headlights

[509lifted]

so my headlights on my 92 expo are relly yellow and my highbeams are dimmer than what my low beams should be and im scared to drive at night cause i can see, all the jy ones around here are the same way and all napa wants 112 and jerry's wants 45 each housing so i was wondering if u guys could recommend any good restore kit so i dont have to go out and keep buying stuff for it to not work

 

[chrwilkins30]

I saw once on trucks! where they used toothpaste and a buffer. Otherwise mothers sells a kit that I've seen work pretty well.

 

[MPRanger]

You can try this out: http://store.crystalviewchemicals.com/ :I used it to fix my mom's headlights on her exploder sport and it worked great. I'll look through my photobucket and see if I can find some pics.

 

[hoosier1104]

I saw once on trucks! where they used toothpaste and a buffer.

^That

 

[triumphrider-1]

I saw once on trucks! where they used toothpaste and a buffer.

I'd sand them down first, if their as bad as the OP makes it sound. Start with 400, then jump to 800, and lastly 1200. After that, then I would use a plastic polish, or the toothpaste as mentioned above.

After they are sparkly new, clear coat them, or use a good wax to slow their oxidation.

This is in the tech library:
http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Fall2009/polishing_dull_plastic_lights.htm

 

[daniel3507]

Have had good luck with the 3m kit

Sent from the think n' stink.

 

[kryptonitecb]

Just did this last night, got a mothers ball, headlight polish, and turtle wax.

Clean headlights, use polish with mothersball. The wax as mentioned above. Cost me ~$40 but the ball and wax will last me for a long time.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[DFracing]

, or use a good wax to slow their oxidation.

]

Be careful, this is what ruined my OEM headlights, and every peice of plastic ive ever let it come in contact with.

 

[509lifted]

thanks guys i will go to walmart and i m gonna get some of the mothers product today and see how it works

 

[kryptonitecb]

Be careful, this is what ruined my OEM headlights, and every peice of plastic ive ever let it come in contact with.

How so?

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[adsm08]

Where I work we just use the same stuff we use to wax and buff paint. Works well enough.

 

[daniel3507]

I can see how some wax would mess up black plastics by leaving white residue or powder. Maybe use 303 on the headlights to protect the plastic

Sent from the think n' stink.

 

[Jraymer360]

I'm gonna use this on mine :

http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/acrylic_plastic_hand_kits.htm
It's the first one.

Got it for free in my aviation class.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The polishing doesn't last, I did see where some people coated them with clear Helm urethane with UV protectant added to it, but decided the best course of action was to procure two OEM light assemblies before I could no longer find them. Got one from a nearby dealer for cost minus 20%, just a little over a hundred dollars, the other I paid retail minus 20%, about $220 for it. These lights from Ford are complete assemblies, with the buckets, adjuster mechanisms, entire reflector and lens and includes a bulb and bulb retainer. It was a good thing I replaced them as the buckets were cracked vertically just outboard of where the grille mounts on each side, and would have left the grille flopping nearly free if they had completely broken (the grille attaches to the headlight buckets with screws and to the top trim piece with some push in plugs.

Charles

 

[killj0y]

before

After

Not bad took like 20 minutes and 20 bucks with the 3m kit. It doesn't come with uv sealer but I have plenty from when I used to do them by hand. This have much better results and obviously using a drill is easier than hand sanding. the kit can be reused, I estimate at least 2 more sets of lights and the foam pad seems sturdy, so touch ups will be easy seeing that I have a whole bottle of rubbing compound and sealer. So not a bad option in my case. I can probably go another year before needing to buy another housing and lens. Plus I got another credit at AutoZone so I'll eventually get another 20 bucks credit for stuff I was gonna buy anyways like oil and junk.

Just a thought. Any rubbing compound will work but sanding with a high speed drill speeds it up immensely. 20 bucks to save me hours and tiring effort....it's worth it. Harbor freight has a kit for 9 bucks throw in a coupon for a free item and it's a steal. I haven't tried that kit but it's just sanding disks and rubbing compound...hard to get wrong really.