Head lights ruined by tint covers
06-19-2008, 08:47 AM
#1
Head lights ruined by tint covers
I applied a somke headlight tint cover about 2 weeks ago and it ruined my head lights is there any way i can fix it or am i just screwed. Tint was applied as instructed by directions and after about a week I noticed what appeared to be small hair line cracks in the tint. I thought it was just the tint streaching and wrinkling due to heat from the sun. After the second week I noticed it was starting to get real bad. I then took off the tent and it was the clear casing that was cracking? Any one ever had this problem or know how i can if it?
06-19-2008, 09:09 AM
#2
WOW that sucks. Did you buy the tint in a kit from a reputable company? If so I would bitch at them about it.
I really don't know why it would do that. We have people here with tint on there headlights and no problems. So I don't know if heat had anything to do with it.
Could have been a chemical reaction with the adhesive on the tint.
Sorry to see this happen, good luck.
I really don't know why it would do that. We have people here with tint on there headlights and no problems. So I don't know if heat had anything to do with it.
Could have been a chemical reaction with the adhesive on the tint.
Sorry to see this happen, good luck.
06-19-2008, 09:26 AM
#5
Do you have Zero Glass deductible on your insurance? If you do you might see if they will cover it. Being a safety hazard due to diminished light effectiveness. I would check with your agent.
06-19-2008, 09:42 AM
#6
are they cracks or a lot of tiny scratches? If they are scratches, use the headlight restoration packs you can get at your local auto shop.
Or, you could probably save some money if you have the supplies around your house/garage..if you have a couple different super fine grit sandpapers (1000 & 2,000) and some plastic polish, wetsand then polish. That should do the trick.
Make sure and do some research...which it looks like you're doing!
If they are cracks...check w/insurance company and don't tell them you did anything to them. They might pass the buck.
Or, you could probably save some money if you have the supplies around your house/garage..if you have a couple different super fine grit sandpapers (1000 & 2,000) and some plastic polish, wetsand then polish. That should do the trick.
Make sure and do some research...which it looks like you're doing!
If they are cracks...check w/insurance company and don't tell them you did anything to them. They might pass the buck.
06-19-2008, 11:48 AM
#7
These are the results after a good sanding. Started off with 1000 grit dry agressive pressure. then 1500 light dry followed by 2000 grit wet with soap for a buffer. Then i used 2500 grit polishing coumpound silica free from 3M. Last I used Meguries Plastix headlamp restor. Total time spent sanding and cleaning was about 2 hrs for 1 light. The leans looks much better but it's still fill with the hairline cracks and is a bit duller than the other lens though the cracks are not as noticeable.
06-19-2008, 01:29 PM
#9
They look A LOT better, but are still a bit hazy.
I don't have a lot of experience with polishing plastic, my experience is more with polishing marble and granite, but by applying a lot of pressure during the coarser grits, you probably have many very tiny scratches causing you dullness. These may become less noticable with additional plastic polish or they may need you to go back to the 1500 grit and easily work them out. I actually would apply more pressure over the higher grits to get them to smooth out the surface.
I would also recommend rinsing the particles away from the paper during your sanding often to ensure that they are not causing additional scratching. Also make sure you rinse the surface very well when going up to a finer grit.
If that doesn't work, and I know this sounds weird, the instructions in those prepared packets tell you to alternate the directions of each grit paper (i.e. 1000 grit sand up and down, 1500 grit sand left to right, 2000 grit sand up and down). I don't know if that makes a difference, it is just one of those things that I've read.
You should also use masking tape on the metal so you miss that all together with the sandpaper and plastic polish.
I hope this information helps!
You are a brave soul
I don't have a lot of experience with polishing plastic, my experience is more with polishing marble and granite, but by applying a lot of pressure during the coarser grits, you probably have many very tiny scratches causing you dullness. These may become less noticable with additional plastic polish or they may need you to go back to the 1500 grit and easily work them out. I actually would apply more pressure over the higher grits to get them to smooth out the surface.
I would also recommend rinsing the particles away from the paper during your sanding often to ensure that they are not causing additional scratching. Also make sure you rinse the surface very well when going up to a finer grit.
If that doesn't work, and I know this sounds weird, the instructions in those prepared packets tell you to alternate the directions of each grit paper (i.e. 1000 grit sand up and down, 1500 grit sand left to right, 2000 grit sand up and down). I don't know if that makes a difference, it is just one of those things that I've read.
You should also use masking tape on the metal so you miss that all together with the sandpaper and plastic polish.
I hope this information helps!
You are a brave soul
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