My headlights are yellow... Is it from the FL sun? Or are they just really dirty? What can i do ab
08-22-2003, 06:30 AM
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My headlights are yellow... Is it from the FL sun? Or are they just really dirty? What can i do ab
Just bought a 96 civic... and the headlights look pretty nasty. They are kinda cloudy and yellow and just ugh...
Are they discolored from the sun? Or are they just really dirty/nasty/grimey/etc.?
What can i do? Can I wet sand them? Or buff them? Or will doing anything make them worse? Or perhaps they just need cleaned with something really good?
You can see them in this picture:
Are they discolored from the sun? Or are they just really dirty/nasty/grimey/etc.?
What can i do? Can I wet sand them? Or buff them? Or will doing anything make them worse? Or perhaps they just need cleaned with something really good?
You can see them in this picture:
08-22-2003, 06:47 AM
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Re: My headlights are yellow... Is it from the FL sun? Or are they just really dirty? What can i d
Crest or Colgate? any type? or flavor? gel or paste?
With WHITENING, eh? hehehe
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skribblah »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">use toothpaste to clean them. i know this works for sure.</TD></TR></TABLE>
With WHITENING, eh? hehehe
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skribblah »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">use toothpaste to clean them. i know this works for sure.</TD></TR></TABLE>
08-22-2003, 07:02 AM
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Re: My headlights are yellow... Is it from the FL sun? Or are they just really dirty? What can i d
I had the same situation with my jdm eg headligts. One was yellow. I used some Arcrylic aqurium stratch and polish remover. The headlight sparkles like new now. You could proably pick some up at your local fish store. It runs 10 bux a bottle. Id try the tooth paste method first. good luck 
08-22-2003, 07:05 AM
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Re: My headlights are yellow... Is it from the FL sun? Or are they just really dirty? What can i d
How exactly did you use this product? Is it just a spray on/wipe off thing? or does it require some buffing/polishing? just wondering...
thanks!
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Replica_Racer »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had the same situation with my jdm eg headligts. One was yellow. I used some Arcrylic aqurium stratch and polish remover. The headlight sparkles like new now. You could proably pick some up at your local fish store. It runs 10 bux a bottle. Id try the tooth paste method first. good luck </TD></TR></TABLE>
thanks!
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Replica_Racer »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had the same situation with my jdm eg headligts. One was yellow. I used some Arcrylic aqurium stratch and polish remover. The headlight sparkles like new now. You could proably pick some up at your local fish store. It runs 10 bux a bottle. Id try the tooth paste method first. good luck
</TD></TR></TABLE>
08-22-2003, 07:12 AM
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Re: My headlights are yellow... Is it from the FL sun? Or are they just really dirty? What can i d
It has the same thickness as tooth paste (wax). Applied on with a clean cloth. Let dry to a haze and wiped off by hand. Theres two types. One for heavy scratches and one for fine scratches. I have both so i applied heavy first then the fine. Came out great. I was happy with the results. Also did the same thing on my wifes 95 accord because one light was turning yellow.
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08-22-2003, 07:39 AM
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Re: My headlights are yellow... Is it from the FL sun? Or are they just really dirty? What can i d
wetsand 2000 grit and use rubbing compound and a buffer or just rub the **** out of it with the compound and use a polish afterwards.
08-22-2003, 08:32 AM
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Re: (92hatchdude)
I thought that type of discoloration was from the inside of the lens from condensation. My car has the same problem and I was told to take apart the headlights and clean the inside. Which is the case?
08-22-2003, 09:59 AM
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Re: (sohcvtec1995)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sohcvtec1995 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nail polish remover and some windex. 
</TD></TR></TABLE>
nail polish remover will eat plastic, i have used it before on my tail lights to remove some red spray and it made the light bubble, not the paint but the actual light.
use 2000 grit wet sand and polish with a buffer
</TD></TR></TABLE>nail polish remover will eat plastic, i have used it before on my tail lights to remove some red spray and it made the light bubble, not the paint but the actual light.
use 2000 grit wet sand and polish with a buffer
08-25-2003, 04:45 AM
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Re: (phantom_sol)
hey guys... I tried the toothpaste thing on saturday... i put a nice thick layer all over both headlights and then kinda buffed it off with a rag... they look a little better... but, they still look very rough. I didnt think they leaked... but, the passenger side corner had condensation in it. doh! And after using the toothpaste and cleaning the outside... it looks like the inside of the housing is where most of the yellow is coming from.
So... I have a couple more questions/thoughts/ideas...
Lots of people are taking the headlights apart to bust out the orange, right? and/or paint the housing? I never really researched it, but, i think you just heat up the light with a hair dryer, take it apart, do whatever you gotta do, and then use some sealant and put it back together... and hope it doesnt leak, right?
well, im thinking i might go that route... except when i take it apart, ill wetsand/buff/polish the inside and outside of the housing and put them back together. the worst thing about taking them apart is that they'll leak afterwards, right? well, the one already leaks and it already looks like crap, so what do i really have to lose?
feel free to throw out any comments/suggestions/etc/etc...
also, hows the quality of the lights from jdmshit.com? they sell the pair of jdm style headlights for $165 shipped... they also have the jdm style fogs for $105 shipped.
what all will i need to dis-assemble, wet-sand, re-assemble, etc?
thanks,
-mike
So... I have a couple more questions/thoughts/ideas...
