Oppo opinions sought 

"Kiltedpadre" (kiltedpadre) 02/04/2019 at 06:24 • Filed to: None

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The headlights on my 2006 Silverado are definitely showing their age. It seems everyone that’s ever made a cleaning product makes a restoration kit.

What have the folks here used and had good luck with? 

Svend > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 06:59

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The kits are much of a muchness really.

I’ve always just used a medium abrasive car polish.

The important thing is to seal the headlight afterwards with a glass or ceramic coating to give the unit UV protection as the unit will discolour more rapidly without it in the sun.

You may be surprised just how easy the discolouration is to remove.

Some people have had good results using toothpaste or deet, mosquito repel ant  

adamftw > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 07:13

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The kits suck. Just buy new headlights from amazon. DEPO or TYC. I bought all four for my Silverado last year, big difference.

Jayvincent > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 07:14

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I’ve had good success with Maq uire’s which uses a final auto-wax sealer . I’ve had poor results with rattle can UV protect ant clear sealant which still yellowed after six months. With five cars, I quickly tired of hand sanding and switched to the drill-disks with hook and loop. A series of 800 , 1200, 2400-3200 and final polish works in all cases, but you can usually skip the first step unless your lenses have deep damage. After that, an occasional rewax seems prudent

shop-teacher > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 07:14

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I’m scared  to touch the ones in my ‘06 Sierra. Through some sort of magic and sourcery, both the original DRLs still work! All the bulbs except for one taillight bulb are original.

CalzoneGolem > shop-teacher 02/04/2019 at 07:28

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What!?

Do you even winter? 

TysMagic > Svend 02/04/2019 at 07:35

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I support this as well.

Instead of the kits, I use the same process as color sanding paint. Levels of sandpaper from about 1000 to 2500/3000, maybe starting with 800 if they’re really bad. Hit it with a good polish after then SEAL IT. That’s a very important step if you want to keep the results for a good period of time.

random001 > adamftw 02/04/2019 at 07:43

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Oh, look at mister fancy pants with all his moneys and new headlights. =0P

E92M3 > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 08:07

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I just use meg uiars M105/M205 with my orbital polisher. Then I put some of their ultimate synthetic wax on to protect them for 6 mon ths. It only takes about 15 mins. I tried to do it by hand the first time and it took 2 hrs. Just be sure to tape off the paint surrounding the lights, so you aren’t removing unneccessary clearcoat.

Tripper > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 08:24

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I’ve used the 3m kit before with my wife’s old Cooper S and it worked great, however I doing it by hand takes a long time to do it right. For the Ranger, I bought new lights. As another O ppo mentioned, they’re pretty cheap for the domestic brands.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 08:28

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Anything that has multiple grits of sandpaper, an fine  abrasive polish, and a sealant. I’ve had good luck with the 3M one of you want it all in a kit but it’s probably cheaper to just buy your own components separate from a kit. 

shop-teacher > CalzoneGolem 02/04/2019 at 08:30

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Its covered in salt as we speak. It sat in the Polar Vortex deep freeze for 48 hours before I had to go check on my father in law, and then fired right up.

Magic. Sourcery. It’s the only explanation.

The one taillight bulb I replaced didn’t burn out, the contacts wore out on the base of the bulb causing it to work intermittently . I probably could have just flipped it over and put it back in, but I had it apart and had a new bulb, so I went ahead and swapped it.

jimz > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 08:45

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if it’s just a light bit of “frosting” starting on the surface, then even something as simple as toothpaste (which has diatomaceous earth as a fine abrasive) with a little bit of water can clean it up.  apply it  and buff it out like you would any polish or wax. I’ve used it on motorcycle tail lights which were starting to dull. plus, it leaves them minty fresh.

if it’s starting to craze and yellow, you’ll probably need a kit which has several steps of polishing compounds.

adamftw > random001 02/04/2019 at 08:47

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$150 I think? Worth it. Truck looked like shit before.

Nick- Professional Car Destroyer > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 08:55

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The full 3m kit that most dealers use is pretty decent, we had luck with them lasting years because they have a sealer you use on the headlight after the polish.

M ost of the other kits just buff and don’t really seal well or at all.

Other option is new headlights, which since it is a Silverado I’m sure you can find some decent cheap ones that either look totally stock or the factory ones.

dumpsterfire! > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 09:05

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the 3M kit with the pad for your drill and various abrasive discs included works well . I actually clear coated mine after with rattle can urethane a UV protectant in it. or after polishing, use a vinyl clear bra kit, which also has UV protectant. 

random001 > adamftw 02/04/2019 at 09:26

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I was just messing with ya.  New lights are awesome.

adamftw > random001 02/04/2019 at 09:56

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I figured as such, lol. I’ve tried the restoration kits on a few cars.. they either don’t work or don’t last. 

adamftw > shop-teacher 02/04/2019 at 10:00

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Gotta change those DRLs out and do some splice magic to make the full bottom light a marker light. Looks waaaaaaay better.

nermal > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 10:02

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Just replace them with new ones.

