Restoring Foggy Polycarbonate headlights ?

[macabethiel]

A friend of mine has recently bought a Toyota Rav 4 its a Y plate with really bad front headlamps lenses that have gone opaque and milky looking.

I have looked at the various videos on U-tube and wondered if anyone here has tried to restore their lights with any success and what did they use ?

 

[RJL Services]

i had a vauxhall vectra 2004 which had foggy headlights so i bought a headlight restorer kit made by turtle wax useless a lad from the workshop next to me was interested watching me and asked what i was doing so i told him he said it would not do much good but he had a better way and offered to do mine free so i let him what he did is as follows he had a round air sander tool with 1000 grit on it and lightly sanded it to take out the worst marks then did it again with 1500 grit and finaly 2000 mirror grade then he polished it back clear with G3 rapid paste compound and when it was like new he used the headlight sealer that came in my kit i saw the car a week or so ago and the headlight still look like new that was three years ago they were done i would say it took him about an hour or so per headlight he did do it with lights in car just masked if any area around to protect paint etc hope this may be of help :nenau i do know if i need to do it i can now he used a 6" air sander i have a 3" which is easier to use i think the headlight sealer you can get of ebay on its own so you do not need the complete kit

 

[macabethiel]

Thanks for your info:

i had a vauxhall vectra 2004 which had foggy headlights so i bought a headlight restorer kit made by turtle wax useless a lad from the workshop next to me was interested watching me and asked what i was doing so i told him he said it would not do much good but he had a better way and offered to do mine free so i let him what he did is as follows he had a round air sander tool with 1000 grit on it and lightly sanded it to take out the worst marks then did it again with 1500 grit and finaly 2000 mirror grade then he polished it back clear with G3 rapid paste compound and when it was like new he used the headlight sealer that came in my kit i saw the car a week or so ago and the headlight still look like new that was three years ago they were done i would say it took him about an hour or so per headlight he did do it with lights in car just masked if any area around to protect paint etc hope this may be of help :nenau i do know if i need to do it i can now he used a 6" air sander i have a 3" which is easier to use i think the headlight sealer you can get of ebay on its own so you do not need the complete kit

That's very useful information and sits in with quite a few of the U-tube videos I have seen.
I will probably end up doing the Rav 4 lamps for my friend quite soon. I keep 1000 & 2000 grit wet & dry in stock

 

[RJL Services]

yes the g3 rapid compound polishes up clear but do not forget to reseal head light with headlight sealer clear liquid that seals it surface to stop it going again it would probably not hurt to do it a few times afterwards like when car is washed to get a good seal on it :thumb2

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

:lol my aunt has an 02 Rav4 and is currently trying to solve the same problem, she bought some g3 so I'll let you know how she does:thumb2

 

[RJL Services]

i dont think the g3 alone will bring the new look so may need to sand them first

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

i dont think the g3 alone will bring the new look so may need to sand them first

:sly yeh I know but it will be funny for a while :lol

 

[RJL Services]

:lol

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

:lol

:lol when she gets fed up I might have a crack at them with some sand paper and the DA, she paid 15 squids for the tube of g3 too, wilco motosave

 

[Banshee]

I'd probably just rather source a set of new lights and be done with it

 

[jims-terrano]

Ive actually seen arm and hammer bicard toothpaste used to great effect on this type of problem.

 

[briggie]

Ive actually seen arm and hammer bicard toothpaste used to great effect on this type of problem.

I used to use toothpaste to clean the chrome on my cars :augie

 

[macabethiel]

I used to use toothpaste to clean the chrome on my cars :augie

I sometimes use Salt as Toothpaste ! lol

 

[Banshee]

What the hell happened in here :freak3:

We went from restoring Rav 4 headlights to brushing our teeth with Salt

:doh :lol

 

[zippy656]

What the hell happened in here :freak3:

We went from restoring Rav 4 headlights to brushing our teeth with Salt

:doh :lol

You should know this site by how Zac

 

[macabethiel]

What the hell happened in here :freak3:

We went from restoring Rav 4 headlights to brushing our teeth with Salt

:doh :lol

Its word association Briggie Cleans his Chrome with Toothpaste I clean my my teeth with salt.
Salt rotts Chrome come to think about it.