Headlight Resto

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
11/30/2016 at 16:40 • Filed to: None

Did the headlights on my ‘03 Odyssey. No before pictures because I’m lazy. If you’re really interested, I did a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! about the first time I did it. What I learned, though, is that you can’t use too much masking. No matter how good you are with a drill, it’s bound to bite and skip. See the scratches on the fender? That’s from the first time. It really is remarkable how well this stuff works.

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DISCUSSION (17)

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn
11/30/2016 at 16:52

I’ve always just replaced the lens. I bet this is cheaper.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn
11/30/2016 at 16:54

I did this on a Hyundai Tiburon belonging to my brother in law, but the housing was possible to remove with two 10mm head bolts, so there was no way I was doing it in place. Also, I did it by hand - no drill.

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/30/2016 at 16:55

Under $20. And about 45 minutes of work.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/30/2016 at 16:57

In some cases, perhaps not so much - though a cheap lens is probably likely to discolor faster. In other cases, this is spectacularly cheaper. OEM parts for a Hyundai, for example, were north of $150 a side.

ttyymmnn > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
11/30/2016 at 16:57

By hand? Damn. And it never occurred to me to remove the lens. Plenty of tape did the trick, though. And I threw a drop cloth over the engine to keep the polishing compound from spattering into the engine bay.

Klaus Schmoll > ttyymmnn
11/30/2016 at 16:57

So basically, it lasted 3 years? Never had to try it myself, but what I’ve read is that you remove the last bit of UV coating in the process, meaning that they will fade even faster. So 3 years seems ok, or even better than ok. Did you apply/re-apply any kind of sealant? Is it parked outside or in a garage?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn
11/30/2016 at 17:01

As deep as the oxidation was on the lenses I did, if I’d used a drill it would have had swirl marks very deep indeed. Such deep oxidation that my brother in law thought there was decay *inside* the housing. Which there wasn’t, fortunately. It was a cheap-ish kit, hence hand only, but materials were good value for the money.

By hand in stages cross-pattern wasn’t too bad, though I had to pre-cut them with steel wool before I could even have much impact with the sanding pads. Like I said - *SERIOUS*.

ttyymmnn > Klaus Schmoll
11/30/2016 at 17:01

I did not apply sealant the last time, but I plan on doing so this time. Any recommendations? The van is parked outside.

ttyymmnn > Klaus Schmoll
11/30/2016 at 17:04

Re: 3 years. It was probably less. They’ve needed attention for a while, but finally got bad enough that I had to do it. Plus, my wife is taking our boys to San Antonio this weekend and rain is expected along with night driving.

PWRandSPD > ttyymmnn
11/30/2016 at 17:12

As noted before, this will remove the protective UV clearcoat. All you have to do once it is sanded down and you have it back to clear is to reapply a UV stable clear coat. It will last longer.

ttyymmnn > PWRandSPD
11/30/2016 at 17:15

Can you suggest a product?

Klaus Schmoll > ttyymmnn
11/30/2016 at 17:20

I researched this when my mom’s headlights got to the point where the car behind you caused a car sized shadow into the beam pattern of her headlights. I thought about offering to polish them for her, but the idea of having to repeat that process regularly made me accept that they just bought two new headlights at the BMW dealer for € 2k. I don’t see her that often, much less with her car. So a one time thing would have worked, but by then these kits were just making the rounds and long time reviews were scarce.

And this is just theory speaking, but any kind of paint polish will protect it for a while a.k.a a few washes. Or just go for the hot wax option at the car wash?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn
11/30/2016 at 17:23

I’m forgetting what it was exactly, but I do know that Svend has one he recommends.

vicali > ttyymmnn
11/30/2016 at 17:24

Minwax Spar Urethane mixed 1:1 with mineral spirits works well;

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-restore-you-hazed-headlights.225972/

I’ve done the Forester and the Tacoma, it’s been 3 years so far.. Just put the final coat on smooth, otherwise it’s a do-over.

PWRandSPD > ttyymmnn
11/30/2016 at 17:26

I have used Krylon Fusion, but they do make specific products like this:

U-Pol Products 0796 Clear CLEAR#1 High Gloss Coat - 450ml https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009LHER0M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Bh1pybGDEQXNT

ttyymmnn > PWRandSPD
11/30/2016 at 17:33

Thanks.

ttyymmnn > vicali
11/30/2016 at 17:33

Thanks.