Headlights turning color

[markymark30309]

I noticed that the headlights on 99's and up two the 02's the headlights seem to become really dull looking like the plastic has a haze over them.. Mine is 03 and still look new but was wondering if mine will probably do the same but is there anything you can do to keep them looking shiny?

[xeroinfinity]

I think the newr models used different plastic.

My 99 SE came from canada and they are fading bad.
My 99 GT came from Michigan, they are perfect .

I know alot of people having to replace thiers because of the hazze on the lens.
Some say they have buffed it out with mothers polish or something like that.

I say dont scrub them with a rag at the wash

[crazy Jim]

UV rays from leaving the car in direct sunlight may be part of the issue.
A friend of mine came up with some concoction to clean them up that he got from a Ford site and I was gonna try it on mine but I wrecked the car first. I purchased two new ones for eighty bones a peice and now my bezeles are pefectly clear.

[xeroinfinity]

Yes UV rays are killer on plastic and piant



....the sun will kill us all someday

[markymark30309]

Humm, i thought maybe the lights being on all the time might have something to do with it making the inside hot or something. Well mine is always in a parking garage either at home or work so maybe that helps some not being in the sun espeically here in the south.

[grfnkl]

keeping them covered in a garage will keep them in better shape longer then if they are out in the sun. The headlights being on will eventually effect the plastic. Mine were just starting get some haze right before i got rid of the car ( just two months ago) and it was a 2002 that i bought in 01. I kept my car out of the sun as much as i could like under trees and so on. My headlights and fog lights had small fine cracks in them possibly from them being on and possibly from them being hot and driving through cold rainy and snowy weather. I've used the mothers polish on mine and it would do the trick for a little while. Eventually you may experience this though.

[xeroinfinity]

What I thought it was was during the winter snow and ice would lay on the top half of the lamp.
Freezing and thawing plus the UV rays, and being that the bulbs burn 24-7
Supose several things could be the cause on this

[Ryan625]

How much money would the drivers side headlight cost at say, walmart? Mine's really bothering me becaus of the hazze

[crazy Jim]

bulbs only at Wallyworld, gotta go to someone that deals in body parts for the lenses..

WW has a range of quality to choose from, should be less then 10 bones a peice. I have a bunch of extra bulbs sitting in my garage if you wanna come on by and pick one up.

[jdiem240]

I polished the headlights on my wifes 99 GA SE yesterday. I used an electric buffer and some 3M polishing compound. It took about 5 minutes total. Wipe them down to remove any dirt or bugs. Then apply compound to a clean polishing bonnet and rub it over the headlamp. Next power up the buffer and buff lightly for a minute or so constantly moving so you don't burn the lense. I may sound difficult but it's not. They don't look new, but they look much better. There are still rock chips but the haze is gone.

Everyone should have a cheap electric buffer for waxing anyway. If not get on for $20-30. Just keep the wax bonnets seperate from the bonnets used for polishing (it will keep a fine grit).

[xeroinfinity]

Welcome to AF Ryan625.

You can find them on Ebay for a decent price.
The stealership will cost you an arm and a leg

I dont know what kinda bulbs you use craxy_jim but mine cost about $20-25(sylvania silver stars).

[Ryan625]

I was talking about the hole headlight not just the bulb, my mom said it'll cost a couple hundred bucks.