Fading Headlight Lenses

[buta4]

Hello,

Just a blurb on clearing up faded headlight lenses. Got a tip (third hand) that toothpaste rubbed over the plexiglass lenses will clear up the fading.

For what it's worth, there it is.

Regards,
🙂

[moose888]

Even if you get them clear again they will turn back. I would get new ones and make covers for the lights when the RV is sitting in the sun. I made a set of covers for mine so the sun wouldn't bleach them out.

[CopanoCruisin]

Believe this one or not, I was amazed when I just happen to see this guy at work spraying Deep Woods Off on his headlight lens, and it worked. WOW !........cC

[Raften]

frankdamp wrote:
Since I rarely drive the RV after dark, I haven't bothered doing anything with mine. After being used to 100/75 watt Halogens on my cars in the UK. I found US headlights so dim, I was afraid to go more than 45 mph for fear the wind would blow them out. They're a bit better now they're more powerful than the 48/36 watt sealed beam lamps were in the 1960s,

You got that right, that's why I have HID. The stock lights of a "01 Ram were dismal.

[frankdamp]

Since I rarely drive the RV after dark, I haven't bothered doing anything with mine. After being used to 100/75 watt Halogens on my cars in the UK. I found US headlights so dim, I was afraid to go more than 45 mph for fear the wind would blow them out. They're a bit better now they're more powerful than the 48/36 watt sealed beam lamps were in the 1960s,

[bertnspike]

I used some good old Crest on a damp microfiber cloth for the car and the RV 8 months ago. The headlight lenses look nice and clear and bright. What's better than that?

[wbrown62]

itsabouttime wrote:
I considered a repair kit for my headlights but found an affordable alternative. From 1aauto.com I got a set of two headlights for my 99 F-350 for a total of $64. Their description said it didn't include lamps but they came with them anyway and shipping was free. The installation took me less then two hours.
Russ

The repair kit would be cheaper for me considering the OEM replacements for my wife's Mini Cooper are close to 400 bucks apiece.

[itsabouttime]

I considered a repair kit for my headlights but found an affordable alternative. From 1aauto.com I got a set of two headlights for my 99 F-350 for a total of $64. Their description said it didn't include lamps but they came with them anyway and shipping was free. The installation took me less then two hours.
Russ

[buta4]

mm047 wrote:
Since the head light covers are plastic, the "best" but most possibly destructive cleaner is acetone. Instead of pure acetone, I use a little of my wife's nail polish remover. It has acetone, but not pure. Just a little on a paper towel is great.

I suspect that most of the kits have a cleaner that is part acetone.

As noted above, Three cents worth of toothpaste or twenty cents worth of acetone nail polish remover kinda sounds more cost effective compared to all of the other doodads and kits on the market.

:B

[mm047]

Since the head light covers are plastic, the "best" but most possibly destructive cleaner is acetone. Instead of pure acetone, I use a little of my wife's nail polish remover. It has acetone, but not pure. Just a little on a paper towel is great.

I suspect that most of the kits have a cleaner that is part acetone.

[topflite51]

This also works rather well. 😛

[hershey]

I have no problem with getting my headlights like new again with a Meguires Headlight cleaner. But.....the "like new" clarity only lasts for about a month and starts to dim and get cloudy right away. I'd like to find something that keeps them looking good.
BTW: SAMs has an advertisement that for $30 will make your lenses like new again and guaranty it for 5 years????? I'm tempted to check that out. That 5 year guaranty sounds really good.

[RambleOnNW]

Buffed car headlights with 303 Protectant over time and the lenses cleared up quite a by. Side benefit of 303's UV protection.

[frankdamp]

Since we never drive after dark, our headlights are purely for other drivers to see us. There's enough square feet being lit that nobody can say they didn't see us coming.

There may be a 20% increase in light between the DRL mode and "real" headlights. but it's hard to tell.

[Jim_Shoe]

Can't beat Maguiar's products for all automotive cleaning needs. My car got bumped in a parking garage once. No dent, but there was paint on my front fender. It wouldn't wash off or wipe off. I tried the Maguiar's on a soft cloth, rubbed it off with a clean part of the cloth and it was good as new. No elbow grease required. They have a headlight cleaner as part of their product line.