cloudy headlight lens for 2001 Jeep Cherokee

[Silk]

If you use a beamsetter you will find cleaning the film on the outer lens will degrade the pattern.Here in New Zealand we test headlamps with a beamsetter every six months as part of the safety inspection - as well as being out of adjustment,we also fail bad patterns.

The lens cleaning kit we use has a clear lacquer that is applied after the sanding to restore lens thickness,and so retaining a good pattern.

 

[charbaby]

I too have used the Meguiars Plast-X with only OK results. Only thing is, is that I have to do it every couple of months as I keep getting some light clouding on my lenses and I don't even live in the sun belt. I think that it is also from the wind buffeting at highway speeds(as my GOLD EMBLEMS seem to be doing the same thing). Im sure the lenses would yellow in time if I didn't do anything at all.

 

[2Fast4U]

I posted about this a few years back. I have a few different cars that were so bad the plastic was actually rough. I've tried tons of products with no luck.

If your headlight is only yellow some of these products may help a little. If the headlight is rough, they won't help you.

The end result for what I did was to wet sand the plastic headlight with a few levels of sandpaper. I think the highest I did was around 2500 grit. The product I used with succes (and still use to this day) was NOVUS 3 step plastic polish.

 

[va3ux]

The headlight lenses on my 2001 Chrysler Intrepid get cloudy. Typical of many Chryslers

I restored them to virtually like-new by progressively wet sanding them with 400 - 800 - 1500 - 2000 - 2500 grit paper. Then finished them off with Novus #1, #2 and #3 plastic scratch removers. You have to remove the cloudy, oxidized surface and get down to virgin material that hasn't been exposed to the elements with the 400 grit. When you do this, the lenses will be totally opaque - like wax paper. As you proceed through the different grits, they clear up.

The headlight cleaning kits and Meguires Plast-X are no match for the Chrylser headlights. I've tried them all.

 

[johnd]

The wife's Honda has some huge clear plastic headlight covers and I have been trying to head the problem off by using UV protectant on them. The stuff I got was from Whole Earth and is designed to protect plastic products in camping gear that see a lot of sun. Hope it works.

 

[2Fast4U]

va3ux, my 98 Stratus had unbelievable yellow/rough spots on it. I guess their junk plastic lenses are about as bad as their paint... and luckily I've kept my paint half decent yet.

This past year I've decided to try 303 on the headlights every month or so and see if that helps at all.

 

[va3ux]

Originally Posted By: 2Fast4U
va3ux, my 98 Stratus had unbelievable yellow/rough spots on it. I guess their junk plastic lenses are about as bad as their paint... and luckily I've kept my paint half decent yet.

This past year I've decided to try 303 on the headlights every month or so and see if that helps at all.


Yea, it's a common problem on many Chrysler cars over many years. My parents had an early 90's Dodge Shadow that they used for around-town errands and what not. When the headlights were on they looked like opaque parchment paper backlit by a single candle.

 

[mstrjon32]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: mstrjon32
The Jeep Cherokee has sealed headlights, the entire assemblies including the glass are replaced when they fail. Just replace both lamps with brand new ones if the old ones look bad.


I think thr 2001 Grand Cherokee Laredo has replaceable bulbs rather than a sealed (old style) headlight.

The lens seems to be plastic. Cannot see how it would be cloudy if it was glass unless it was dirty.


Ahhh, you didn't say anything about it being a Grand Cherokee earlier. The Jeep Cherokee XJ and Grand Cherokee WJ are two very different vehicles.

The Grand Cherokee does have the plastic, non-replacement lenses like you said.

 

[oilyriser]

There was an issue with the halogen bulbs giving off UV that damages the plastic from the inside, too. Europe has special bulbs with UV filtration.

 

[drivewaytech]

I did the lazy thing on the Plymouth van I use to have. I would wipe a thin layer of motor oil on the lenses. It would keep them clear for a few days.

 

[Donald]

I tried some boat cleaner/polish with PFTE (works great on my boat) on the lens and in 5 min it was twice as good. But now the areas that look cloudy have a rough feeling when I feel them. (I assume they had a rough feeling to start). I suspect I need something stronger than Meguires Plast-ix to deal with areas that feel rough.