plastic headlight covers any ideas on how to clean them

1999 Dodge Neon has yellow stained headlights any ideas on how to clean them:banghead:

I'm not familiar with the Neon headlamp system so I don't know if you can remove the headlamp capsules from the vehicle. If you can you can try a mild soap solution poured into the empty capsule (light removed) and swish it around and rinse. Once it's dry you can re-install it.That sometimes works on vehicles where you can remove the headlights. I see this problem a lot on many different vehicles, GM , Ford, and Chrysler products It is caused by the sun's UV rays deteriorating the plastic and yellowing it. The problem gets worse as the vehicle gets older. You might have to replace the lenses or capsules. Sources for these are salvage yards, eBay and your local dealer. I'm beginning to think that these will eventually be considered "normal wear items" that will need replacing sometime in the vehicle's lifetime.

The Neon headlamp assemblies can be removed, its not too hard.
You can use a polish such as 'Chrome Polish', which has a mild abrasive in it - and it will make a minor improvement. For best results I rub vigorously in one spot until the polish has dried on the lens & the rubbing pad. You might get another years use from doing this, but you are only cleaning the outer surface. The reflective surfaces inside lose their gloss, and the inside surface of the lens get dirty too.
Whether you are able to park the car in a shaded/covered/enclosed area will have an effect on how long they last before they yellow. When I got our replacements on ebay.com they cost under $50 each - do a search on ebay using the words 'headlamp' and 'Neon'. In our state (VA) they can fail the annual safety inspection from being yellowed; and you can get tickets for driving at night when they are bad enough.

On any car with plastic headlamp assemblies and plastic lenses or lens covers, I think you can figure on replacement after the headlamps are 6 to 10 years old.

The Neon headlamp assemblies can be removed, its not too hard.
You can use a polish such as 'Chrome Polish', which has a mild abrasive in it - and it will make a minor improvement. For best results I rub vigorously in one spot until the polish has dried on the lens & the rubbing pad. You might get another years use from doing this, but you are only cleaning the outer surface. The reflective surfaces inside lose their gloss, and the inside surface of the lens get dirty too.
Whether you are able to park the car in a shaded/covered/enclosed area will have an effect on how long they last before they yellow. When I got our replacements on ebay.com they cost under $50 each - do a search on ebay using the words 'headlamp' and 'Neon'. In our state (VA) they can fail the annual safety inspection from being yellowed; and you can get tickets for driving at night when they are bad enough.

On any car with plastic headlamp assemblies and plastic lenses or lens covers, I think you can figure on replacement after the headlamps are 6 to 10 years old. Hey thanks for the heads up I think I will just purch a new set and thanks for the info

Just a word of advice the passenger side headlight is very hard to get off. I have a '97 neon (same body as 99) and there's a bolt down in the middle of the front quarter panel that is really hard to get to.

Just a word of advice the passenger side headlight is very hard to get off. I have a '97 neon (same body as 99) and there's a bolt down in the middle of the front quarter panel that is really hard to get to.Both lights are the same. Both have the bolt behind it that you need to get to. You can either lay on your back and go under the car to get to it, or use an extension to get to it from up top.

Oh, and here is a how-to...
http://www.myneonspeed.com/howto/howto_1stgen_headlightpolish.htm

Hey there is actually a kit sold by eastwood.com (search for headlight polish) for this very problem, the cheap way is to buff them out they will like new within no time. Heck of alot cheaper than buying new lights.:2cents:

That would be my advice also. Ditch the old and buy new ones.:grinyes:

2000 grit sandpeper and some plastic polish, wet sand the housing till it isnt yellow anymore and then polish the heck out of it. they will look as good as new.

2000 grit sandpeper and some plastic polish, wet sand the housing till it isnt yellow anymore and then polish the heck out of it. they will look as good as new.
And then be ready to do once a year as well.

