Cleaning Plastic Headlight Lense...what do i use?

[Buttercup]

You can use chrome or mag wheel polish works great its like a fine polishing compound.

 

[Heavy Duty]

Thanks guys. The Meguiars should be in today. So I'll get to check it out tomorrow. I'll let you know how it turns out.


H.D.

 

[Eric]

They also have a Clear Plastic Reconditioner. I've never needed it b/c everything has always done fine with just the cleaner and polish. But I guess if you have something that is scratched it may help.

- Eric

 

[Heavy Duty]

Well guys, Looks like I'll be buying some new headlights for the stang. I worked on those stupid lights all day last Sat. and no luck on cleaning them up. I had a friend of mine who does body work tell me that no amount of rubbing, buffing, or grinding is going to fix the problem. He said that the reason the plastic lense is the way it is, is cause by the heat that is generated by the bulbs. He told me to check the bulbs and sure enough they are the wrong ones. What happened is that ever who had the car before me replaced the headlight bulbs with a more powerful bulb. The heat that was given off caused the oils in the plastic to heat up and bubble on the surface of the lense. So I guess it is off to the junk yard to see if I can find some used ones. He also said that Ford plastic headlights are a different, better grade of plastic than what G.M. and others use. But....., you have to use the correct light or a cooler light. Anything different will cook the oil right out of the plastic and cause the problem that I've been dealing with.

The Meguiars stuff works great. While I was on the headlight cleaning benge i decided to work on my truck and daily driver. What a difference it made. They look like new.

Thanks for all of the tips guys. All I can say is that we tried.

H.D.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Before you give up try some 2000 grit wed and dry sandpaper. Use lots of water and an orbital sander if you have access to one, otherwise a triple portion of elbow grease.
After you cut the surface off you will need to polish the lens with a fine rubbing compound and one of the above mentioned cleaners.
I have used this method on 25 year old motorcycle windshields and 50 year old airplane canopies with great success.

 

[Heavy Duty]

Before you give up try some 2000 grit wed and dry sandpaper. Use lots of water and an orbital sander if you have access to one, otherwise a triple portion of elbow grease.
After you cut the surface off you will need to polish the lens with a fine rubbing compound and one of the above mentioned cleaners.
I have used this method on 25 year old motorcycle windshields and 50 year old airplane canopies with great success.

Thanks SPANISHVETTS. At this point I don't think i could mess them up any worse than they are now. I'll give the sandpaper a try.

H.D.

 

[Jack]

He also said that Ford plastic headlights are a different, better grade of plastic than what G.M. and others use. But....., you have to use the correct light or a cooler light.H.D.

What "He" said is BS! Take a look around as your'e driving or walking through a mall parking lot. You'll see the Fords have a high incidence of fogged/yellowed/hazy headlamp lenses ... it ain't because their's are better than GM ... quite the contrary. And the root cause of Ford's problem ain't an improper bulb.

Check with Carolina Auto Supply House at 1-800-438-4070. They have OE Type headlamps for 99-00 Mustang for under $130 per side. They're new aftermarket so they're not molded from same crappy formulation that Ford's OE suppliers use.

JACK:gap

 

[Heavy Duty]

What "He" said is BS! Take a look around as your'e driving or walking through a mall parking lot. You'll see the Fords have a high incidence of fogged/yellowed/hazy headlamp lenses ... it ain't because their's are better than GM ... quite the contrary. And the root cause of Ford's problem ain't an improper bulb.

Check with Carolina Auto Supply House at 1-800-438-4070. They have OE Type headlamps for 99-00 Mustang for under $130 per side. They're new aftermarket so they're not molded from same crappy formulation that Ford's OE suppliers use.

JACK:gap

Thanks Jack. I'll give these guys a call. It sure beats the kind of money Ford wants for OEM. I have seen alot of Fords with what you described. However, I have also seen a bunch of '99 Mustangs and very few of them had the screwed up headlight lenses as mine has.

H.D.