Headlights from *heck*

jwgreen6

jwgreen6

New member
Joined
Dec 26, 2010
Messages
222
Reaction score
0
While I was washing a 2011 Cadillac SRX the other day, the customer asked if I could do anything about the headlights on his wife's car, a 2005 SAAB. The lenses were so cloudy and pitted, I couldn't see the light bulb in the fixture.

I used Meguiar's 3" sanding papers, starting with 500 grit, 800 grit, 1000 grit, and wrapping up with the 3000 grit finishing sanding pad. The surface was somewhat leveled but not as clear as I had hoped.

I finished with Symtech's Platinum Headlight kit which usually works. This time the lenses ended up better than before, but still far from being clear. After further examination, it appeared that the oxidation permeated the entire lens through to the inside surface.

I've used this kit for 2 years now and this is the first time I wasn't able to restore the lenses. Any ideas on how to tackle lenses that seem to be oxidized all the way to the inside surface? Thanks.
 
I suggest going back and wet sanding until the surface is level. I use Poorboys Pro polish with wool to polish the suface.

Hope this helps you
 
You have done all that can be done to save them! Replace them if your not satisfied

Sent from my XT907 using AG Online
 
goodinblack said:
Replace them.

LOL
Click to expand...

Sfoster said:
You have done all that can be done to save them! Replace them if your not satisfied

Sent from my XT907 using AG Online
Click to expand...

statusdetailing said:
I wont restore headlights that are that badly damaged. Its too time consuming.
Click to expand...

I told the customer that may be necessary as the pitting was quite deep in the lens' surface. I didn't / couldn't realize that the pitting was that deep until I removed part of the surface since the lenses were heavily oxidized.
 
I have done many caddy cts lights and I have to say that all of them were a pain to do.i don't know what they do to them but it was very tough to sand out. Also jeep headlights are bad too.
 
Ive been thinking...a lot of lights are prone to oxidizing and yellowing. It doesnt seem to matter what uou do. You can wax them seal them...nothing seems to work. Lately you even hear of guys sealing with opti lens and other coatings just for the lens to jaze over again.

Firstly, why do manufacturers keep making these things!!!!!!???
Secondly, i have a theory that on some, not all lenses, the actual heat and light from the bulb contributes to the problem.
 
Sometimes there is a film on the inside... looks like a fog/smoke. I had the same thing on the last Saab I did, one light being worse than the other. Usually they are both the same. If it was my car, I would remove the lights and do a thorough wash/rinse/dry cycle... but that may be too time consuming for the average customer (to pay for).
 
mr.fusion said:
Sometimes there is a film on the inside... looks like a fog/smoke. I had the same thing on the last Saab I did, one light being worse than the other. Usually they are both the same. If it was my car, I would remove the lights and do a thorough wash/rinse/dry cycle... but that may be too time consuming for the average customer (to pay for).
Click to expand...

That's what I told the customer. It appeared to me that the oxidation was on the inside as well, plus the pitting from road rash was very deep. The bottom line is they need to be replaced.
 
sometimes it is not even worth the replacement price to remove them and clean the insides..
Although factory headlights can be VERY expensive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top