Dull headlight lenes
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
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From: South Dakota
Dull headlight lenes
If someone has this problem, this is what I did.
I bought a polishing pad and bonnet for my drill and some plastic polish. Total cost around $10. Place some polish on the pad and gently work it onto the headlight lens. Start with a some what firm pressure and as the polishing compound thins out lighten up the pressure to finish polishing. Watch out for the casting nibs, you don't want to catch them and break your headlight lens. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes per side, be sure to touchup the marker lights too. Then give your vehicle a good cleaning to remove compound residue. Then a coat of wax can be applied to the lenes for protection.
Did it to my son's T-bird worked great.
I bought a polishing pad and bonnet for my drill and some plastic polish. Total cost around $10. Place some polish on the pad and gently work it onto the headlight lens. Start with a some what firm pressure and as the polishing compound thins out lighten up the pressure to finish polishing. Watch out for the casting nibs, you don't want to catch them and break your headlight lens. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes per side, be sure to touchup the marker lights too. Then give your vehicle a good cleaning to remove compound residue. Then a coat of wax can be applied to the lenes for protection.
Did it to my son's T-bird worked great.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 56
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From: Las Vegas
you could try a product called Zymol also. it is a car wax, in a clear bottle, kind of bluish looking. You can get it at pep boys. We just used a rag, and it worked great! No more yellowed headlights! (from carnuba wax)
Dane
Dane
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Albuquerque
Novus is good stuff for plastic. Eastwood has a glass polishing compond and polishing pad that works good.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 586
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From: Tottenham Ontario Canada
I've polished the headlight lenses on my wife's Aerostar a couple of times using Meguiar's Plast-X polish. It works great. I did it by hand (wax on - wax off) in about 2 minutes per lens. Of course, I wasn't looking to restore showroom appearance - just to get some dang light through the foggy yellow plastic. It makes a huge difference & seems to be good for about 6 months at a time.
Cheers,
Eric
Cheers,
Eric
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,483
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From: Northern California
Thanks for posting this 68torino, it does work great, I've did it before. It will save some guys alot of $$, not having to replace those foggy old lenses! I was amazed the first time I did this at how well it worked.
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 45
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From: Lehigh Acres, FL
AeroShell makes a product called "Flight Jacket Plexicoat" that's great for all Plexiglass windows and plastic lens type applications. It's made for aircraft applications, but also does a very nice job on auto lenses. Look for it at the pilotshop at your local airport, or do a search here on the internet. I've found it for as little as $7.50, and as much as $15 for a 16 oz bottle. It's fast, it protects from UV rays, and it last. 
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2004
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Faded lenses
I thought I remember reading somewhere that the elements in most waxes that are used to soften the wax components, most of which are petroleum based softeners, can cross link with polycarbonate and cause the yellowing and ultimate cracking due to brittleness.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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Originally Posted by ScubaSteve
AeroShell makes a product called "Flight Jacket Plexicoat" that's great for all Plexiglass windows and plastic lens type applications. It's made for aircraft applications, but also does a very nice job on auto lenses. Look for it at the pilotshop at your local airport, or do a search here on the internet. I've found it for as little as $7.50, and as much as $15 for a 16 oz bottle. It's fast, it protects from UV rays, and it last.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: BARTONVILLE IL
Originally Posted by ScubaSteve
AeroShell makes a product called "Flight Jacket Plexicoat" that's great for all Plexiglass windows and plastic lens type applications. It's made for aircraft applications, but also does a very nice job on auto lenses. Look for it at the pilotshop at your local airport, or do a search here on the internet. I've found it for as little as $7.50, and as much as $15 for a 16 oz bottle. It's fast, it protects from UV rays, and it last.