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get rid of headlight fog?

LifeofRob

New member
Location
Lehigh Valley, PA
Car(s)
09GTI
Hey guys, anyone have any pointers to getting rid of headlight fog. Mine is quite bad and i am trying not to buy a whole new headlight. i tried some youtube remedy's but to no avail. Help !
 

GTI's

Drag Racing Champion
Location
MD
And the fog issue is not curing itself when you have the HIDs on?? Are the vent holes open and clear??
 

GTI's

Drag Racing Champion
Location
MD
I think your confused. This is because the uv Ray's are basically staining the polycarbonate headlight.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

That's because I have never heard of surface damage of the headlight lens referred to as fogged, yes headlights fogs or get condensation on the inside, but the issue with the outside lens surface most use the terms dull, yellowed, hazy, or cloudy.

I have had good but temporary results with Mothers or Maguire headlight restore products. On some headlights I can get away with just the polish and buffing pad on a drill, for others I have had to go at it with 600 grit WD sanding paper and work up to about 2500 or 3000 before polishing.

FWIW they do still sell just the Lens. Good luck
 

3carmonte

Gelbrain
Location
Seminole, FL
Car(s)
2007 GTI DSG Coup
War and Peace...

I think your confused. This is because the uv Ray's are basically staining the polycarbonate headlight.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

If this is the first clouding (fogging) of these lens' from new then what is frosted and stained is the clear-coat that is applied to the polycarbonate lens.
Those headlight restoration kits do an okay job once the clearcoat has been removed but from scratch, not so much. The sanding method does work but I have come up with a method that works just as well and lasts just as long as those expensive restoration products. That being said, the Maguires headlight coating product is among the best but it only lasts about 6 months here in FL which is brutal on any finish I have tried. I came up with what I'm about to describe trying to restore the lens on our '95 Ford Escort. Before that car, I had never seen the problem these plastic lens' have over time. By the time they got really bad I was desperate to find a solution. We have Terrazzo floors in our house and these products are to clean and polish them. As you might imagine, floors take quite a beating and this stuff holds up quite well. Everything I'm describing I had on hand. If I had to to buy it, it would cost about $30.00 for a lifetime supply (I'm currently maintaining two cars with it).
These were all purchased at The Home Depot in the cleaning supplies section.
1). ZEP (brand) Floor Stripper
2). ZEP Floor sealer
3). ZEP Floor polish
These are liquids, sold in gallon quantities (I have seen quarts in some supermarkets of the sealer and polish but not the stripper).
First mask all painted area's around the lens and tack plastic bags under the tape to protect from runs during the process.
Start with a couple of ounces of stripper in a plastic laundry cup and using a 1 1/2" to 2" chip (disposable) brush, coat sparingly the lens and repeat as the stained clear-coat soaks up the stripper (rubber gloves are recommended at this point). Using a plastic putty knife, scrape off as much of the resulting "goo" as you can, re-coating with the stripper as you progress (it's like working with paint remover...) If you have a worn Scotch scrubbie pad (green plastic wool) this is better than a rag to completely remove the coating down to the surface. Keep rinsing it out and repeat, dipping in the stripper as you scrub off the remaining goo. Wash the exposed lens with a solution of dish-washing liquid and water and rinse with clean water. To complete this first prep, polish the lens with white rubbing compound or toothpaste (I like crest or Colgate for the fine abrasive). Wipe clean with clean water and polish dry with a clean soft cloth. Now clean up the mess around the taped area and dry it to get ready for the next operation. (This was the hardest part. Future restorations will be much easier). Now, pour an ounce or so of Sealer in a clean cup and using a lint free cloth folded up, dip into the sealer and wring out any excess (make sure your gloves are clean). Wipe the sealer completely across the lens starting at the top and working across to the bottom. It should glide on but not drip or run. It dries fast so don't waste time or go back to an area you have covered or it will streak. Work smartly as they say in the Military! As this first coat dries, you will see streaks but that's okay. You will apply two more coats with 10 mins drying time in between. There will still be some streaking evident but this is just the "primer" not the topcoat (the Polish). Next is the Polish in a clean cup with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth. Apply as you did the sealer. Thin coats but with 15 mins between coats (I watch a TV show while I'm doing these steps). Coat as many times as it takes for the lens' to look like glass, (minimum 6 coats) I have done as many as 15. After the last coat has dried, apply a high quality paste wax, wait and then buff to a high gloss. Like everything in life, it gets easier with practice. Down the road you can clean them with alcohol and apply a couple of coats of Polish and re-wax for that maintenance restoration. Good luck!
 
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Ableas

New member
Location
Aten
Car(s)
Maruti
It is normal issue that happen with everyone. You need to cleaning headlights when it get issue. You can use Cleansing kit, baking soda, or toothpaste and Old rags or towels. This will help you to getting rid of headlight fog
 
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