And then be ready to do once a year as well.
you have a better idea? even if you buy new lights you will have the same problem in a year.

cars require maintinance, and if you consider spending 30 mins every 12-24 monthes (or 5 mins to give them a once over with the polish to brighten them up a bit whenever you notice they aren't as shiney) to be too much effort, than you should go lease a civic so you dont have to spend 30 mins a year polishing headlights. :rolleyes:

also, anyone who owns a neon needs to check out neons.org, best neon specific site on the net. any mod/repair you can think of, theres at least 3 or 4 posts that talk about it, and because the site is insanely active (questions about 95-99 neons are generaly answered in 30 mins or less) and there is very little bad info on the site, since the gurus usualy call people out pretty fast.

I cant agree with 'mopar or no car'. If you buy new headlights, they will last several years; will get dim at about the same rate as the originals. They will last longer if you are able to park the car under a roof, away from direct sunlight. I have sometimes found nearly new headlamps in the junkyards that I frequent, but they get bought up fairly quickly. Including -me- buying spare ones.

you have a better idea? even if you buy new lights you will have the same problem in a year.
Buy these....
http://www.modernperformance.com/dcx/clear_headlight_turnsig.jpg

And be very very happy :grinyes:

you can buy a lense restorer kit form autozone its bout 20 bucks.... it REALLY works.... ive purchased one and it made my headlights look brand new... ive had many questions like did u buy new headlights, they look new and good.... all you need is a cordless drill or an electric drill..... it has the rest of the things you need in the kit.....

One trick I found. Toothpaste. Yes toothpaste. Just put it on a wet rag or towel and start rubbing. Works great!:runaround:

^ Your method sounds awesome; I'll have to try that next. My guess is that it works simply because it's an *extremely* mild abrasive.

Alright. Here is the cheapest solution, period. You guys are gonna laugh.

Newspaper. Buff them out with newspaper! It works like a charm. Even better, so your arm doesn't get tired... clip some newspaper onto a palm sander, and go to town! Cleared mine up in minutes.

Yes, you should check out Headlight Restoration Service ( www.hrslights.com (http://www.hrslights.com) ) I used them to clean my Lexus SC400 and they look brand new! No one could touch thier price and they ship free.

Anyone try rubbing compound?
Is it TOO abrasive?

I dont think rubbing compound would be -too- abrasive, but it might not be what you want for the initial clean-up, nor for the final polishing.
I first used DuPont Chrome Polish. It made a nice surface, but was quite slow in removing the outer layer of yellowed plastic. The most recent headlamps I cleaned got: 1. 600 grit, 2. 1200 grit, then 3. 2000 grit - all wet sanded. Finally I polished them with the Chrome Polish. This made them 'almost' like new, but after 2 years they are showing signs of more fading.

Besides, cleaning the front surface of the lens doesnt clean the dirt from the inside surface of the lens and the reflector, plus there is some 'crazing' of the plastic lens.

I have used 1000 grit and then 2000 wet sandpaper and then PlastiX brand clear lens cleaner/polisher. The lens will look hazy until you apply the PlastiX

I used the AutoZone kit from Scotch/3M - about $21 with tax. An hour with that plus a variable speed drill, soft cloths and water I had headlights that were clear as glass. Took about an hour - just follow the instructions - finest grit (with the kit) used was 3000.

That was 10 months ago and they're still in excellent condition.

Just did my 2001 with the Meguiar's® kit from AutoZone did a great job

I have a 96 Geo Prizm with dulled headlight lens and found that there are several headlight restoration products on the market ranging in price from about $6 to $20. They are applied with a soft rag like rubbing compound and work in the same way. You can get them at Pep Boys or any automotive shop. They work pretty well, but you've got to be willing to invest some elbow grease. Pep Boys will also do it professionally for about $50. Although I was able to rub out most of the dullness, I wasn't entirely happy with the results so I went online and found brand new after-market headlamps for $25 each and installed them. Now my lights are clear and bright and I'm very happy with the results. I probably could've gotten the old ones looking pretty good, but I ran out of patience and elbow grease.

This is another option that does not involve elbow grease, or abrasive coompounds and polishes. http://www.ibc34.com/Caveman.html