yellowing head lights
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
From: Bellville TX. Wof Houston
yellowing head lights
hay all:
I have a 93 F150 with those werid shaped headlights,
there the type that's NOT sela beam " ya replace the bulb" somewhere along the line the seal has went bad " in both " and they have water in them and have turned yellow
wondering if short of replacing does anyone know how to clean them....
I have a 93 F150 with those werid shaped headlights,
there the type that's NOT sela beam " ya replace the bulb" somewhere along the line the seal has went bad " in both " and they have water in them and have turned yellow
wondering if short of replacing does anyone know how to clean them....
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 614
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola, FL
i think big red is right, there are products for cleaning the outside, but if you're problem is on the inside i don't know how you'd get in there to clean it. where is the leak?? is it where the bulb seals or is it along the perimeter where the front and back halves are glued together?? you might be able to break the seal around the perimeter and separate the two pieces, clean it real good, then super glue them back together.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 633
Likes: 1
I have split these in the past.. on an old Nissan at least. I was able to clean up the inside, but the reflective surface was gone. I ended up putting foil inside and sealed it back together with a hi temp sealer (silicon based I think).
Granted the foil is a stupid idea but it worked on the old beater as opposed to spending big $$ on a part and the headlight was OK with the other one being in good shape yet. I would hate to have them both that way tho... pretty hoaky, probably unsafe in many ways.
If your reflective surface is good it should be no problem, but I'd get on it as moisture makes the reflective surface peel off.
Granted the foil is a stupid idea but it worked on the old beater as opposed to spending big $$ on a part and the headlight was OK with the other one being in good shape yet. I would hate to have them both that way tho... pretty hoaky, probably unsafe in many ways.
If your reflective surface is good it should be no problem, but I'd get on it as moisture makes the reflective surface peel off.
Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
I have same issue on 93 with square headlights. With all the snow etc this winter its gotten way worse too. I did use a polish product (can't remember the name but it came in the form of imbedded drill disk pads) on outside and got rid of a lot of the yellowing of the plastic. But the real problem is the moisture inside. I have heard of folks taking the whole assembly apart and cleaning the inside but it sounded like a putting in a whole new light assembly was probably worth the effort you'd have to do to remove and clean.
Think I might try the car talk method qman... If i can figure a way to get a drill to the bottom. haven't looked in a while at the back/bottom to see the feasability.
Anyway mine needs something as functionality and visibility is way reduced and less safe now.
Think I might try the car talk method qman... If i can figure a way to get a drill to the bottom. haven't looked in a while at the back/bottom to see the feasability.
Anyway mine needs something as functionality and visibility is way reduced and less safe now.
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 590
Likes: 0
From: shelocta, pa
flitz will do the outside too. www.flitz.com also there was some cleaning stuff at walmart at the electrical aisle.
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 395
Likes: 11
Wet sand and polish with Maguires Plastic cleaner and then Plastic Polish. My Mustang is the only lights I have before and after pictures of.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2559636/6
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2559636/6
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,978
Likes: 0
From: Central PA
I have not had luck with any products on these lights once to yellow stage . And I polish show semis on weekends I know how to make things shine. You can split these lights and
clean / polish reassemble (glue) But they will not look like new. better . Good luck
clean / polish reassemble (glue) But they will not look like new. better . Good luck
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 829
Likes: 1
From: Goose Creek SC
I found replacements for my 92 headlights here:
http://www.yourautopartsstore.com
Not originals mind you but they claim to be excellent aftermarket replacements. These are $23.56 each and shipping $7.50 for the pair. Hopefully they will be a decent replacement. These also show they have the adjusters too.
One of my local dealerships wanted over $100 bucks per light.
I should have these soon.....end of the week.......so i can let you know how they are
http://www.yourautopartsstore.com
Not originals mind you but they claim to be excellent aftermarket replacements. These are $23.56 each and shipping $7.50 for the pair. Hopefully they will be a decent replacement. These also show they have the adjusters too.
One of my local dealerships wanted over $100 bucks per light.
I should have these soon.....end of the week.......so i can let you know how they are
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,978
Likes: 0
From: Central PA
If you find a body shop that dose not use aftermarket parts tell me. The lights are good for about 4-5 years then lens start to get dingy. Course same happened to the factory ones on mine. I think the salt is culprit
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,448
Likes: 2
From: CA Central Coast
Try ebay for replacements. My Taurus buckets were leaking and popping bulbs, horribly yellowed too. I got a pair of buckets with bulbs for $60 or so. Not OEM for sure, the plastic was cheap, but they fit and look great and I can see again.
There's also a guy on ebay who sells a cleaning kit (5 step I think) for around $30. Haven't tried it, but I might for my truck.
You need to fix those leaks before you waste time on the yellowing.
There's also a guy on ebay who sells a cleaning kit (5 step I think) for around $30. Haven't tried it, but I might for my truck.
You need to fix those leaks before you waste time on the yellowing.