Did you know this will clean...

[flyboyron]

My wife's 04 Pontiac Vibe plastic headlights were looking really bad.

 

Last Spring a neighbor came over with something they bought at the auto parts store to restore headlights. It didn't do like we wanted and was a lot of work using different type grit paper and stuff.

 

The other day I noticed the headlights were only showing about 50% of the light and they looked really dim. I knew with the shorter days coming ahead and my wife driving at night, we would have to buy some new headlights.

 

Today, I thought I would try something that I have been buying and using since the early 70's originally just to clean the rims of my bicycle that I had and keep the rust off. Well that stuff seems to work on everything from our chrome toaster, to our faucets in the house.

 

Turtle Wax Chrome Polish and Rust Remover.

 

Here are the pictures after I did the driver's side headlight and before I did the passenger side.

 

Of course they are not perfect, but I thought it was pretty neat how they cleaned up. I will keep my eye on them over the next few weeks to see if they cloud up.

[RyanbabZ71]

Make sure to seal them up with something for future protection.

[DaveH71]

A rubbing compound or maybe some jewelers rouge would probably clean them up even better. The only bad thing about that chrome polish or any other rubbing compound is that its not a permanent fix and you will have to keep applying it. That haze you see is the top protective UV layer of the plastic wearing away. Only permanent fix is to buy new lights.

 

If you want a longer lasting fix try some rubbing compound with an orbital or drill with a pad. Then once you have them cleaned to your liking spray on a clear plastic sealant of some type. Autozone or advance auto have a special clear plastic sealant that works very well, i use this stuff http://www.autogeek....quid-armor.html but the stuff from autozone is just as good and cheaper to.

[hzhardy]

I hit mine with a medium cut compound on my buffer at 2500rpm, then wax them to keep them nice.

 

they look brand new when finished