DIY: How to clean your headlights

[Accord-240sx]

Headlight before cleaningStep one: Clean the headlight with windex or any window cleanerStep 2: Tape off the bumperStep 3: Wet headlight with waterStep 4: Wetsand with a grit right around 800-1000. Make sure you dip the sand paper in water to keep the headlight wet when sanding. The more white residue you see the better. that means that you are taking off the top layer of yellow stuff.Step 5: Switch sand paper with a 1500+ grit and sand just like you did the last one. This step is going to smooth out the headlight a bit. the more you sand the better it will turn out.Step 6: Let it dry or dry it off. It will look very hazy but thats ok.Step 7: Get some Meguiars Metal polish or any other polish it really doesn't matter. What ever you perfer. Rub the polish onto the headlight.Step 8: Use a Terry Cloth towel and rub on the polish. The longer and harder you polish the better the shine will be.Step 9: When the polish dries use the clean part of the terry cloth towel to rub off. Put some elbow greese into it (not literallty) The harder and faster again the better the shine.Step 10: Done

Now if you do this you can use a Buffer for better results. I didn't use a buffer for this because everyone doesn't have one. But in the next pic I did use the buffer for my final polish. BTW I also put a eyelid on it.



I hope this helps

ThanksBrandon

[VinceSez]

wow nice! they look new!

[dickie]

fyi: Turtle Wax makes a product called scratch and swirl remover that has never failed me at headlight cleaning. Worked for my 3rd gen teg, worked for my friend's old s14 better, no sanding or spraying required.

just to let those of you out there know, since im sure someone in the course of this process above has done it wrong and messed up their headlights permanently or else made the issue worse.

[srpowered240sx]

fyi: Turtle Wax makes a product called scratch and swirl remover that has never failed me at headlight cleaning. Worked for my 3rd gen teg, worked for my friend's old s14 better, no sanding or spraying required.

.

meguiars also makes a product called "plastix" that is specifically for this. but brandon, your lights look great, very good write up.

[Accord-240sx]

meguiars also makes a product called "plastix" that is specifically for this. but brandon, your lights look great, very good write up.

Yeah thats good stuff too. But like anyone I just use what I got.

-Brandon

[Accord-240sx]

this whole job took be about 10 min each headlight. Its pretty easy.

[DuaneG]

meguiars also makes a product called "plastix" that is specifically for this. but brandon, your lights look great, very good write up.

What I use.

[zenkii]

nice write up, my s14 gots yellow headlights too

[cmfireman]

Looks good man. For those that want to skip on the elbow grease part, AutoZone sells a kit.

It comes with a plastic bit that goes into your drill, and a few pads with optical polish on them. You just spray the headlight and use the drill as a buffer.

It's the same principle, but you don't really have to worry about scratching the headlights up bad, and most everyone has a drill (I imagine?).

It's like $8, and you can do about 5 sets of lights. 3M sandpaper will cost you that much.

[Accord-240sx]

Yes, please everyone add their little tricks to this thread! There is always more than one way to get a job done

Brandon

[gepeto]

Sandpaper, Powerball and plastix works well, as suggested by another member here. Forgot who though.

[kornaz]

After claening it, do a clear coat. It will prevent headlights from turning yellow again.

[EvillE423]

looks good man! nice job

[bt2s14]

Sandpaper, Powerball and plastix works well, as suggested by another member here. Forgot who though.

Grilledcheese IIRC...Nice write up, I have to do this to my lights soon

[E7-S14]

Nice write up... ill be sure to send this to all my friends with foggy lights.

But if you dont wanna do all that.. you could just do like me and buy Brand Spankin Shiney New ones