Headlights and cataracts.

GeeCee

GeeCee

Forum Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2015
Messages
33
Location
Adelaide, SA
Car Year
2006
Car Model
SG Forester
Transmission
Manual 5 speed
Surely someone else must have encountered this by now, but I haven't been able to find it in this Lighting/Electrical section...so read on.
Yesterday I spotted another Subie around the same model year as ours and thought "Ch**st, how good do those head lights look!"
I then assumed that ours had clouded-up plastic protectors, and looked at removing them, but no....stone me, they ARE the head lights! I'm old enough (don't ask) to remember when glass was actually used for head lights...
Has anyone out there actually tried any of the various methods (from Youtube) of rectifying Subie headlight "cataracts"?
I like the toothpaste approach, (it's the tight-arse in me) but would like to hear back about your efforts.
Thanks, Geoff.
 
There are a couple of threads here about it, Geoff.

I seem to recall they might be in the car care sub-forum ...
 
I used toothpaste on the daughters Impreza and I was impressed with the results. Think I used Oral B as that it what we had at the time.
 
You can get away with using toothpaste, purple polish, or wet sanding it and polishing after, but these are only short term, best way is to get one of the kits from super cheap, they come with a protectant/coating to stop it clouding again
 
you can use marine varnish (with UV protectant) to protect them after wet sanding and polishing.

Thin it a little to get a smooth finish.
 
Jif works a treat, and is a little more abrasive than toothpaste :poke: :iconwink:. Just cleaned mine this morning.

My P/S headlight is relatively new. I suspect replaced for the roadworthy certificate in 2011.
I cleaned my D/S h/l with toothpaste a few years ago.

The Jif was quicker and easier. Makes the d/s h/l indistinguishable from the p/s one. DO NOT get Jif anywhere near your paintwork! It will contain salt ... All household detergents and cleaners contain salt ... :puke:.

A quick coat of carnauba wax later will finish it off for another couple of years.
 
Thanks folks ... my take on it is that the final UV protectant clear coat is important to give the job some degree of permanency after polishing out the oxidation.
Our 2011 VW camper has crystal clear lights - polycarbonate(?) - but I wonder if the Forester's are the same: and I sincerely hope the V Dub's lenses won't cloud over.
 
AFAIK, Forester h/l lenses are polycarbonate.

I think differences in cloudiness that are observed relate to whether a car is garaged or not - i.e. total exposure to UV over time. Normal parking orientation if outside will also impact, as will shade, etc.

BTW, I did remember to coat both lenses with carnauba wax ...
 
Gidday PS

Good find, but that guy's joking, of course ...

THREE hours with specialised equipment to restore even two headlights is a joke!

It took me about 5 minutes with some Jif on a damp sponge to do my 'bad' one. Gave the other one a quick clean at the same time ... Included wiping them clean with another clean sponge.

Another 5 minutes to wax them both.

The carnauba wax merely helps protect them from further UV damage. It has no effect at all on the degraded polycarbonate.

Good for another 3 years ... :iconwink: :biggrin:

[EDIT]

Sorry, don't have 'before' photos. Here are the 'after' photos.

Driver's side (worse):

E-510_JAK_2015-_9048584_Ew.jpg


Passenger side (newer one):

E-510_JAK_2015-_9048585_Ew.jpg


[end edit]
 
Last edited:
There is a Meguiars product called Plastx. It is fantastic. Not only does it remove yellowing and scratches from headlights: it polishes many sorts of plastic.

I've gone crazy with it: my instrument cluster was scratched: not any more! The black plastic on the side mirrors? like new! Almost any plastic trim comes up great.

My partner's MGF convertible has a plastic rear window which was scratched to buggery: not any more.

It really is a terrific product!

https://www.meguiars.com.au/glass-clear-plastic-and-exterior-trim/plastx/
 
Ratbag said:
It took me about 5 minutes with some Jif on a damp sponge to do my 'bad' one. Gave the other one a quick clean at the same time ... Included wiping them clean with another clean sponge.

Another 5 minutes to wax them both.

The carnauba wax merely helps protect them from further UV damage. It has no effect at all on the degraded polycarbonate.
Click to expand...


I don't mind using Jif to restore my headlights after looking at your pictures Ratbag :iconwink:
 
Hey, PS

If your headlights are bad, try out on a small patch first ...

Usual warnings and disclaimers apply ... :iconwink:
 
Last edited:
Here is the closest I could find to a recent 'before' image of the d/s headlight. You can see the previous yellow discolouration along the top where the parking light is in particular.

E-510_JAK_2015-_7048345+copy_Ew.jpg
 
My my06 forester is 10 years old already and I can see that the driver side headlight is fading (without yellowing) but my wife's tolerence is high :biggrin:

I may wait till she complains to start considering trying the jif :lol:
 
I usually start with toothpaste and my dremel, and finish with some braso and a hand polish.

Haven't tried a uv coating at all. Also haven't done up polly headlights in a while since my foz has all glass lenses
 
I've always just used 2000 wet n dry on very bad lights, then buffed.

otherwise, just my usual buffing compound either by hand or a machine buffer
i've got this little baby 4" Milwaukee polisher/ sander
then your chosen wax over the top.

never used household/ bathroom products to do anything on my car.
toothpaste, and $5 for 200g
My last 5kg tub of compound was $35
 
Bicarb and braso slurry works well to for plastics, I never really have much in the way of clay bar polish and compounds around, just don't have a need, my car rarely gets cleaned or polished, and I pay someone to polish the misses car, cut,turn,welx,powder coat yea, polish no. If I need it to a high polish and it doesn't fit in the lathe chuck it gets painted or stays rusty.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top