Headlight Restoration Question

[Grandam1999V6]

One of my to-dos this spring is to restore my headlights b/c the are hazing and its driving me crazy. I've read coupe's how-to many a times and it gives me a very good idea of what I need to do.

...I was doing a search on autopia and found this product mentioned in a variety of forums there, and didn't know if anyone else ever used this or would recommend it.

http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/headlight_kits.htm

...if anyone else has any other product to offer, i'd accept 'em. the only thing is that I'd only like to spend less than $20 on a kit. :)

[Blackhawk]

Meh, used something like that last spring on my headlights, and it looked great while it was still wet or had clear plastic polish on it, but after that it looked the same. I think my headlights had problems though, one part was colored different and it seemed like the hazing was on the inside before it got the moisture problems.
Those kits forget to mention compounding the lens after sanding though.

[Grandam1999V6]

...the only problem I have is that I don't have a PC or any rotary tool for that matter. :( i am planning on getting the Powerball mini for my rims this spring...would it work with PlastiX to compound the lenses after wet-sanding? I know coupe's how-to says it could work, but don't know how well it would work...

[CARS GONE WILD]

If it helps, I saw a dirt cheap (don't remember exact price) headlight restoration kit at a Lee Autoparts store a while ago. It came with everything, including a wet sanding block, one sheet of 1500 grit, one 2000, one 2500, and one 3000, plastic polish, etc.. Again, I don't remember quite exactly.

[Blackhawk]

We just discussed that, they work but the headlight needs to be compounded afterward.

[CARS GONE WILD]

so buy some compound and a mother's mini ball. problem solved.

[Grandam1999V6]

okay, thats what i needed 2 kno, that the powerball works. thx

[curtisjade1]

I have also bought one of those kits and as long as I keep the headlights compounded they look great but once it wheres off the lights look worse than before

[535i]

Be very careful of heat when using power tools to make the job easier. If you burn the plastic you won't like yourself much. Keep a spray bottle of water on hand and use lots of it to keep the work cool as you.

[CARS GONE WILD]

I just did my headlights today...

Starting with 1000 grit, I rubbed and rubbed and rubbed, to no avail. (I'm no wussy either. 265 benchpress)

Seeing how it would take me an eternity and a half, I broke out some 400 grit and got funky. Sanding in one direction of couse. And then I rubbed em with 600 grit in the perpendicular direction.

Then 1000 (I didn't have 800), then 1500, then 2000.

It ended up looking pretty much like in coupe's tutorial. So then I broke out the Mother's mini ball, greased the headlights up with Meguiar's PlastiX, and went full speed baby. :lol: (2500 rpm on a plug in Dewalt drill)

After that, It looked pretty polished and shiny, but looking at it in halogen lighting, I saw the sanding marks somewhat.

Soooo, anyways, a while ago I bought some el-cheapo Heavy duty rubbing compound from turtlewax (3 bucks at autozone). So I got down and funky with that and the miniball. Afterwards the headlights were hazy, so I polished them with PlastiX and the miniball and everything came out nice and puurty.


Moral of the story: Don't think you will get anywhere with 1000 or 1500 grit from the start if your headlights are more than 9 yrs old.

Second moral: get some heavy duty rubbing compound, plastiX is not enough.

Third (secret) moral :lol: : Don't wipe down your headlights with acetone after sanding, thinking it will smoothen the plastic. Don't ask why, long story. Let's just say I had to start all over with 1000 grit. Live and Learn, I guess.

[Nighthawk243]

Be very careful of heat when using power tools to make the job easier. If you burn the plastic you won't like yourself much. Keep a spray bottle of water on hand and use lots of it to keep the work cool as you.


Yes, make sure you keep the buffer moving.

[Grandam1999V6]

I just did my headlights today...

Starting with 1000 grit, I rubbed and rubbed and rubbed, to no avail. (I'm no wussy either. 265 benchpress)

Seeing how it would take me an eternity and a half, I broke out some 400 grit and got funky. Sanding in one direction of couse. And then I rubbed em with 600 grit in the perpendicular direction.

Then 1000 (I didn't have 800), then 1500, then 2000.

It ended up looking pretty much like in coupe's tutorial. So then I broke out the Mother's mini ball, greased the headlights up with Meguiar's PlastiX, and went full speed baby. :lol: (2500 rpm on a plug in Dewalt drill)

After that, It looked pretty polished and shiny, but looking at it in halogen lighting, I saw the sanding marks somewhat.

Soooo, anyways, a while ago I bought some el-cheapo Heavy duty rubbing compound from turtlewax (3 bucks at autozone). So I got down and funky with that and the miniball. Afterwards the headlights were hazy, so I polished them with PlastiX and the miniball and everything came out nice and puurty.


Moral of the story: Don't think you will get anywhere with 1000 or 1500 grit from the start if your headlights are more than 9 yrs old.

Second moral: get some heavy duty rubbing compound, plastiX is not enough.

Third (secret) moral :lol: : Don't wipe down your headlights with acetone after sanding, thinking it will smoothen the plastic. Don't ask why, long story. Let's just say I had to start all over with 1000 grit. Live and Learn, I guess.

