Car DIY: Fix for yellowed headlights

Just a fix I learned sometime ago about how to fix those plastic headlamps that eventually start to "yellow" and fog up from exposure to the sun.

It's not a permanent fix, you will need to repeat as needed, maybe once every year or two :)

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Plastic
• Headlamp
• fix
• yellow

[edungtran]

The BIG question is : HOW LONG THE CLEAR FINISHED WILL LAST !

[sleeperawaken36]

@edungtran: Oh maybe a year or at best two before you'd need to do it again. It's not a perfect solution, and certainly not as good as replacing the headlamp completely.... but if it's a vehicle that you really don't want to spend much money on, it's a nice quick, and inexpensive fix. This idea isn't really about professional results, I would NOT recommend doing this to like a Mustang you were rebuilding...LOL... but an older work vehicle just to get you around, sure.

[passavator1]

i notice only idiots who polish their head lamps when they polish their cars have this problem. Stop trying so hard to polish everything. your head lamps will look good for ever. the old glass headlamps never had this problem. the new plastic lenses break down from the polishing compounds

[sleeperawaken36]

@passavator1 : I never did anything to the headlamps prior to the headlamps going yellow/oxidized... moron. This was the first time I used anything on this set of headlamps. Only idiots make posts like yours because they want to get attention.

[coreyhudson2]

Sanding your headlight is only damaging if you use a coarse grit. Fine sandpaper is what all the professionals use to restore headlights.

[Chris57ltr]

Just tried this on my Legacy and it worked a treat, thanks for the vid!

[MudRFunR]

Thanks for posting! I post a new "How to" video every other Thursday!

[lennartkns]

nice :)

[umaxen01]

That's crazy. 4 minutes = new headlights. Thanks...

[dillonmerritt]

Thanks Sleeperawaken, good easy to follow video instruction, I have a 96 Cougar that could definitely use this, I'm sure it will work fine for me as well.  Thanks!

[DefinitelyNotHaraku]

@KkF00 If you rinse it off, it shouldn't; however, if you try to wipe it off it may scratch the paint.

[KkF00]

@DefinitelyNotHaraku

Will this ruin the paint if I get any on it?

[DefinitelyNotHaraku]

@DefinitelyNotHaraku Also toothpaste works, primarily, due to the baking soda acting as a rubbing compound.

[DefinitelyNotHaraku]

@KkF00 The more fine the better, but also means more work.

[KkF00]

Older caravans and neons seem to really have that problem.

Any rubbing compound would work?