Fading headlight

[AUbigfoot]

Ok so while cleaning my AU today I noticed that the right hand side head light seems to have developed that faded yellow look. It's only happened recently that I know of as I haven't noticed it prior to today.

Is there any kind of secret ingredients to help return these back to the nice not mouldy look they currently are? I've heard mixed reports about things like toothpaste or a turtle polish but wanted to hear everyone else's thoughts?

[ThePistonHead]

Acetone.

[frd906]

I actually replaced my faded ones, couldnt be botherd getting them fixed up, cost me 210 for both through a panal shop

[Whoosha]

Machine grade cutting compound and polished with a buff is the easiest or by hand will do if thats all you have

[stavros68]

Get Meguiar's PlastX not bad stuff for little outlay

[51OAU]

u will find the yellow ******** is on the inside of the light not the outside, just removes the headlight stick it in the oven, remove the glass clean it off, and glue the glass back on.

[GK]

If under closer inspection, you find that the yellowing is on the outside, then Bursons sell a polish kit for $30-40.

Saw the kits on Thursday.

All the best with it.

GK

[AUbigfoot]

Cheers, I'll look more into it tomorrow and looking forward to getting rid of it. If i find a spare headlight in the mean time I'll cop out and go the easy fix but time will tell

Cheers for the help so far lads!

[LUXO_8]

Originally Posted by 51OAU

u will find the yellow ******** is on the inside of the light not the outside, just removes the headlight stick it in the oven, remove the glass clean it off, and glue the glass back on.

sorry but thats not correct..
i repair the fading light problem all the time, and woosha's method is correct.
if you want to take it one step further, sand the yellowing off with some wet/dry 1200 paper, then buff them back up

[broken_suave]

Hey Luxo, would you happen to know if there is anyway to hide the thousand of little stress fractures? I think thats what they are unless its cracking from UV or something.. If you look at it from the side of the car, with the lights on, you can see what looks like little fractures in the plastic.

[LUXO_8]

yep, but it takes some work
the lenses are multi layered polycarbonate
what happens is with the heat and UV the very top layer seems to shrink or cook... which causes the small stress cracks you speak of
start out with 600 or 800 wet/dry paper and a sanding block, and sand the bejesus out of them.....you basically want to take the entire affected area off.
then with 1200 wet/dry paper to smooth it all out, then machine buff and cutters to polish them up then finally meguiars scratch x or a similar non cutting plastic polish to bring to a shine.


like i said it is a lot of work, and you may prefer to get some new lights, but its definantly possible to restore

[broken_suave]

Ah cool, handy to know, thanks man.

Im not too bothered at this point, I actually have 2 different lights, a low series light and a high series/series 2 light... it bugs me every time I look at it, but the chrome on the high series one is starting to flake next to the bulb, so realistically both need replacing.

Not to worry, and thanks again for that tip.

[Mr Hardware]

LUXO 8 is 100% correct
i bought a headlight restore kit from supercheap the other year
it came with the wet & dry sandpaper and plastic polish & polishing cloth
unfortunately once they go yellow they do need re-doing about once a year

[Hords]

After the sanding and buffing there is a sealant that needs to be applied to help negate the effects of UV. Included in the restore kits.

[Mr Hardware]

you're quite right hords,
just a few months late though.