Wow, thanks for sharing your experience CARS, it helps me out a lot. Do you have any before and after shots of the heads when u did ur restoration? I would like to compare my headlights to yours to see how much work I will need to do compared to what you described...would greatly appreciate it. :)

...got everything I need for the project so hopefully I will have enough time this weekend to tackle it. :D

[CARS GONE WILD]

sorry man, my sister took my camera to her apartment last week, so I had nothing to take pics with, and my phone doesn't have a camera.

Hmmm... If I could describe the texture in words.... I'd say rub you fingers over a sheet of 600 grit and imagine it a lot more uneven and greasy and cheesy, lol, i'm no poet by any means :lol:

Also they were as yellow as coupe's headlights if not slightly more.

It took me about 3 hours total per headlight. Trust me, there's lotsa rubbin' involved. Remember to wipe the residue from sanding every once in a while (2-3 min for me) with a cheap cloth.
Also, Keep at it with the 400 grit until you see the entire headlight is cloudy (wiping with a cloth and blowing on it shows where it's sanded or not).

And remember to always keep it wet and soapy while sanding, it makes things alot easier.

Alright I'll stop now :lol: I'm bored.

[Grandam1999V6]

lol, alrite. thanks.

[Howlin' GA]

wow...your guy's headlights must have been hazed bad. i had a haze problem recently (not super bad but bad). anyways, if you take some toothpaste, not the gel kind, and rub it into the plastic for a couple of minutes it will take the haze right off (keeps it off for a couple of months to a year). saved a lot of hassle and money. kudos to Two Guys Garage for that tip. lol

[Blackhawk]

Hazed was an understatement on my old headlights. With the sun shining on them they were white, my car had cataracts and no light output. Clear corners were a justified safety issue.

[SLVRGrandGT]

I used the PlastX clear plastic polish the other day on my headlights cause i installed a pair of Sylvania 9007 SUV bulbs but they didnt seem that bright.. the lens's they were kinda gettin hazed so i used plastx, everything came off fine except some minor little things, and the right headlight looked like someone had used something they shouldnt have so thats gonna need the wetsand method..

[johnbarton]

one part was colored different and it seemed like the hazing was on the inside before it got the moisture problems.
http://usautolighting.com

[maddmax]

MEGUIARS " PLASTX" has worked wonders for me !!! .............i actually used it on my tail lights !! * came out better than new !!!

- although if you have a headlight or lamp problem due to moisture getting in ( bad seal).....no polish in the world will probably help .


- if your lamps are " yellow " or "brown" , as many are , this is, and can also be caused by running aftermarket bulbs that are TOO HOT !!!.......


hope this is helpful in some way

cheers

[Blackhawk]

I used Plastx on my old headlights and it looked good for a day or two, then it went back to normal. I even used 3 stage plastic polish, don't remember if it was Megs or not because it was almost two years ago, and the same thing.

[maddmax]

-thanks for that info ..............


"clearly" looks like results with PLASTX are all over the place with each and every owner..............

as it's probably the cheapest way to go the 1st time, probably worth some elbow grease and a beer .........


good luck !


:)

[Grandam1999V6]

Well, after awhile, I finally had a free afternoon and decided to tackle this project. Process was 1000, 1500, 2000, and 2500 grit wetsand and polished with PlastiX and Powerball Mini. It took me about 1 1/2 hrs to complete. I am very happy with the results. :) Enjoy!

Before:
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa13/msbggoalie09/GAHeadlightRestoration001.jpg

Afters:
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa13/msbggoalie09/GAHeadlightRestoration010.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa13/msbggoalie09/GAHeadlightRestoration008.jpg

:D

[maddmax]

-glad to hear , and " see" that all worked out for you..............


nothin like a six pack , plastix , a couple of hours to make your day....................LOL !!!!!


cheers

cm

[sudden_impulse]

Just keep up on the polish, otherwise they will go back to how they were. Our old headlights (on Blackhawk's car, used to share it) looked like the after pictures for a few days after polishing with plastic polish and protector, then it'd go back to the first picture, and got worse after a few weeks.

[csmith23]

I also just did this.

I bought some headlight defogger stuff from walmart, not sure what it was called.

It was 19 bucks, and made my headlights looks new again.

[maddmax]

-as the " earliest" versions of the grand am's had solid glass headlights.....it was much less of a issue , if ever...............

-as GM went to super thin cheap plastic lenses , the problem appeared almost overnight , and will always be a issue..............as everone prety well knows already....................

[Silversmok3]

-as the " earliest" versions of the grand am's had solid glass headlights.....it was much less of a issue , if ever...............

-as GM went to super thin cheap plastic lenses , the problem appeared almost overnight , and will always be a issue..............as everone prety well knows already....................

Wrong.

Every carmaker in 1999/2000 used the same plastic headlight cover. Every car made in those years with said plastic covers will look like ass after 65-70K miles. That's why Autozone sells headlight restore kits on the front aisles.Its just how the plastic will age.

Please check your GM stereotype at the door.

[maddmax]

??????????

-not sure what you are talking about.....................but that's ok

-you should read all the previous posts first ..........


hope this helps............