DIY... 96-98 Civic Headlights...Getting the yellow out...
#1
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Edisto Beach
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
DIY... 96-98 Civic Headlights...Getting the yellow out...
I'm sure everyone who has a 96-98 Civic has experienced the yellowing of the headlight lenses and wondered how to fix it. Well, I thought I would have to take the headlights apart and clean the inside, but that wasn't the case. Here is how I cleaned mine...step by step.....
Here is a list of the supplies I used...Your choice of beer may vary.
Here is what I had to work with....they were pretty cloudy looking....
The first step is to take some very fine grit wet sanding paper... I think mine was around 1500 grit...and wetsand the headlight until you get most of the yellow off and the headlight has a smooth feel. This will take some elbow grease. Oh and don't mind my warty *** hand.
After you wetsand for a few minutes, wipe away the water and residue and you will have something that looks like this. Don't worry about the cloudiness, we will take care of that in a minute.
Next I took some Turtle Wax Polishing Compound and a soft cotton towel and buffed the headlight. It will take a bit of rubbing to get most of the cloudiness off, but it's worth the effort. After you get most of the cloudiness out of the light, use some wax (I used Meguiar's) and give the headlight a good waxing and then buff it off. This is what you should have after everything is said and done. It's like night and day from what I had to start with.
Well, after about an hour of work, the headlights look 100% better. I hope this will help someone 'de-cloud' their headlights. Good luck!
Modified by 96hb at 8:20 PM 3/27/2004
Here is a list of the supplies I used...Your choice of beer may vary.
Here is what I had to work with....they were pretty cloudy looking....
The first step is to take some very fine grit wet sanding paper... I think mine was around 1500 grit...and wetsand the headlight until you get most of the yellow off and the headlight has a smooth feel. This will take some elbow grease. Oh and don't mind my warty *** hand.
After you wetsand for a few minutes, wipe away the water and residue and you will have something that looks like this. Don't worry about the cloudiness, we will take care of that in a minute.
Next I took some Turtle Wax Polishing Compound and a soft cotton towel and buffed the headlight. It will take a bit of rubbing to get most of the cloudiness off, but it's worth the effort. After you get most of the cloudiness out of the light, use some wax (I used Meguiar's) and give the headlight a good waxing and then buff it off. This is what you should have after everything is said and done. It's like night and day from what I had to start with.
Well, after about an hour of work, the headlights look 100% better. I hope this will help someone 'de-cloud' their headlights. Good luck!
Modified by 96hb at 8:20 PM 3/27/2004
#2
F*CK THIEVES!
Re: DIY... 96-98 Civic Headlights...Getting the yellow out... (96hb)
damn...good write up..all my homies headlights are like that. imma charge there *** to clean it up for dem lol
#3
Re: DIY... 96-98 Civic Headlights...Getting the yellow out... (96hb)
Looks really good man, I may try it on my del sol... Does your civic have plastic or glass lens???
Trending Topics
#9
Re: (Active760)
im not really worried about the polishing compound, but will the wax affect lighting in any way?
oh and btw, why didnt you just use meguiars plastic polishing compound?
oh and btw, why didnt you just use meguiars plastic polishing compound?
#14
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Edisto Beach
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (Unjockable)
I think this could work on any plastic headlight. I don't think acetone would work on mine because they were really bad. It took quite a bit of rubbing with the sandpaper to get the stuff off. The reason I didn't use the Meguiar's plastic stuff was because I had all this stuff laying around the house anyway and decided to try it first, and it worked well. The wax just brings out a nice shine on the plastic housing and removes the rest of the cloudiness. And yes, that is a wart. I need to get that removed.
#15
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Edisto Beach
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (mr poo)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mr poo »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">im not really worried about the polishing compound, but will the wax affect lighting in any way?
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Well, I've had a chance to drive around a little bit tonight, and the headlights are noticeably brighter. I don't see any adverse affects from using wax on them. The whole thing gets a from me.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Well, I've had a chance to drive around a little bit tonight, and the headlights are noticeably brighter. I don't see any adverse affects from using wax on them. The whole thing gets a from me.
#18
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Edisto Beach
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (777sC)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 777sC »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">lights look nice
now go get a front lip </TD></TR></TABLE>
Thanks. I need some suspension and rims/tires first. Then maybe a lip.
now go get a front lip </TD></TR></TABLE>
Thanks. I need some suspension and rims/tires first. Then maybe a lip.
#19
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dirty Jersey
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (96hb)
i just finished mine, they look real good, but i was wondering. was your headlight just cloudy or was the clear coat comming off. mine was so i had to wet sand the hell out of it. i'm just wondering if i should clear coat them now.
#22
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 15,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: DIY... 96-98 Civic Headlights...Getting the yellow out... (BADEG6)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BADEG6 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What was the beer for? </TD></TR></TABLE>
Drinking when you get tired of rubbing the headlights out!
Drinking when you get tired of rubbing the headlights out!
#24
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Orlando, fl, US
Posts: 5,103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: DIY... 96-98 Civic Headlights...Getting the yellow out... (dpw41285)
nice write up. I am going to tell my friend HXVTEC about this, so he stops bitching
#25
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Edisto Beach
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: (FWejCOUPE)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FWejCOUPE »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i just finished mine, they look real good, but i was wondering. was your headlight just cloudy or was the clear coat comming off. mine was so i had to wet sand the hell out of it. i'm just wondering if i should clear coat them now.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Not sure, but I had to sand the hell outta mine too. Only time will tell how well it holds up. But they look much better now.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ricey McRicerton »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Drinking when you get tired of rubbing the headlights out!</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yeah and it was hot outside, too!
Not sure, but I had to sand the hell outta mine too. Only time will tell how well it holds up. But they look much better now.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ricey McRicerton »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Drinking when you get tired of rubbing the headlights out!</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yeah and it was hot outside, too!