i just got a set of 90-91 crx rear tail lights and they're in a good shape. But I would like to make them look like brand new. How would I go around doing this? I know one opition is wet sand then buff it but i dont have access to a buffer.

 

Use a car polish and wax. I always go over my taillights when I do my car, and they look pretty good.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SkipMic2006 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i just got a set of 90-91 crx rear tail lights and they're in a good shape. But I would like to make them look like brand new. How would I go around doing this? I know one opition is wet sand then buff it but i dont have access to a buffer.</TD></TR></TABLE>
You can do it by hand. Just get some really fine sand paper and some polish with a towel and rub that stuff on. Its easy, and after repeating this about 4 or 5 times you have some nice lights.

 

wet sand with 1500 and then 2k and then polish for the ultimate shine

 

i used a claybar it came out pretty good.

 

Go to a good auto parts store and get some plastic polish. Works great and you don't take the chance or f*#&ing up your lights.

 

plast-x clear plastic polish works well.

 

meguiars clear plastic polish and some fine sandpaper

 

any body got any before and after pics of the tails??? would like to know if i should redo mine....

 

After a few coats of Meguiars Plastic Cleaner, then a quick polish with Meguiars Plastic Polish.

 

You want to use a rubbing compound. Then a scratch and swirl remover, then a wax or detailing spray. Washing off the excess residue before each new application. Here's a pic I did of a bumper light for my Sedan. Check the clarity.

Thats what I made

 

wow!! very nice, looks like a huge diff!!! my car came with painted all red tails (really nice) but the clear coat is coming off..... i think im gonna do the sanding method, then redo clear coat.... then maybe polish them, looks awesome! thanks!

 

The key is something with a cutting agent in it. 3M makes a nice product. It comes in a black bottle with a white fluid called 3M Triple Diamond cutting compoud or something. But I used Turtle Wax rubbing compound, then Meguires #9, then Mothers quick detail spray. Bob's tail would have gotten rid of the scratches if he had of used my method. Plastic cleaner is all it is, is a cleaner. You must remove a tiny layer to get the swirls out.

 

damn! alot of good ideas to do it but which porduct should i go with tho? i want a nice shine look and no sratches. any porducts from mothers? any rubbing compound should i use? light sanding maybe with 400-1000 grit? car wax maybe ?

 

i thought abt plastic-x cleaner. would it be the best if i wet sanded them then use the plastic-x ?

 

i used 400 grit and followed with 600 wet sand.. a mothers power ball and meguiars plast-x... it will take a lot of time to polish but will be well worth it

 

If your tailights are really messed up (I.E. never taken care of/imported from Japan) what I did was...

(1) Wetsand (with a lot of water) with 2000 or 3000 grit rinsing the plastic frequently
(2) Mother's Aluminum polish
(3) No wax needed...tails never waxed and still look as good as when I first did them a year ago, but if you want a crazy shine, wax it.

Pics of said results (wish I had before pics, they were so faded/scratched up):



^no wax on the tails in the pic...waxed them a week later and decided to never wax them again till I get my car repainted because they make my paint look bad, lol.

 

what auto stores ACTUALLY carry the plastic polish? Ive been to every one around here and none of them have it.....

 

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u used the mothers aluminum polish? like the white cream inside the the little container? i think i got one laying around but not sure if thats it.

 

wow, that red hatch is amazing!!! i think i will try to follor your steps on that one!!! looks very nice!!!! thanks for the info everyone!!

 

awesome job. they look sooo nice. hey by the way, your 89 si hatch has the seat belts on the pillar right? i thought they were on the door.

 

Yeah, my hatch is CDM so they're pillar mounted. In the US they switched to door mounted, but in Canada as far as I know they kept the pillar mounted belts through the 89-91 years . My tails are JDM SiR's .

 

Thats what I use, its Much easier than wetsanding. and it's always even.

 

depends on how deep the scratches are

for mine i started with some 600 grit wet then:
800
1000
1500
2000
then some plastic polish i'll get pics at some point