Headlight cleaning

Just a somewhat dumb question. I want to wet sand my head lights like I've heard here before, as they are yellow'd out - on both my cars...
Now I haven't taken them off or anything so this might be a dumb question....but do you sand the inside of the lens as well? or just the outside gets yellow? I'm wondering if I have to take them off, or just sand/polish away while on the car.
Is the "rubbing compound" something I can get from Home Depot, or only at a special place?
I'm also lazy.....that's why I ask before I do!
Thanks!

If you are lazy this may not be the solution for you. It takes a lot of hard work and time. Here is a reply from mickp on the process:

to all of you with the yellow head lights!!!!
many of you do not need new head lights if you want to fix it your self and save big$$$$.
this is what i did.
take some very fine wet sand paper off diff grades. ie: 800grit if the yellow has eaten the plastic and start with that. then work with the finer grits like 1000 then 2000 grit.and wet sand them with water, you will see the yellow come off with the water(don't go to deep with the 800 grit you want to just bust down the surface.the 2000 grit is what you should end with, don't worry about the lettering on the lens,after you have wet sanded you will see that the lens is now white and not clear.at that point get out some rubbing compound the type used for paint on cars and a good buffing wheel in a drill or one on a grinder or polisher and buff the surface to a new clear look.i did this to mine they were so yellow that my fog lights were the ones shinning on the road not the head lights they just sucked up juice. when i got done they were just as good as my t/c with ownly 54000 mi on it.be carfull not to burn the surface with the buffer and you will be ammazed. i hope i explained this well enough for you to get started what have you got to lose but a dingy yellow head light
-------good luck it will work for ya-----

For the inside try taking the lenses out and rinsing them. It might just be condensation built up or dirt. If that doesn't work you can cut the lenses apart and clean the inside and the glue them back. I don't really recommend that but if you want to try help yourself. i have heard of others do this.

Try a plastic polish 3M and others sell it. It should be at an auto parts store near the wax and rubbing compound. I just did this and they were not as bad as I thought they were and they shined great.


Todd

Thanks. I was just wondering if the yellowing was on the inside of the lens, not just the outside. but it sounds like just the outside of the lens is yellow. I already have some de-oxidizing rubbing compound for paint, so I'm set there. I just didn't want to have to take them off or apart if I didn't have to. I'll give it a whirl on my other car first, see how it goes.


[This message has been edited by Matt S (edited 07-28-2002).]

It isnt THAT hard! I brought 2 yellowed headlights back to near new condition in an hour and a half using the wet sanding / polishing / buffing method.

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Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 20 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 00 Windstar (wifes vehicle)

Jeff- He said he was lazy so I figured it would be hard for him! [Image: biggrin.gif]

one of my old headlights is a little hazed, not much but a little, should i just wet sand with 2000 and then compound? can i compound by hand? i have another old light, and the inside is a little yellow on that, how should i get this out, cuz i cant wetsand the inside.. i just dont want to scratch these lenses to the point where they cant even be spares anymore ( i have new ones on her now) but i know 2000 is very fine.. th anks

Originally posted by RiglerTKE:
Jeff- He said he was lazy so I figured it would be hard for him! [Image: biggrin.gif]

Yeah, gotta get off my lazy ass. I just don't want to take them off!

Originally posted by [email protected]:
one of my old headlights is a little hazed, not much but a little, should i just wet sand with 2000 and then compound? can i compound by hand? i have another old light, and the inside is a little yellow on that, how should i get this out, cuz i cant wetsand the inside.. i just dont want to scratch these lenses to the point where they cant even be spares anymore ( i have new ones on her now) but i know 2000 is very fine.. th anks

Use a cutoff wheel on the seam between the lens and the gray plastic bucket to seperate the lens from the rest of the assy. Then you can get at the inside of the lens. Reassemble with RTV. I have done this, and it works.

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Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 20 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 00 Windstar (wifes vehicle)