Lots of people are taking the headlights apart to bust out the orange, right? and/or paint the housing? I never really researched it, but, i think you just heat up the light with a hair dryer, take it apart, do whatever you gotta do, and then use some sealant and put it back together... and hope it doesnt leak, right?
well, im thinking i might go that route... except when i take it apart, ill wetsand/buff/polish the inside and outside of the housing and put them back together. the worst thing about taking them apart is that they'll leak afterwards, right? well, the one already leaks and it already looks like crap, so what do i really have to lose?
feel free to throw out any comments/suggestions/etc/etc...
also, hows the quality of the lights from jdmshit.com? they sell the pair of jdm style headlights for $165 shipped... they also have the jdm style fogs for $105 shipped.
what all will i need to dis-assemble, wet-sand, re-assemble, etc?
thanks,
-mike
08-25-2003, 05:40 AM
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Easiest way to do the headlights.
Heat up your oven to 300 degrees, stick them in there one at a time for ten minutes, when you pull it out, it will be hot so don't burn yourself.
Pry it apart, a couple of flathead screwdrivers will help you out.
When you put it back together, take some silicone caucking (available at your local hardware store) and run a bead around the whole cover before putting them back together. If you do it all around, you should not have any problems with them leaking.
The yellowing, well mine were really bad. I took a sander and wet sanded them and then used rubbing compound from 3M to finish it up.
This is a problem with 96-98, in 99 they changed the material used to make the covers.
Also, if you get some aftermarket ones you should not have this problem, but I would run some silicone around them to provent them leaking in the first place.
Heat up your oven to 300 degrees, stick them in there one at a time for ten minutes, when you pull it out, it will be hot so don't burn yourself.
Pry it apart, a couple of flathead screwdrivers will help you out.
When you put it back together, take some silicone caucking (available at your local hardware store) and run a bead around the whole cover before putting them back together. If you do it all around, you should not have any problems with them leaking.
The yellowing, well mine were really bad. I took a sander and wet sanded them and then used rubbing compound from 3M to finish it up.
This is a problem with 96-98, in 99 they changed the material used to make the covers.
Also, if you get some aftermarket ones you should not have this problem, but I would run some silicone around them to provent them leaking in the first place.
08-25-2003, 08:58 AM
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Re: (Inigo Montoya)
so, i started searching about wet-sanding... but, have one question that no one seemed to touch on...
does it matter the direction of sanding? like on wood, you'd sand with the grain... and with buffing you'd go in a circular motion... what about this sanding?
as far as buffing, can i do this by hand? i dont have access to an electric buffer...
what about painting inside the headlights... most people use a flat black... has anyone tried anything else? just curious...
does it matter the direction of sanding? like on wood, you'd sand with the grain... and with buffing you'd go in a circular motion... what about this sanding?
as far as buffing, can i do this by hand? i dont have access to an electric buffer...
what about painting inside the headlights... most people use a flat black... has anyone tried anything else? just curious...
08-25-2003, 10:23 AM
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Re: My headlights are yellow... Is it from the FL sun? Or are they just really dirty? What can i d
get 2000 g sand paper...sand them down good and spray a clearcoat of duplicolor/...looks like new when done.
08-25-2003, 11:33 AM
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Re: My headlights are yellow... Is it from the FL sun? Or are they just really dirty? What can i d
I've never wetsanded plastic before but I know when you wetsand paint (and I assume the same applies) you sand in ONE DIRECTION (doesnt matter which). Not in a circle and not back and forth.
Unless its horrible though, I really think you should be ok with some plastic polish and a buffer.
-J
Unless its horrible though, I really think you should be ok with some plastic polish and a buffer.
-J
08-25-2003, 12:29 PM
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Re: My headlights are yellow... Is it from the FL sun? Or are they just really dirty? What can i d
true that!
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MagillaGorilla »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey, im in cape coral. nice to see another member in the area. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MagillaGorilla »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey, im in cape coral. nice to see another member in the area.
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08-25-2003, 12:35 PM
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Re: My headlights are yellow... Is it from the FL sun? Or are they just really dirty? What can i d
Plastic polish will take the foggy crap out completely. I'll try and find that thread that someone used on their headlights like yours and they ended up looking brand new.
08-25-2003, 12:49 PM
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Re: My headlights are yellow... Is it from the FL sun? Or are they just really dirty? What can i d
so, i'll just use the plastic polish then?
or i'll still wetsand and then use the plastic polish?
after i polish... is that it? are they done? or do i need to clear coat them or something?
so, just get any type of clear sealant to re-seal the headlights? what about the existing glue; should I leave it there? or try to remove as much of it as i can?
what about painting the inside; everyone seems to use a Flat Black paint... anybody try anything else? or even a glossy paint? different color? im not talking about painting it yellow anything... I really like the jdm look on darker cars, but, my car is silver and i'm not sure how it'll look...
guess im babbling...
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slvrcivic97 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Plastic polish will take the foggy crap out completely. I'll try and find that thread that someone used on their headlights like yours and they ended up looking brand new. </TD></TR></TABLE>
or i'll still wetsand and then use the plastic polish?
after i polish... is that it? are they done? or do i need to clear coat them or something?
so, just get any type of clear sealant to re-seal the headlights? what about the existing glue; should I leave it there? or try to remove as much of it as i can?
what about painting the inside; everyone seems to use a Flat Black paint... anybody try anything else? or even a glossy paint? different color? im not talking about painting it yellow anything... I really like the jdm look on darker cars, but, my car is silver and i'm not sure how it'll look...
guess im babbling...
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slvrcivic97 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Plastic polish will take the foggy crap out completely. I'll try and find that thread that someone used on their headlights like yours and they ended up looking brand new.
</TD></TR></TABLE>