Fixing Cloudy Headlights

[Archon]

My headlights had started to become quite cloudy, with a distinct line across them horizontally about a third of the way down. It appeared as if the top part had been worn away. I blamed the body shop that painted the hood and fenders. They said that they had pulled the headlights, so it wasn't caused by them.

I followed what Ryan had done by wet sanding, and then polishing them. They look pretty good right now. The question is: What had been people's experience after doing this? How long does the repair last? Does something have to be done to help them stay this way, and if so, how often?

[00Beast]

Hit them with some sealant (liquid glass, NXT, etc) and it should help keep them from getting hazy again, or at least prolong their life.

[Archon]

I've got them pretty well polished and sealed, including using a UV protectant. Just wondering what the experience has been after doing the work.

[crash93ssei]

I polished ours last summer and for the most part they are still holding up great. Only problem I am having is on the very top where I couldn't polish them very well because the lens was still on the housing. This summer I will re-do them but remove the lens this time so I can polish it better.

Also, I have seen people on Autogeek.net forums clear coating them and they say that it helps, but I haven't tried it yet.

[bill buttermore]

I'm thinking you did a wise thing, Dick, in applying UV protectant. That is what is supposed to make them crack and go yellow. I have been polishing the lenses on my truck without using protectant; they last about a year before clouding up again. What did you use?

[Archon]

Thanks, Ryan. I'm hoping that things will hold up as well. Even some minor work once a year would be fine.

Bill, I just used some wax with UV protectant that I got from Tom (95SLE).
http://www.autogeek.net/poorboys-nattys-red-wax.html

After I polished them out, I cleaned them with some isopropyl alcohol. Then I thought I'd try a couple of coats of Future acrylic floor polish. That seemed to seal things pretty well, but didn't have any UV protection. So, I then added the wax.

[EWC88]

Not to thread hack, but today while I was at Autozone I noticed Rain X makes a product that is suppose to prevent the yellow and haze to come back, think thats good to use?

[Archon]

I like their windshield product. Certainly would be worth a try.

[jtate300]

has anyone had the problem of thier lights fogging up with hid lights? and will the same remedy work the same?

[crash93ssei]

HIDs will have the same problem eventually as it is caused by road debris and UV from the sun. The remedy will be the same either way.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

That Future floor polish works darned well. I haven't applied any UV protectant, just re-coating the headlights with Future every couple months. Maybe some 303 would do the trick.

[Archon]

Glad to hear that the Future works. I've used it on various things, other than floors. Somethings it works great on....some...not so much.