So..the neighbors n their kiddos had an idea to wash some cars. Ok awesome, my car is clean! Except for the headlights looking somewhat foggy (wish I never said ANYTHING!) which is kinda normal for around here with the weather. One of the kids had a grand idea of using carb cleaner on my headlight! Probably for only a few seconds before he realized it was making it worse and just rinsed it off, but the damage is already done. It looks like maybe a thin layer on top has kinda melted? I'll post a photo later today when I get back to the house.

I'm wondering if I'm totally screwed here and need to buy a new headlight assembly or if I can try a sanding method? Heard it could work..by soaking 600/1000/2000 grit sandpaper and sanding first with the 600 and moving up to the 2000 grit by then end. Then using some kind of abrasive rubbing compound to clear up all the scratches and buff/wax.

The headlight right now does work at night fine can't really notice it until you look at it.. and it's ugly as all hell. I want to try the sanding method first, but am I wasting my time? Hard to say w/out pics I know, I will update this soon. Thanks in advance.

 

500 grit till all scratch up evenly, 800 grit until scratches smoothed out, super fine wet sand until scratches are gone and light film left, and wrap up with a buffing compound and sponge.

^^^ those instructions are pretty much verbatim to the ones that come with the 3M restoration kit and includes the materials listed. I did mine a couple weeks ago and they still look good -- although I started out with some yellowing and fogging... no carb cleaner thankfully.

Others report that they deteriorate over time... there's a sealer you can buy apparently but I haven't tried it nor do I know if it helps extend the lifetime of the treatment.

 

Or better still, have the parent of the child who messed up the headlamp buy you a replacement. I treat my 8 like my *****, only me and the wife ever touch it

 

 

This

 

wetsand and polish, it's not difficult to do but it is going to be time consuming. especially since with how bad it likely is you should remove the headlight to perform the repair which consists of removing the front bumper...

i wouldn't blame the kid too much for trying, it sounds like your headlights needed attention anyways. but yes, never use alcohol based cleaners on plastic.

you could also look for a local shop that refurbishes headlights(they will be doing just what i said, wetsand and polishing). many new cars have plastic lenses and cateracts by now so it isn't uncommon to find shops that do this sort of repair.

it may look horrible now but it likely is totally repairable to like new again. i have polished many flash to pass lenses on the older FCs and they looked like new again even with many more years of UV damage.

if you at least want it to look better for the time being you can try:

clean the headlight with glass cleaner
mask around the headlight
get a can of decent quality clear non-yellowing acrylic paint
spray the headlight with a single layer of clear, somewhat thick but not to the point of creating runs

it should unhaze but it likely won't look anywhere near like glass due to the uneven surface. this is if you plan on just replacing the headlight.


and in the future if you want to keep the headlights from yellowing/hazing over clean them first with Turtlewax color back paint restorer followed up by any quality automotive wax. this method will also unhaze minor sun damaged lenses but takes numerous applications.

 

Does it die on idle and looses compression...

 

^ low blow.

 

Can always count on you guys for a laugh! Meant to post a pic sooner, but I got distracted on the beach. Anyways, kid felt bad enough I'm not going to make the kids life harder by having his parents shell out $$$ and have him bummed for days when it was pretty much my fault for leaving all that stuff laying around.

Thanks for the help, I'm going to try out the sanding method next Monday.

 

Have you tried using car wax? Truthfully, it's what I have always used and some 'elbow grease' to clear out the fog off my head lights.

 

Nope, haven't tried using car wax. All the white spots are lightly ridged and course you can feel bumps along the headlight around where it was dripping. I'm thinking it'll need a little more work then that, but will give it a shot before I spend an hour sanding. What do you recommend just any kind of car wax?

 

car wax won't help in this situation, it is far too etched for any wax to help. if anything a coat of engine oil will at least clear it up temporarily(if you feel like cleaning it up later).

 

Oh okay, let's just skip the little ideas that might work... Instead of engine oil, use brake fluid. That will defenitely get rid of the haze and some paint!

 

***** jokes are now more fitting..

looks like semen on the headlight.

take the headlight out and put it on your lap and work it.

and get it cleaned up.

it will be satisfying when you finish the project and the scratches are off, you will have a brand new looking headlight!

 

If the ridges are too thick even sanding won't make the headlights look decent after you are done with them.

I would try wet sanding as other people suggested. Then polish it with either a polishing compound or toothpaste and a buffer.
Make sure to have that kid by your side while you repair the damage. It may make him feel guilty but at least he'll learn something new and see that not everyone is an unforgiving *******.

 

You are a good guy. I know what they say about good intentions, but the kid was trying to do something nice. Hard enough to get kids to do anything useful, don't want to teach him "no good deed goes unpunished".

 

actually i don't think brake fluid will do much good either..

 

I think the brake fluid comment was either humour or sarcasm.
I know with perspex you can get scratches out with a blow torch after sanding with fine grit paper. Have you asked any body repair shops if they polish plastic lenses ?

 

so was my reply.

 

ooooo buddy i be pretty angry