can you clean up hazy headlights?

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BeaconHillBarry

New Member

Dec 9, 2007

14

0

0

Nashua, NH

Dec 9, 2007

#1

• Dec 9, 2007

• #1

has anyone ever tried cleaning up the foggy 5.0 headlights? the NH winters have destoryed the ones on my 89 lx notch and i can't afford to buy new ones (red sox tix went on sale yesterday!). they look like doo-doo and i want to do something with them. there was an article about it in 5.0 mustang years ago and it involved wetsanding. can anyone help me? please?

i've finally had enough. thanks.

 

MahFiVeOh

Founding Member

Apr 26, 2002

531

9

49

Ontario, Canada

Dec 9, 2007

#2

• Dec 9, 2007

• #2

I buffed mine with a fine rubbing compound then buffed/waxxed after that and it helped for a while.I ended up buying new headlights after they started looking sh1tty again.

 

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elmo8641

New Member

Apr 10, 2006

1

0

0

Dec 9, 2007

#3

• Dec 9, 2007

• #3

i used mothers plastic polish and the buff ball. it works but you have to stay on top of it with wax to keep it looking good. the best is to get new lights

 

trbkrb

Founding Member

Jun 4, 2001

1,976

4

39

Houston, TX

Dec 9, 2007

#4

• Dec 9, 2007

• #4

Mine were really bad and I used progressively finer wet or dry sandpaper to clean them up, then i followed it with rubbing compound and polishing compound. They do look better, pretty clear, but not 100% better. Not bad for little to no $$$. The plastic polish supposedly works well.

 

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iapexl8r

Member

Apr 1, 2005

254

0

17

Dec 9, 2007

#5

• Dec 9, 2007

• #5

I just did a set recently. I started by grinding off those pesky nipples. then started with 600 grit sand paper and ended with 2000 (all wet of course) then used a polisher with rubbing compound and finished with polishing compound. they look 100 times better

 

89-347-LX

New Member

Nov 17, 2007

38

0

0

Oklahoma

Dec 9, 2007

#6

• Dec 9, 2007

• #6

water and vinagar mix half and half and a little elbow grease

 

Blandnuts

I don't swallow; I only swoosh

Founding Member

Aug 21, 2000

1,172

124

124

FloorDuh

Dec 10, 2007

#7

• Dec 10, 2007

• #7

I would buy new ones. I wasted a lot of time cleaning mine up then bought new ones and couldn't believe the difference....

 

bloopbloob

Member

Sep 27, 2006

578

4

16

Alberta

Dec 10, 2007

#8

• Dec 10, 2007

• #8

yeah i agree that no matter how much effort you put in, they won't look like new ones. a 6 pc set of lights might set you back a little over $100, but it is one of the best visual improvements you can make to your car. a set of new headlights can make any fox look years younger. for the time you'd spend getting your headlights to look half-az decent, just work a couple extra hours instead and get new ones.

 

Flavadave4

Active Member

Nov 28, 2003

1,044

21

49

Utica, NY

Dec 10, 2007

#9

• Dec 10, 2007

• #9

Cleaned mine with some rubbing compound, scratch x then some wax.......but it came back and I bought new ones. Easy fix

 

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BeaconHillBarry

New Member

Dec 9, 2007

14

0

0

Nashua, NH

Dec 10, 2007

#10

• Dec 10, 2007

• #10

thanks fellas.

 

COILDUP

New Member

Jun 28, 2005

36

0

0

Lakeland, TN

Dec 10, 2007

#11

• Dec 10, 2007

• #11

Mine were really bad and I used this >> http://autogeek.net/diamondite-headlight-how-to.html. Night and day difference. I would highly recommend. If you do buy new ones, though, I would also periodically use a sealant on them to minimize hazing.

Before: 1 2

After: 1 2

Hope this helps!!

 

jhonda

Member

Jul 22, 2003

125

1

16

Huntersville NC

Dec 10, 2007

#12

• Dec 10, 2007

• #12

I can get stock 6 piece headlights for 80dollors plus shipping if anyone wants any

 

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frcefedlx

New Member

Dec 6, 2004

184

0

0

Dec 10, 2007

#13

• Dec 10, 2007

• #13

I used Crest, not only gets rid of plaque but does a pretty good job of polishing out old lights. I tried this after a friend of mine told me to and worked out pretty good and saved me quite a few bucks

 

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BeaconHillBarry

New Member

Dec 9, 2007

14

0

0

Nashua, NH

Dec 11, 2007

#14

• Dec 11, 2007

• #14

thanks, i was hoping i could polish out all the damage. let me try this and if it dont work, ill buy a new set

 

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Gears & Crosses

Founding Member

Nov 15, 2001

150

0

26

Southern, Miss.

Dec 12, 2007

#15

• Dec 12, 2007

• #15

I highly recommend Meguiar's PlastX polish. If the lenses are in real bad shape you will probably have to wet sand or use rubbing compound first, but finish it off with the polish using a buffer. Again like others have said, getting new ones are the best option but if times are tough then do the above. I used the PlastX polish on my wifes Lexus and I was stunned at the difference. It took a lot of work but I am happy it. I cant imagine how much new lenses would be for her car.

I hope this helps,
Gears