Headlights glazed over - replace or polish?
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Virginia Beach
Headlights glazed over - replace or polish?
I have a 97 E-350 with composite headlights and it won't pass the VA inspection because the headlights don't register any illuminance on the tester. Both high and low beam work fine, and I can drive ok at night, but apparently the plastic headlight case is so glazed over its degrading the effectiveness of the light transmittal through the plastic case.
The inspection station said I can polish the headlights to fix them, and I tried with some regular paint finish cleaner and polish, but it didn't take the glaze off.
Is there a product made for headlights to polish the finish, or should I look to replace the entire assembly.
Again, this is for 97 Econoline E-350 with COMPOSITE HEADLIGHTS.
I tried multiple searches to see if this was covered already and found nothing, I can't believe I'm the only one with this problem.
The inspection station said I can polish the headlights to fix them, and I tried with some regular paint finish cleaner and polish, but it didn't take the glaze off.
Is there a product made for headlights to polish the finish, or should I look to replace the entire assembly.
Again, this is for 97 Econoline E-350 with COMPOSITE HEADLIGHTS.
I tried multiple searches to see if this was covered already and found nothing, I can't believe I'm the only one with this problem.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
Some guys have polished their lenses and said it fixed them, but I have never been able to make them look like new. They always still had the yellow tint to them. I would replace them myself. It makes the vehicle look so much better too, besides being able to see better at night. I was caught at inspection with the same thing too one time. The ones I needed ended up being about $60.00 each.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: B/CS, Texas!!
Wow, tough inspection...
Wet sand them with very fine grit (2000). Now, buy Blue Magic polish and polish them down. It won't be clear as new, but it should be good enough for safety. Cost: $8 at autozone.
Wet sand them with very fine grit (2000). Now, buy Blue Magic polish and polish them down. It won't be clear as new, but it should be good enough for safety. Cost: $8 at autozone.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Virginia Beach
Thanks for all the tips. I wetsanded with 2000, did a great job of cutting the rough yellow grime off, and then polished with an orbital buffer and maguire's plastix polish. Doesn't quite look new, but the difference is remarkable. Haven't taken it back to be re-inspected yet, working some other issues, but I think that should do the headlights.
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