Civic4less

Well first off, before you tell me to search, I CANT... the search feature is down or else I would (Trust me) I've seen this already but I hadnt put it on my favorites (Next time I will).

Ok. I went out and got some 800 and 1000 grit sandpaper as well as some Rubbing Compound. What I would like to know if there is anything else I need to clean my headlights? Also what are the steps I need to take on cleaning them. Thanks in advanced.

Ricey McRicerton

Plastic Polish. Not rubbing compound.

Del Sizzle

There's some threads on this in Archived content.

Civic4less

aww crap... lol Back I go. Do you know what the steps are to cleaning the headlights?

pdiggitydogg

are you just removing the yellow-ish haze from the lens?

Take that stuff back and pick up some BlueMagic from AutoShit...er Autozone. Its for all clear plastics and works great. Cheap too.

Ive used it lots of times on lots of different things and always end up with nice, clean, clear plastic with almost zero effort.

After I use it, I wax so it lasts longer.

2000EM1

Here's a write up someone did for Escorts, Not sure if it would work the same since Civics have clear plastic lenses anyway... but here goes.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Equipment:

Palmsander (not the round orbitals....but the rectangular ones)
40 or 80 sanding drum (medium small)
220 grit wet/dry silicon carbide sandpaper
320 " " " "
600 " " " "
1500 " " " " "
"Mibro" First Stage hevey cleaning compound
"Mibro" Second Stage medium cleaningcompound
"Mibro" Final Polish compound
Dish detergent (non abrasive)
Water
Buffing disk or wheel
Drill (for the buffing disk)

Steps:

1) Take off headlight assemblies (disconnect wire harness)

(Do "one" of the following...2a or 2b)

2a) Don't touch the Headlight alignment nubs and proceed to step 3

2b) Sand off the Headlight alignment nubs (if you want to have a cleaner look and can align your headlights on a wall) that come out of your lenses with the sanding drum....be carfull not to scratch the lens surface or you'll just be making more work in the next step

3) Get The palm sander and wet sand (with a bit of detergent in the water) with 220 grit to sand the entire surface smooth....including the remainder of the ford logo and the nubs (option 2b) or around the nubs (option 2a) and any scratches

4) continue to wet sand the entire surface with each progressive grit really well...320, 600, 1500.

6) Dry off the whole lens assembly

7) then crack out the buffing disk on the drill (or wheel). Load up the disk with the "heavy" compound and buff out all of the faint swirl marks that the sander left.

8 ) after that is done...most of the compound should be worn out of the disk.....load it up with the "medium" and do the same

9)Finally load up the disk with a lot of the final polishing compound and do a really thorough job of buffing the entire surface.

10) wipe the lense off with a clean cotton cloth and YOUR DONE!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

ek9hatch0WN3R

sounds like a good excuse to get some h0t jdm **** y0 (in reference to the headlights that is)./

Civic4less

I went to my Autoshit and Kragen and they dont have **** for cleaning headlights. I was looking specificley for the Black Magic stuff but they didnt have it so now I gotta go this route. Anyone else know how to do this?

pdiggitydogg

Its <FONT COLOR="blue">blue</FONT> magic, not black.

If they dont have that look for Meguiars PlastiX instead.

These are designed for what youre doing and therefore are easier to use than your route. Trust me...Ive done it both ways.

Civic4less

But its just a polish not a cleaner... wait... does that even matter? Man I'm so confused right now

ErMaK

All I know is sandpaper, and some compound. Thats what my friend did on his mustang, and it turned out pretty good. I'm not shure about using it on civc headlights. All I know to do, is ask someone at your local Auto Zone, or call up Honda and ask them.

pdiggitydogg

both are polishes and cleaners...they must be both to remove the oxidation and grime.

I vouch 100% for blue magic.
(Plastix, I dont, because I have never personally used it - only have seen it used)

Civic4less

Did it work good?

miahmouse

if you have the time ~3hrs per light then do that (the polishing process above. concentrate more on the sanding then the polish as the polish will only get rid of the smallest of scratches.

I think I started with 120 grit and up to 1500. use lots and lots of water when getting into the finer wetsanding. ... keep the surface clean so as to not add scratches...

go different directions with the paper w/the different grades... helps identify if it's a heavier grit scratch or one from the current grit. ... keep the surface clean so as to not add scratches...

The finish won't last as long because in sanding you've removed the UV protective film from the lens (what's normally yellowed). You'll have to polish & wax regularly...

keep in mind, the sanding process is only for lenses that are pitted and severely yellowed. If they're only a little yellow then just polish w/any plastic polish (3m, meguairs, blue magic)

if you have money or want perfect results then just buy new ones...

Civic4less

Thanx!

=GAME=

here's an easier way then using compound and buffing.

sand the lights with 1000+ grits, then lay a few layers of clear coat over them. while you're doing the headlights, do it to the taillights as well. comes out brand spanking new.