Thought I would share my headlight restoration. Grew up in a body shop and I used a method we used to use for customers whose headlights we could not find replacements for, or that just needed restoration. This was pre-internet days.
2008 4Runner so these headlights are almost 10 yrs old. Am I that old already? :crazy: They were so hazy and yellowed, driving at night I often wondered if I had my lights on. Very dim. This method restores the lights to nearly factory condition and should prevent yellowing and protect them for the remainder of vehicle's life.
Steps
Tape off edges with painter/masking tape to protect paint.
Wet sand lightly with 400 grit.
Wet sand slightly harder with 600 grit.
Wet sand lightly with 2000 grit.
Dry completely and thoroughly.
Use painter plastic or trashbag. Lay over top of grill and cut holes for lights. Tape to seal.
Use alcohol and lint free cloth to wipe headlights clean to remove all finger oils, smudges, and particles.
Spray first coat of gloss clear. Wait 3-5 minutes.
Spray second coat of gloss clear. Wait 3-5 minutes.
Spray third coat of gloss clear. Wait 20-24 hours.
Wet sand very lightly with 2000 grit to remove orange peel.
Bust out Novus 2, and polish by hand or with device until it's beautiful.
Bust out Novus 1, and spray clean final residue.
Seal with car polish like Mothers.
When polishing with device, be careful not to cut through too many layers of the clear gloss with Novus 2. You don't want to burn it off all the way back down to the original plastic. I did mine by hand, but I prefer a workout.
Make sure the gloss can has the yellow stripe 'bonds to plastic' and also on the side, should say Non-yellowing, and UV Protection
Rust-Oleum American Accents Ultra Cover 2x
Novus Plastic Cleaner
2008 4Runner so these headlights are almost 10 yrs old. Am I that old already? :crazy: They were so hazy and yellowed, driving at night I often wondered if I had my lights on. Very dim. This method restores the lights to nearly factory condition and should prevent yellowing and protect them for the remainder of vehicle's life.
Steps
Tape off edges with painter/masking tape to protect paint.
Wet sand lightly with 400 grit.
Wet sand slightly harder with 600 grit.
Wet sand lightly with 2000 grit.
Dry completely and thoroughly.
Use painter plastic or trashbag. Lay over top of grill and cut holes for lights. Tape to seal.
Use alcohol and lint free cloth to wipe headlights clean to remove all finger oils, smudges, and particles.
Spray first coat of gloss clear. Wait 3-5 minutes.
Spray second coat of gloss clear. Wait 3-5 minutes.
Spray third coat of gloss clear. Wait 20-24 hours.
Wet sand very lightly with 2000 grit to remove orange peel.
Bust out Novus 2, and polish by hand or with device until it's beautiful.
Bust out Novus 1, and spray clean final residue.
Seal with car polish like Mothers.
When polishing with device, be careful not to cut through too many layers of the clear gloss with Novus 2. You don't want to burn it off all the way back down to the original plastic. I did mine by hand, but I prefer a workout.
Make sure the gloss can has the yellow stripe 'bonds to plastic' and also on the side, should say Non-yellowing, and UV Protection
Rust-Oleum American Accents Ultra Cover 2x
Novus Plastic Cleaner
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