Headlight cleaning problems.

DARCA

New Member

Nov 19, 2008

61

0

0

Tacoma, WA

Dec 17, 2008

#1

• Dec 17, 2008

• #1

Ok, So I pulled my driver side head, parking, and turn lights off. I am looking inside them and they have quite a bit of crap in there (dirt, bugs, water, etc...). I would like to clean these lights out but poring more water in to them just doesn't sound like a good idea to me. How should I go about cleaning these out?

Also My headlight has a little metal piece that is loose and rattling around inside of it, I am assuming this is a reflector piece that fits in front of the bulb some how. Am I screwed with it being loose or is there a way to get it back in place that is worth doing?

Thanks again for all the help.

-Brad

 

1987stangman

Member

Jul 12, 2006

684

24

19

Dec 17, 2008

#2

• Dec 17, 2008

• #2

I have cleaned a lot of these lights. A lot of people would rather throw the stockers out for 6 piece replacements but believe in refurbishing original units provided that they are in good repairable shape. I use compressed air to remove water or debris from the inside of the light and then I wet sand the front of the lenses with 1500 grit sand paper and then follow up with 2000. After the wet sand is done use Meguires Xcratch X or 3M rubbing compound to rub out the sand scratches. You will be amazed and the finish lasts for years not months.

 

DARCA

New Member

Nov 19, 2008

61

0

0

Tacoma, WA

Dec 17, 2008

#3

• Dec 17, 2008

• #3

I am doing wet sanding as soon as I can get to town to get the supplies, I am currently snowed in though.

Any Ideas on the reflector?

 

LiquidGT

Member

Oct 8, 2007

368

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16

Near STL hell

Dec 17, 2008

#4

• Dec 17, 2008

• #4

I refurbished the headlights on my old Escort, kind of like 1987stangman said, then I sprayed them with a thin layer of clearcoat and they didnt oxidize again. Be sure to put some clear sealant around your lights so they wont leak anymore.

You'll probably need a new sidemarker housing because of the reflector, its near impossible to try to crack open the lense without breaking it.

 

DARCA

New Member

Nov 19, 2008

61

0

0

Tacoma, WA

Dec 18, 2008

#5

• Dec 18, 2008

• #5

Ok, yea my side markers are pretty gross but work, so thats gunna have to be good enough for now because of my budget.

 

DARCA

New Member

Nov 19, 2008

61

0

0

Tacoma, WA

Dec 18, 2008

#6

• Dec 18, 2008

• #6

Getting ready to wet sand my lights, and I am reading things about using sealant on the lights now. Anyone care to explain what this means to me?

 

SMOKEDYA

20+ Year Stangneter

Jul 13, 2003

3,637

8

79

Tucson AZ

Dec 18, 2008

#7

• Dec 18, 2008

• #7

by useing sealant on them i would assume it's to seal in the finsh and make it last longer. unless you mean sealant as in resealing where the lights are bonded together? peace


john

 

DARCA

New Member

Nov 19, 2008

61

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Tacoma, WA

Dec 19, 2008

#8

• Dec 19, 2008

• #8

Sealing the finish is what I had meant yes.