Dull Headlamp "Glass"

Jerry0 · August 8, 2006

I have a '96 GMC Sierra and the headlamp lenses are dull from age and cut down on the light getting through. Is there any way to polish them to get them nearly back to original condition?

As an alternative, where is a good place to buy them at a REASONABLE price?

Thanks. Jerry

tflessner · August 8, 2006

I ordered a Headlight Refinishing Kit from Eastwood and it worked pretty good.

C & A s Dad · August 8, 2006

The best polishing kit on the market IMO is a product from Symtech (spelling) Not only does it work great, it will help the lens stay clear.

Supurban · August 9, 2006

One thing to remember however you manage to get the yellow stuff haze off.......you need to clear coat the plastic. Once I polished my Subaru's lenses, but then the yellow came right back.

The yellowing is oxidation of exposed polycarbonate to the elements. Usually the yellowing is preceded by a flaking of a thin layer of clear coat.

I used an acrylic clear on top of my refinished lights and they look great a year later.

More detailed writeup here-http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2035802/4

C & A s Dad · August 9, 2006

Hey Ron, this is one of the reasons I recommend the Symtech system. It was desinged for prof body shop industry and contains something that helps keep the yellow from coming back. There are less expensive kits, such as Permatex, but they will not last as long.

The Symtech small kit is a part # 75010010

mannymach1 · August 9, 2006

I use "plastix" from meguiars. I gets the dullness and scratches out completely. Its relatively cheap and it will make them look new.

kb9vzd · February 2, 2007

Napa sells a 5Min Headlamp Lens Restorer PN#760-1750 for righr around $10

sbw9056 · February 14, 2007

I use lacquer thinner and a clean rag. The lacquer thinner removes the oxidized plastic on the surface of the lens. Just wipe across the surface with a well saturated rag until the lenses are clear.

krugger · March 1, 2007

I wouldn't use laquer thiner on plastic, it'll haze it and pretty much mess it up,I use 1000 grit wet sand paper if there is a lot of yellow on them, and use rubbing compound with a buffer, if its not bad I would just compound with buffer.

MustGoFaster · March 23, 2007

pretty much any good platsic polish and some elbow grease will clean things up. I picked up a bottle of (plastic) windshield restorative from a bike dealership. Think it was called Novus or something similar. got out the ol polish ball and a cordless drill and proceded to take off about 200,000 miles off of the old jeep headlights. they've got about another 102k on them since and they will probably need some help again soon. (yes- fwiw the jeep has about 307k on it and still going strong) for preventing yellowing, I found that they responded well to a coat of wax.

another thing to consider - after a couple hundred thousand miles the inside of the jeep lenses were pretty dirty too. take housing out and give it a good wash up with soap and water inside and out while you're at it. brought back alot of reflectivity for me.

USSBURB · March 25, 2007

Picked up a headlight restore kit from PepBoys for around $10. It's just four small sheets of sandpaper (1000, 1500, 2000, 2500) and a small bottle of plastic polish.

I used it on the third brake light and it came out perfect. Not bad for an hour's work.

Francis

johnnyr · July 2, 2007

I used the plastic X cleaner from Wal-Mart & a small air buffer on my 95 GMC Sierra headlights & they look almost as good as new. The Plastic X was less than $6.00 & it only took a couple of hours to do the headlights & the tail lights too.