(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Methot to clear fogged headlight covers?

1500 grit sandpaper, then a liquid buffing compound on a rag
by hand has always worked for me. Buff them well though.
If you don't the sandpaper scratches will show eventually.
If they're lightly fogged you might go with 2000 grit wet/dry
which would require a little less buffing.
 
Dont use the bug repellant method. It dissolves the plastic. At first it looks good, then it gets really bad. Get the polishing kit from the auto parts store. Works pretty good.
 
"Get the polishing kit from the auto parts store. Works pretty good."

Yes they do. Just more expensive than buying separately sometimes.

"Kit contains sanding discs and polishing pad with compound"

One example
 
I did some remodeling for a body man last summer.
He had a pair of those clear headlight covers in his garage that looked new - perfect - awesome.
I asked how he did it.
He just shrugged and said "Clear lacquer. It's how it's done."
 
I have a 17 year old Dodge Ram and everybody comments how the light covers look like new. I tell them that is because it never sits out in the sun. Yes, they are original.
 
Any auto buffing compound and a damp rag will work. I usually use Meguiar's Car Cleaner Wax. For nasty ones may need to go with something like heavy duty Dupont Old No. 7 compound in a can. Apply with lots of elbow grease.
 
just clean them and spray them with clear coat, they will be like new. nothing else works or is even worth wasting time or money trying.
 
"just clean them and spray them with clear coat, they will be like new."

I have to disagree rustred. Clear coating a yellowed, hazed lens
just gives you a nice shine on the front of a yellowed, hazed lens.
It will not let the light shine through like it should.
Depending on the type of clear coat used, it might even melt the
plastic so that they are completely unusable.
 
(quoted from post at 05:09:53 03/26/17) "Get the polishing kit from the auto parts store. Works pretty good."

Yes they do. Just more expensive than buying separately sometimes.

"Kit contains sanding discs and polishing pad with compound"

I hit them with bug spray if it looks real good get a 3M kit to get'er done. If the bug spray does not help much I suggest new lights the 3M kit will not help the problem is on the inside. ...

I have been able to restore 4 headlights with this kit that's not bad for lest than $20...
Click to expand...
 
I mask around the lights with duct tape and use a auto polisher with rubbing compound. It gets rid of every bit of the cloud on the surface. Just can't get what is on the inside. The duct tape keeps from rubbing the paint off.
 
who was talking yellow hazed len's?? not me or the other guy. he said fogged headlights.
i have experienced the spraying and know they come out in new condition, or i would not have suggested it.
have you actually tried this or just quoting maybe's?
 
I used a lens cleaning kit to clean the fogged plastic headlights on my brother's '96 Dodge Dakota. The kit included two grits of abrasive, and a drill mounted buffing wheel. The results were very good, it was a little messy buffing with a 3000 rpm variable speed drill, but the high speed drill made buffing go much faster. I added blue painters tape to mask the paint. It took about an hour to do both headlights. The center of the lenses looked like new, there was some yellow film was left around the lugs sticking out of the lens where it was difficult to sand and buff.

Light from the lenses is white again and much brighter than before cleaning. I was impressed with the result and my brother was happy. I think the result was worth the hour of work, there is enough abrasive left to do another pair of lenses. I could not have replaced the lenses and realigned the beams in that same amount of time.

The kit was a name brand from Walmart for about $25, either: Mothers, McGuirer's, or 3M I forget which brand. The kit recommended applying car wax over the cleaned up lens about every 6 months to slow down future fogging from UV sunlight.
 
MEQUIRE'S has a good plastix cleanser and polish. bottle is about $8 . used it on my daughter's suv. they were really bad, yellowed,etc. like driving with parking lights. tried it not expecting a lot, , two applications and her husband couldn't believe how well it worked. he had tried all the hacks . very impressed, used it on an old feeding pickup, great results there too
 
"who was talking yellow hazed len's??"

Apparently just me. Yes, I tried it.
Didn't work out so well for me so I ended up sanding them.
Glad it worked out for you.
 
I have tried them and not worth the time, get looking half good and 2 months later back the same as was. In the last year and half have replaced 3 sets because of that problem. And some are way better than others to fit same vehical. And that that you use can actually burn holes in the plastic light cover.
 
they sand them with 600 grit wet and dry , wet them . then clean with brake cleaner and spray with clear coat . that's how I saw it done and they looked great .
 
Sand a spot to see if it is only surface discoloration. If it comes off, leaving a nice clear lens, then sand and polish. I start w/600 and move up through 1500 grit. Now, spray with a good urethane clear. Without that step they will quickly haze over again. The clear provides some protection from the sun, which is what does most of the damage.

But, unless you have some clear on hand or can get a small amount from a shop, it will cost more than new covers.
 
If the plastic on your headlight turns frosted you have lost the UV protection cover and their is nothing you can use that will last. I have used tooth paste works for several months and Wd 40 did nothing. The WD on WD40 stands for water displacement. I have had my car into dealer and body shop and was told replace them and keep the car out of direct sunlight as possible.The UV rays are what ruins the Uv coating on them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
NewHolland Boomer tractor need help finding Hydraulic leak please help
Replies
17
Views
532
Gene Davis(Ga.)
G
C
John Deere BW lights
Replies
4
Views
268
Leroy
L
S
Cleaning outside of IH I20 brass carb
Replies
9
Views
552
rustred
rustred
L
Removing IH 2000 loader from IH 656
Replies
1
Views
217
Mrfred54
M
Geo-TH,In
Seat covers for 2007 GMC truck
Replies
4
Views
317
dwag
D
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top