Repairing Yellow Headlights
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This document Describes how to repair yellow headlights, caused by the formation
of dirt film on the cover of the lens.
This is due to the rapid heating and cooling of the lens in wet weather
conditions.
The heat produced by using high beam lights causes the headlights to become
slightly melted. Normally this is not a concern, however in wet weather the lens
are cool, creating a molten-like substance on top of the headlights - the yellow
film.
To complete this mod you will need the following:
1 x sheet wet and
dry 600
1 x sheet wet and dry 800
1 x sheet wet and dry 1200
1 x sheet wet and dry 2000
some dishwashing detergent
water
tape (nothing too sticky, something like plastic packing tape will do)
screwdriver
Plexus, turtle wax, McGuire's ScratchX, or some other polishing element
Sanding Block
Depending on products you
already have you should only spend a maximum of $25. The Wet and Dry is about 50
cents to $1 a sheet. A sanding block isn't required, but it makes the job
easier.
This should take approximately 30 minutes per headlight.
2 Minutes to removing front indicators.3 Minutes preparing the
headlight.5 - 7 Minutes for each stage of sanding.5 minutes doing a
final polish and returning the indicators.
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Removing the Front Indicators
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The removal of the front indicators is fairly simple. There is one screw located
within the engine bay underneath the black plastic trim that runs along the top
of the headlight (in the red area).
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1 -Remove this screw using a Phillips head screwdriver.
2 - Slowly edge the indicator out of the slot - TAKE YOUR TIME! if you pull
off the indicator lens it needs to be replaced. So get in behind the black
plastic lining on the side of the indicator.3 - remove the bulb holder
Your headlight should now look like this one.
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Preparing the Headlight
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The headlights needs to prepared in order to
protect the bumper from being scratched during the sanding process. The best
method is to line the headlight with tape.
1 - Run a length of tape approximately 30 centimetres long down your pants. This
is order for the tape to lose a majority of its glue, meaning it is less like to
damage your bumper when you remove it.
2 - slot the tape under the headlight.
3 - repeat the process in order to line the entire headlight
4 - add as many layers as you think you will need, because they will wear
through.
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Sanding the Headlight |
Just some points to begin with.
1 - Take your time, if you go to fast you could sand the headlight unevenly.
2 - Continue in the same back and forth motion, otherwise the finer sanding will
take a long time.
3 - Don't be afraid to continuously wet your sandpaper. The wetter the better.
The more water the less chances of scratching the lens during sanding.
4 - Don't stress about the milky lens at the beginning, it refines in the
process.Ok lets begin!
1 - Fill a bucket with warm soapy water
2 - Attach the 600 Wet and Dry to the Sanding block.
3 - Dunk the sandpaper into the water and begin sanding slowly back and forth
the lens in a left-right direction.
4 - Dunk the sand paper again and continue
5 - repeat this process until the lens becomes milky and feels smooth.
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6 - Swap the sandpaper for the
800 and begin again
7 - repeat steps 3 through 5.
8 - swap for the 1200 Wet and
Dry, and repeat;
9 - and then the 2000 Wet and Dry.
As you can see with each stage the lens will become less milky and will feel
more smooth.
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Polishing the Lens |
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The final stage is polishing the lens. This is in order to give the lens a new
protective coat, as well as making it shine. Simply coat the lens in one of the
polishing elements, let it stand and then polish it off.
I prefer Plexus as it is a Plastic Polisher and is designed to fill in the
minute spaces to give it an even surface to polish.
There you go. Brand new-looking
lens for the price of nothing!
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