Faded Plastic Headlight Lenses?

[wes28]

Hi all. I have a 97' Mercury Sable which aswith most Form/Mercury, and MANY other makes of cars from the early to late 90's it has the plastic headlight lenses and they look sorta like they are all scratched, and/or faded. I'm sure you all know what I am talking about.
I live in South/Central Texas, and was at Wal*Mart about 4 months ago, and saw that they sold some little packages with some sort of solution and wipe that is supposed to make the lenses like new again without having to replace the expensive lenses. Just wondering if any of you have seen these, and/or even tried or know someone that has tried this or a simular product? I was going to go and purchase and try it myself, but I havent seen it again, and havent asked Auto Dept. if they still havem or will be getting more of them. If anyone knows anything about a product like this, please let me know how it works! What I saw was I think 11.00 or maybe 14.oo per package, and dont know if it treated just one, or both lenses!

Thanks in advance!
~Wes~

[shorod]

Such a product would probably only be short term, and I suspect only makes the lens "look" better and only offering minimal improvements to optical quality. You could most likely achieve the same effect with some car polish to clean the surface.

If you want a longer term fix, you could wetsand the lens to remove buildup and contaminants, as well as getting the lens surface flat. Then use a foam pad polishing system to buff the lens smooth, being careful to not heat the plastic so much that it gets soft and distorts.

If you don't already have the buffer and foam pad, you would likely be better off to pick up a new set of DOT-approved aftermarket headlight assemblies from eBay or similar.

-Rod

[TomV]

Several years ago I was searching ebay for new lights and there were a few guys that sold such a kit of chemicals. They are no longer selling them. I think this may mean it does not work.

I have removed some of the surface haze using a light rubbing compound.

[Huney1]

The kits claim to work but the one I bought didn't. Had an older Mustang and researched how to clear up the lens. Shorod is right. Take real fine wet sand paper and spend about an hour on each light then finish off with polishing compound. Using a buffer machine is risky because they get hot quick.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

[way2old]

Brasso anyone?? Wonder polish. Cleans and shines anything.

[mwt878991]

Mine were pretty bad and I used Plasti-X.

That helped for a while but finally I said to hell with it and used my Porter Cable and the most agressive compound I have which is called Optimum Hyper Compound and the most agressive pad I had.

then used the regular optimum and a less agressive pad then the polish and a polishing pad.

Then I waxed them and they still look good 4 months later.

Mike

[Huney1]

"Brasso anyone?? Wonder polish. Cleans and shines anything."
BRASSO! AARRGGHH! When I was in the military I must have used five gallons of it shining brass.

Use the search engine in the Mustang forum and you'll find a lot of fixes for yellow or cloudy headlight lens. One guy said he bored a hole in the lens then used an air gun nozzle to blow the moisture out, but he put to much pressure in it and the whole lens exploded.

[shorod]

Originally Posted by Huney1

....One guy said he bored a hole in the lens then used an air gun nozzle to blow the moisture out, but he put to much pressure in it and the whole lens exploded.

I've found that if you remove the headlight assembly and bulb along with the rubber tubes on the vents. Sit it on a bench with a small brushless fan blowing into the bulb opening. It only takes an hour or two to dry all the moisture. Make sure the drains are not restricted and inspect the glue that holds the lens to the bucket. If I see voids or questionable spots, coat them with some heavy-duty hot melt glue, and re-install. This process has worked quite well for me, plus I've learned how to remove a few different headlights this way (not much fun on a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer!).

-Rod

[way2old]

Originally Posted by shorod

IThis process has worked quite well for me, plus I've learned how to remove a few different headlights this way (not much fun on a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer!).

-Rod

Try an Escape. You have to remove entire front bumper cover to remove light assembly

[way2old]

BRASSO! AARRGGHH! When I was in the military I must have used five gallons of it shining brass.


Must of been a bad WEEK for you, wasn't it???

[Huney1]

"Must of been a bad WEEK for you, wasn't it???"

Say what? ONE bad week? Bro,' you ain't even close, . . . . would you believe, FOUR BAD YEARS.
Water under the bridge now, but what a miserable way to earn a living.

[Willyum]

Sounds like the Wal-Mart purchase wouldn't have been much of a risk. If you aren't satisfied with whatever you buy there they will refund your $$.