hazed look to plastic headlights lens/covers....?

[Russell]

Originally Posted By: Smokescreen
Park away from the suns direct exposure if you can.


Garages work wonders to protect your car from sunlight. I used to have my car at work under roof as well as at home. Now only at home. BTW, both my cars are old school with glass headlights.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: Russell
BTW, both my cars are old school with glass headlights.


Right on! My Z has glass headlights as well. Why do present day cars have cheapy plastic headlights? Even the $100K+ cars have plastic headlights!

 

[Tosh]

Originally Posted By: Smokescreen
Please note that headlamps are UV resistant coated for longer clarity against UV rays. When this hazing effect occurs, its because that protective layer is no longer functioning. While you perform this removal of oxidized layer this leaves the plastic unprotected still from UV rays and eventually it will haze up again. Could be weeks to months depending on your climate.

Sorry, but I'm calling shenanigans on this alleged UV coating. OK, likely a UV additive IN the plastic. We are still talking about plastic parts that pop out of a mold, not camera lenses...

 

[Zero]

I learned the opposite direction, chrome polish works well on removing haze from headlights.

 

[Tosh]

I would not knowingly expose any plastics to petroleum and other solvents.

 

[Malo83]

Keeping the lens waxed from the getgo works wonders

 

[Mykl]

Use any generic spray polish once a month from new and it'll look great for the life of the vehicle. Honda (the motorcycle) brand spray polish works good for this and can be purchased at any Honda (motorcycle) dealership.

I've been using some generic stuff I got a while ago on my GTI and every time I use it I still get that nice rainbowish effect you get from a clean plastic lense in certain light.

If it's so bad that it's hazing up every couple of months and you want it to stop your best bet is to use coarse sandpaper to cut through the exterior coating to the plastic, then move to fine sandpaper to smooth it out, then spray a clear bonding primer over it followed by clear-coat. Kind of a pain, but usually significantly cheaper than new housings.

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: Tosh

Sorry, but I'm calling shenanigans on this alleged UV coating. OK, likely a UV additive IN the plastic. We are still talking about plastic parts that pop out of a mold, not camera lenses...


Nope many plastic headlamps have a thin coating of UV resistant paint applied to them. You will see it flake off as the car gets older..if the lights have not been properly cared for.

Best advice I can give is to occasionally give the plastic lenses a coating of clearcoat safe wax.

NOTE:

NEVER, EVER use ammonia based or other harsh cleaners on modern plastic headlamp assemblies you WILL REMOVE or DAMAGE the protective UV coating over time.

 

[rfeir]

They used to use lead antimony as a UV stabilizer in plastic. They can't use lead antimony anymore. But new, flexible, light and strong glass developed by Corning would be a wonderful change. Hope some car company finds a way to make the switch soon.

 

[Tosh]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Originally Posted By: Tosh

Sorry, but I'm calling shenanigans on this alleged UV coating. OK, likely a UV additive IN the plastic. We are still talking about plastic parts that pop out of a mold, not camera lenses...


Nope many plastic headlamps have a thin coating of UV resistant paint applied to them. You will see it flake off as the car gets older..if the lights have not been properly cared for.

On the Honda headlights I've examined there has been no additional coating. Perhaps what you are referring to is the 'skin' or 'shell' which forms on the surface of anything drying or solidifying in a mold?

 

[mmab]

There is a UV coating on every headlight, which deteriorates over time. Sanding removes oxidation but the result will not stay long unless you apply some kind of UV protection. One of the threads in another forum suggests the use of spar urethane as a UV coating, which has worked for many. Here is the link


http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show...alant-idea.html

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: Tosh

On the Honda headlights I've examined there has been no additional coating. Perhaps what you are referring to is the 'skin' or 'shell' which forms on the surface of anything drying or solidifying in a mold?


I actually own a 94 Accord, and I can tell you that indeed there is a thin sprayed on / painted on layer of UV protective paint. It is gradually flaking off over time due to the lens being cleaned with harsh chemicals that attack that layer and weaken the bond with the plastic.

 

[Tosh]

I'm thinking back to a 94 Accord that used to be in the family, but I did not notice anything other than a cheap clear plastic headlight, no coating...
Can you show a pic of whatever is flaking off on yours? The skin I'm referring to would eventually deteriorate from sun damage and abrasion and begin to flake off, so perhaps you are mis-interpreting this as a painted coating...?

 

[meep]

i discovered the coating thing by accident too. Buffed the lights on my 97 'ru years ago with a buffing wheel (cotton) and rubbing compound. Looked GREAT. Yellowed in 3 months. I could see the different layers of material during the buffing process.

Clear Spray Lacquer may have worked to protect one I did a while ago. after a year it hadn't yellowed. don't know how it did beyond that.