for mine. the drivers side one was cleaned. the yellow around the edge is actually the glue between the lens and the housing. __________________ Want to buy headlights that look brand new for alot cheaper? PM me to find out more about my headlight cleaning business. Do NOT PM me asking me how to clean them!

06-23-2003, 08:21 PM	#6
Mark M. TCCoA VP Heavily Medicated Crime Fighter TCCoA Member Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Batcave, Wakefield, MA Car: 1993 XR-7 Engine: 5.0+ 5spd+ BatGas Posts: 2,061 View Photo Gallery	The "Kit" product is great stuff and I have been using it for years. It works wonders on small paint scratches and on a black car its always needed. Mark. __________________ "Mark M. TCCoA VP. Emeritus" To the Batmobile ! ! ! ADDCO MN12 big bar R&D guru

06-24-2003, 07:47 AM	#7
BambiRambino47 Anything But Typical *Membership Expired* Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USA Car: . . Engine: . Posts: 1,339	Craig attacked my headlights with my nail polish remover and his Dremel about a week ago. Here's the pics: One Done, One to Go Before... After... Good enough for me for now! ~*~ Molly __________________ Esther

06-24-2003, 02:11 PM	#8
ornithophobia96 4th Gear Poster Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Car: 1996 T-Bird Engine: 3.8 Posts: 212	Actually I was watching a car show (don't remember which because I watch millions) and there was a guy from mothers on there to talk about yellowing and hazing headlights. He said to use mothers mag and aluminum polish on them. It's a little bit grittier and he did a demonstration. Needless to say it worked. So my bro tried it on his Lumina and it did work!!!! So try it out guys...whataya got to lose right?

06-24-2003, 08:17 PM	#9
Audiobahnbird PostWhore Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mechanic Falls, Maine Car: 90 Supercoupe Engine: 3.8 sc Age: 25 Posts: 1,414	ok heres my process 1000 wet 1500 wet 2000 wet dry buff wheel on a dremel at 7500 rpm, looks great, as good if not better than most of the pics postd above, but it took forever.....3 or 4 hours __________________ Please enjoy my new and improved short signature- Russ

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