With eyelashes.

Milky > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 10:09

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I had extra 1500 grit sand paper, polish and clear coat around, so I just did that to my crossfire. Worked well. Like others have said a lot of things actually work.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Svend 02/04/2019 at 10:14

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Fun Fact: most of the kits these days are just pre-measured polishing compound with a liquid-based sealer .

CalzoneGolem > shop-teacher 02/04/2019 at 10:34

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I don’t know if I should feel impressed or frightened.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 10:50

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The Meguiar’s kit works well, but it can be replicated easily enough if you already have some of the stuff laying around . Some 1000 and 2000 grit paper to wet sand, polish out with a drill attachment and polishing compound and then a sealer. The results can be very, very good, but it will take some maintenance to keep them that way. They shouldn’t need to be sanded again, but they’ll need a quick polish and seal a couple of times a year to keep them perfectly clear.  

shop-teacher > adamftw 02/04/2019 at 11:03

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No way, I ain't touching them!

shop-teacher > CalzoneGolem 02/04/2019 at 11:04

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Both are reasonable reactions.

Urambo Tauro > shop-teacher 02/04/2019 at 11:39

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Whaaaaat ? But GMT800s are my favorite easy target for playing Padiddle. Next you’re gonna tell me that all the dash gauges work too.

Kiltedpadre > shop-teacher 02/04/2019 at 11:52

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I’ve been through several brake lights. That was traced to a bad plug, and I haven’t had any issue since replacing that. I also replaced the headlight bulbs; only one was bad but the other was visibly dim  so I replaced both. Other than this all my bulbs are original.

The hazing is getting bad enough that when I drove it Saturday night I got out at a red light to confirm they were even on. I thought I was driving with only the DRLs on.

Kiltedpadre > adamftw 02/04/2019 at 11:57

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Have you set yours up so the fog lights and low beams stay on when the high beams are on?

It’s great to have all the lights on at night driving around farm country.

Kiltedpadre > Jayvincent 02/04/2019 at 11:59

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Meguiars is the one I’d most likely go with since I’ve always had good luck with their products. Alternatively I may do like others have suggested and just buy the individual components that I don’t already have.

I have polishing compound and am just missing the super fine sandpaper and UV dealer.

Kiltedpadre > jimz 02/04/2019 at 12:00

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I had used the toothpaste trick before with decent results, but they’re getting pretty bad.

Kiltedpadre > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 02/04/2019 at 12:01

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I may go that route. I have the compound so just really need the super fine sandpaper and sealer.

Kiltedpadre > nermal 02/04/2019 at 12:02

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Only if I can find them in neon green.

boxrocket > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 12:56

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I recommend removing them to do it, and keeping the surface very wet to minimize the chance of melting the plastic. Also use auto-grade clearcoat when it’s all done and dry. 2 coats.

boxrocket > adamftw 02/04/2019 at 12:59

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I would avoid TYC. In my professional experience and personal with the set that came with my XC90, they’re not worth the savings. Also, as old as the truck is, used ones can be easily found and done before replacing, then he’ll have a spare set to clean up, then swap every year or so.

adamftw > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 14:17

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Not yet, it’s on my list.

adamftw > boxrocket 02/04/2019 at 14:18

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One of the top lights I bought is Depo, the other is TYC. One gets a little bit of condensation in it sometimes, and the other fits more loosely than I’d like. Can’t remember which is which, but otherwise they alr ight.

shop-teacher > Urambo Tauro 02/04/2019 at 15:03

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Not only do all my gauges work, but I even have the original tailgate handle bezel still in place. Is your mind sufficiently blown yet?

shop-teacher > Kiltedpadre 02/04/2019 at 15:07

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Yeah, that’s bad. I’ll have  to give in and touch mine if they get that bad.

Urambo Tauro > shop-teacher 02/04/2019 at 15:23

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Damn near! (you already told us about th e brake lines... )

shop-teacher > Urambo Tauro 02/04/2019 at 16:14

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Yeah, that one got me. I should've listened to myself and replaced them preemptively last year, but oh well.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Kiltedpadre 02/06/2019 at 13:32

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I used the 3M kit on my car only to discover most of the discoloration was on the inside... I’ll probably buy new lights in a year or two.

66P1800inpieces > Kiltedpadre 02/06/2019 at 13:45

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I have used the 3m cheap $14 kit.  Includes the drill attachment and enough velcro pads to do 2 cars.  Bought it again for cleaning my Miata’s lights before I sold it.  They say to do it dry, but I used a spray bottle, do a random path,  wipe with cloth,  repeat. 

66P1800inpieces > boxrocket 02/06/2019 at 13:48

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I pulled the whole front bumper off the car and taped everything really well. I felt if I removed them it would be hard to hold the light.