GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

As we all can guess, the desert sun in AZ destroys plastic an rubber parts. Luckily, there are cheap and effective methods for refinishing oxidized headlight lenses. The method i will show you is used in most body shops to remove the foggy, yellow, nastyness that is robbing you of your viewing distance and safety. The further you can see, the faster you can drive......safely >:D

THINGS TO PROCURE:

2200 grit WET sand paper

a rubbing compound (the coarser grit will be great followed by an optional finer grit)

1 brillo pad/microfiber cloth for applying rubbing compound

1 clean rag

1 rag/spray bottle to wet lenses

water
(can get most items at Autozone or O'rielys auto parts stores and its fairly inexpensive)

STEP 1:

Wet lens with the water.

STEP 2:
sand the entire lens with the sandpaper (be careful around the edges so you don't take the finish off of your paint)

*Make sure that the lens stays wet as your sanding*

Periodically check the lens by rubbing it with your fingers. It should feel very smooth and a little sticky to the touch without any nicks or pits

nicks and pits can be worked out. Be patient

STEP 3:
Once the lens is smooth, apply rubbing compound (its like waxing a car. follow directions on the rubbing compound)

rub the compound in by using small circles and be sure to get the entire lens.

STEP 4:
Wipe off the excess compound.

you dont have to, but you can go over the lenses again with a finer grit rubbing compound for an even better finish.

STEP 5:
Post your success on genvibe!

I did that to an older car using a kit that I purchased for $20. The kit included a sealer that you applied after polishing. They came out fantastic.

If the lenses are really yellowed, the method Dryfrosty lists will work really well. Might want to add some painters tape and mask off the painted areas around the lights very well so the rough stuff doesn't accidentally touch and scratch the finish.

For regular maintenance, about once or twice a year, I use a plastic scratch remover ( probably a very fine compound ) on the lenses to keep the pits and scratches off the lenses. I use a soft cloth and polish the lenses until the marks are removed. Fine scratches and pits in the lens scatter the light in all directions, lowering the amount of light that gets down the road. If the lens has yellowed, you lose even more light as mentioned above.

Great post!

mine may be a special case but they were realy bad when i got the car so i got a headlight restore kit and used it 3 times the end result is they look a tiny bit better
From far away mine look hazey but up close they are actually covered in tiny spider cracks all over . has anyone else had this problem .
i have used these kits before with awesome results at least 20 times i think my lights are just too far gone !
too bad no one makes a projector (id buy them in a sec)

I know it sounds weird, but rub toothpaste on them. You have to scrub really hard, but it works.

mine may be a special case but they were realy bad when i got the car so i got a headlight restore kit and used it 3 times the end result is they look a tiny bit better
From far away mine look hazey but up close they are actually covered in tiny spider cracks all over . has anyone else had this problem .
i have used these kits before with awesome results at least 20 times i think my lights are just too far gone !
too bad no one makes a projector (id buy them in a sec)

Revs... orbital buffer with a good bonnet and some high quality plastic scratch remover from Mothers, Meguiars or any of the other well known brands.

Tape off the painted areas surrounding the lights. Use a couple of layers. Apply the scratch remover as per directions on the product and buff away, moving the orbital buffer and applying very little pressure. Don't buff the same spot for any length of time... move it around the whole lens.

See if that clears it up. Take a picture... before and after. If the lens is crazed too much, you might want to go to a used parts place/junk yard and have them hook you up with 2 clear units. Lot's of them out there and hopefully not that expensive.

And after you're finished, wax the plastic a few times a year. It helps delay any yellowing.