headlight scratches

[terryp]

Catararacts!! that's what this car has. It looks like the previous owner used steel wool or sandpaper to clean the headlamp covers! Will these buff out with auto body polishing compound or will I risk further damage? Any tips or experiences out there? Thanks! New member Terry P.

[justjon]

Re: headlight scratches

I'm about to paint mine black, they don't work worth a darn anyway....

[terryp]

Re: headlight scratches

Here is my thought....
According to the owner's manual, the headlight units are easily removeable for changing the bulb. Thought I would pop them out and use the 3M polishing compound with foam pad that I use to polish clearcoats. the headlight "restoration kits" sold at the auto parts stores appear to be nothing more than this anyway. So if the compound/ foam pad on buffer is safe enough for clear coats, it shoud do fine for plastic lenses. (?) comments? Experiences?

[Leroy]

Re: headlight scratches

I've heard toothpaste works just as good? Mine are still like new, I'm not sure what causes them to become dull. Leroy

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[terryp]

Re: headlight scratches

Hey Leroy, thanks for the toothpaste hint. You are correct that toothpaste is a very fine abrasive and can be used as a mild polishing compound in lots of applications. Automotive buffing compounds are unique in that they are designed to break down during the buffing process providing an aggressive cut at the beginning and a final polish toward the end. The severely clouded plastic headlight lenses that we see on cars is usually the result of the sun damaging the plastic, cooking out the plasticizers with UV etc. NO amount of buffing will help these cases and replacement is the best way to go. Mine just look to be physically scratched by improper cleaning. Thanks for the reply!

[FUN X 3]

Re: headlight scratches

I've never removed the entire lens unit to change out the light bulb. The small harness the light bulbs snap into are removed from the back of the lens unit by turning and pulling gently.

[007161947]

Re: headlight scratches

I'd recommend plastic polish since the headlights are plastic, can be bought at any auto parts store, I have used it before and it works well if there is not to much previous damage. You may also consider swapping them out since you are going to take them out to work on. There are always new ones on Ebay for sale. Hope that is of some help.

[Salprint]

Re: headlight scratches

Believe it or not, I've used cigarette ashes and a little warm water to get those scratches out. You just have to find someone that smokes a lot.

[billm]

Re: headlight scratches

I'm wondering about the cleaning agent by Turtle Wax called "Ice Clay". It is also a very fine abrasive, but is clear coat safe. I used it on the car to clean off old rings of dried soap or wax from previous washes. It did an excellent job removing those.

[rpatton3]

Re: headlight scratches

The guys on Saturday AM car shows used toothpaste on a buffing wheel on 1/2 a lens. It works!

[terryp]

Re: headlight scratches

Hey, It's worth a try but I'm gonna use my wife's toothbrush.

[Ediron]

Re: headlight scratches

My toothpaste has extra whitening will it work better

[SixPac]

Re: headlight scratches

Sensitive toothpaste works pretty good. The lens doesn't feel too much.

[edzh2]

Re: headlight scratches

I've taken some major scratches out of plastic lens over the years. you can even wet sand and buff deep scratches out.

[timkustom]

Re: headlight scratches

I think you'll be brushing those lenses a long time if you use toothpaste.

I'd go with a quality plastic polish.

The sun's UV rays are what causes it (in my experience). Sometimes you can polish them to they're super smooth to find out the crazing is on the inside.

Is this a typical issue with Birds?