| Interior/Exterior/Appearance The place for all interior, exterior and general non-performance modifications. |
09-17-2006, 09:20 PM
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#1
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AF Newbie
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: alb, New Mexico
Posts: 4
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Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
I own a '99 GMC Jimmy and I recently purchased a new headlight. The problem I have now is the other side looks old and has a slight yellow tone to the plastic. Is it possible to restore the headlight if so, what do you use to get your final results?
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09-18-2006, 08:30 AM
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#2
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A990 racer
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Chestertown, New York
Posts: 11,579
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
You can improve it but it will never look like a new one.
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09-18-2006, 12:32 PM
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#3
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The RustBuster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: La Plata, Maryland
Posts: 1,007
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
Modern headlight assemblies use either an acrylic or polycarbonate lens which yellow from exposure to the sun. There's no avoiding it and no way to reverse it unless you install those god-awful-looking smoked headlight covers. Sorry, to be the bearer of bad news...save up to buy one for the other side!
__________________
Current Garage:
NEW 2003 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L AWD
2003 GMC Envoy XL (aka "fat-a$$") - K&N air filter, otherwise stock.
1995 Chevrolet C2500 2wd, 5.7L - K&N air filter, otherwise stock...my weekend hauler.
1992 Toyota Camry LE 2.2L - K&N air filter.
Vehicle History:
2004 4.7L Dakota Quad Cab 4x4
1996 GMC Jimmy 4wd
1992 Chevrolet S10 Ext. Cab 4.3L
1995 Honda ST1100...my first (and only) new vehicle.
1980 Yamaha XS400
1980 Mercury Bobcat...my first car.
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09-18-2006, 02:06 PM
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#4
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AF -Advisor
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sudbury
Posts: 13,562
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
You can easily restore them back to almost new condition.
Check on google, there are numerous sites detailing it.
Oh, and smoked headlight lenses RULE!!!
__________________
1995 Factory Blazer Service Manual for sale, PM if interested.
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09-18-2006, 03:05 PM
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#5
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The RustBuster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: La Plata, Maryland
Posts: 1,007
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
Welp, if those resto processes can give you a good match between left and right, then I sit corrected, but given my nature to have perfect symmetry, I'd opt for a new one.
As for smoked lenses, to each his own...go nuts!
__________________
Current Garage:
NEW 2003 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L AWD
2003 GMC Envoy XL (aka "fat-a$$") - K&N air filter, otherwise stock.
1995 Chevrolet C2500 2wd, 5.7L - K&N air filter, otherwise stock...my weekend hauler.
1992 Toyota Camry LE 2.2L - K&N air filter.
Vehicle History:
2004 4.7L Dakota Quad Cab 4x4
1996 GMC Jimmy 4wd
1992 Chevrolet S10 Ext. Cab 4.3L
1995 Honda ST1100...my first (and only) new vehicle.
1980 Yamaha XS400
1980 Mercury Bobcat...my first car.
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09-18-2006, 09:54 PM
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#6
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AF -Advisor
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sudbury
Posts: 13,562
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
It will be close enough that you will NEVER notice unless someone told you.
__________________
1995 Factory Blazer Service Manual for sale, PM if interested.
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09-18-2006, 10:43 PM
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#7
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AF Premium User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 264
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
I've gotten headlights at my work to look pretty dang good. Use 800 wet sand paper you can get at any automotive store. Use it to wet sand the front headlight, after awhile you will notice that the headlight looks foggy but not yellow. Now you can use some 1200 grit and sand it down till its almost clear, but you will notice when it dries it looks foggy so you need to get some Plastic X that you can buy from any automotive store. Just apply it to the headlight. You will see the results.
Tomarrow i can show you a before and after pictures cause i'm going to work on my 99 Sonoma headlights.
I've used this technique on about 60 Limousines and all my customers have been nothing but happy and plus it saved them 250 dollars.
Smoked Tail Lights Rule !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
__________________
2001 Chevrolet Blazer 4x4 LT
Mods = TPM , Intake , Exhaust , Bearings , Polished Crank , Heavy Duty mounts , Complete rebuild done Oct '07 , HD Sun Shell .
Sound = 4 12" Kicker SoloBarics L7
2000 Watt Performance Teknique Amp x3
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09-18-2006, 10:46 PM
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#8
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AF -Advisor
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sudbury
Posts: 13,562
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by TheBrettster
I've gotten headlights at my work to look pretty dang good. Use 800 wet sand paper you can get at any automotive store. Use it to wet sand the front headlight, after awhile you will notice that the headlight looks foggy but not yellow. Now you can use some 1200 grit and sand it down till its almost clear, but you will notice when it dries it looks foggy so you need to get some Plastic X that you can buy from any automotive store. Just apply it to the headlight. You will see the results.
Tomarrow i can show you a before and after pictures cause i'm going to work on my 99 Sonoma headlights.
I've used this technique on about 60 Limousines and all my customers have been nothing but happy and plus it saved them 250 dollars.
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Fabulous!
You get a cookie for this.
WRITE A HOW TO!!!!
__________________
1995 Factory Blazer Service Manual for sale, PM if interested.
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09-19-2006, 12:35 AM
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#9
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AF Premium User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 264
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
Will Do tomarrow. With Picture OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
__________________
2001 Chevrolet Blazer 4x4 LT
Mods = TPM , Intake , Exhaust , Bearings , Polished Crank , Heavy Duty mounts , Complete rebuild done Oct '07 , HD Sun Shell .
Sound = 4 12" Kicker SoloBarics L7
2000 Watt Performance Teknique Amp x3
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09-24-2006, 11:43 AM
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#10
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AF Newbie
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 6
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
Actually, I agree with the sanding, but also, to prevent them from turning yellow again, wax them every time you wax your vehicle.
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09-24-2006, 12:16 PM
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#11
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AF Premium User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 264
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
Yea but use Plastix it has a anti UV coating in it. I have tog et my towncar back from the shop then i will make the guide sorry for delay.
__________________
2001 Chevrolet Blazer 4x4 LT
Mods = TPM , Intake , Exhaust , Bearings , Polished Crank , Heavy Duty mounts , Complete rebuild done Oct '07 , HD Sun Shell .
Sound = 4 12" Kicker SoloBarics L7
2000 Watt Performance Teknique Amp x3
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01-15-2007, 08:11 PM
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#12
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AF Regular
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: mylittletown, Georgia
Posts: 346
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
Another trick to try: Brasso. They sell it in hardware stores and it's used for polishing brass and other metals but it actually will work on the acrylic, POS lenses we have to contend with on modern vehicles.....thanks, once again, to our meddling government which "outlawed" glass lenses on automobile headlamps.
mike
'85S10 (with "deadly" glass headlights)
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01-15-2007, 09:46 PM
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#13
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AF Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Rochester, New York
Posts: 733
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
Hey sector - stop dredging up old posts.
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2004 Explorer XLT
4.0L 4x4
Anyone who said There Is No Such Thing As A Stupid Question never worked in a grocery store!
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01-15-2007, 10:23 PM
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#14
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AF Regular
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: over here
Posts: 370
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
Hmmm. my 99 blazers are crystal clear. I thought they were glass.
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'92 s-10 4x4 EC p/u
'99 Blazer LT
'99 Suburban LT
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01-17-2007, 12:08 AM
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#15
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AF Premium User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 264
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Re: Headlight Restore Anyone Done This B4?
I wouldn't recommend brasso.
__________________
2001 Chevrolet Blazer 4x4 LT
Mods = TPM , Intake , Exhaust , Bearings , Polished Crank , Heavy Duty mounts , Complete rebuild done Oct '07 , HD Sun Shell .
Sound = 4 12" Kicker SoloBarics L7
2000 Watt Performance Teknique Amp x3
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