One of the most important elements of your vehicle is its headlights, especially while driving at night or in inclement weather. As headlights age, they may become dull, cloudy, or yellow, which can reduce their brightness and visibility. It will not only reduce the beauty of your car but will also place you and other drivers at risk. Therefore, you must perform regular car maintenance and car headlight repairs as needed.
With simple techniques and the right products, you can restore their original appearance and quality, giving the headlights their former brightness. Check out all the necessary steps for repairing car headlights to achieve a lasting and effective restoration.
Why The Headlights Become Foggy?
Here are some reasons why the headlights become foggy:
Oxidation
The plastic housing of newer halogen bulbs can also become oxidized, resulting in white or yellowish reflections. As a result, the beam of light that assists drivers in seeing on the dark road below diminishes.
Water Vapor
The seal around the headlights is designed to keep water out. However, aging can cause this seal to leak. You cannot wipe away the condensation that forms inside the lens. Droplets of water scatter light, further impairing visibility at night.
Dirt and Chemicals
After a car is driven for a while, the lenses of its headlights develop a thin layer of dirt and chemicals. The opaque layer makes the automotive headlights difficult to see on the road or dims the lighting.
Road Damage
Small rocks and debris damage the polycarbonate lens of modern automotive headlights while driving on damaged roads. Gravel damages lenses by creating pits and dents.
Step By Step Process To Repair Car Headlights
Preparation
Let’s get everything ready. Getting some music and speakers might help pass the time since this will take some time. During this time, you should also fill up your spray bottle with water. Adding soap to the water will help. You don’t need more than a few drops of this to keep the headlights lubricated.
We must now tape up the area around the headlights. We should tape the paint surrounding the headlights up. Because after all this hard work, you will never want to fix the paint of your car.
Sanding
Sand the headlights to remove scratches and scuffs. Use P600 sandpaper to sand the light lenses. You can either use a sanding machine or do this step manually. After applying the clear coat, avoid creating visible sanding marks. After sanding the surface, smooth it with P800 sandpaper.
Clean and Polish
With the cloudy layer gone, your headlights will now be brighter and almost like new again. Cleaning and polishing will restore the showroom sparkle. Use a flannel polishing cloth to rub in your polishing compound, and then wipe off any remaining sanding debris with alcohol and paper towels.
Alternately, you can also buff and polish your headlights using an angle grinder or a felt polishing wheel. When using these types of buffing wheels, you would use a blue rouge buffing compound bar rather than a polishing compound. Be sure to run it on a low setting so the plastic surface won’t heat up too much, which could cause damage to the headlamp.
Applying the sealant
After the process is over, you’ll be grateful for the headlight sealant because it ensures that you won’t need it again for a long time. After sanding and polishing the headlight lenses, we apply headlight sealant to create a protective barrier. This barrier prevents the lenses from becoming cloudy again.
Test It Out
Try it again with even more sanding if you haven’t seen a major improvement after following all these steps. Some lenses, however, might need professional help or to be replaced altogether if they are beyond repair.
Headlight Cleaning With Toothpaste
Suppose you need to clean your headlights but do not want or cannot buy a cleaning kit. An old toothbrush, toothpaste, water, and a cloth will do the trick. For maximum efficiency, toothpaste should contain baking soda. Here’s how toothpaste works for restoring headlights:
- To apply toothpaste to the headlight lens, use a toothbrush. For a more thorough cleaning, consider using a rotary buffer.
- Rub the lens housing to remove dirt and grime.
- Apply warm water to the headlight and wipe away toothpaste with a cloth.
Cleaning Headlights With Vinegar And Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda are extremely versatile products, just like toothpaste. Baking soda breaks down contaminants, while vinegar effectively removes grime from auto headlights.
Create a fizzy paste by mixing baking soda and vinegar. The paste should be applied to your headlights. Let sit for a few minutes, and then wipe away with a soft cloth. In no time at all, you’ll have shinier headlights.
Headlight Cleaning With The Help Of Coca-Cola
Using a clean towel or microfiber cloth, wipe the dirt off your headlight lens. Using a can of Coca-Cola, apply the drink to your headlight lens. Allow it to sit for about 10 minutes, and wipe your headlights clean afterward. You can clean your headlights with warm water and automotive soap if you still have some Coca-Cola stains.
Protecting Headlights from Oxidizing
Park Under the Shaddy Area
You can reduce the risk of headlight oxidation by parking your car in shaded areas or using a car cover. Furthermore, parking away from industrial areas and places with high pollution levels can also reduce damage.
Get Help Of Waxes
Your car needs this basic protection. Moreover, it is inexpensive, easy to apply, and requires little maintenance. There are two types of waxes: liquid and solid. In addition to providing excellent protection, waxes enhance water beading so that water does not directly adhere to paint or headlights.
Reliable Car Headlight Replacement Service
Reliable headlights give you a clearer view of the road ahead—and make you easier to spot. One of our technicians will conduct a thorough check to pinpoint lighting issues when you come to Al Zaabi Autocare for headlight replacements or repairs. Visit Al Zaabi Autocare to find out more about headlight repair services.
FAQs
What is the proper way to restore headlights?
Make a fizzy paste by mixing baking soda with vinegar. Use a soft cloth to wipe away the paste after rubbing it on your headlights and letting it sit for a few minutes. It won’t take long for your headlights to shine.
Can you permanently restore the headlights?
There is a simple way to correct the problem of oxidized headlights by sanding off the oxidized layer from the lenses and applying a new UV coating on them.
What grit sandpaper is used for headlight restoration?
To restore cloudy headlights, use headlight sandpaper and Sand E-Z. For very heavy oxidation, use 600 or 800 grit. It is usually enough to remove most oxidations with 1,000 grit. Before buffing, we use a finishing step of 1,500 and 2,000.
Is it better to restore or replace headlights?
Original equipment headlights are the most effective way to restore light output to 100 percent. With some limitations in light intensity and increased glare, aftermarket parts can restore light output to between 83 and 90 percent of the original unit.
What chemical is used to clean headlights?
The cleaning solution for plastic headlight covers includes:
- Crystallizable salts like ammonium sulfate or urea.
- Organic solvents like terpenes, glycol ethers, or alkyl alcohols.
- An acid buffered between 3.0 and 5.5, like citric acid, oxalic acid, sodium bisulfate, or boric acid.
Conclusion
Repairing car headlights is essential for maintaining visibility and safety on the road. By following this guide, you can address common issues like fogging, oxidation, and minor cracks, ensuring your headlights function properly and look great.
At Al Zaabi Autocare, we offer a variety of services to keep your vehicle in top shape. Enhance your car’s interior with our interior modification services, ensure it looks pristine with our car detailing services, and upgrade or restore your seats with our expert upholstery solutions.
For more automotive tips and local services in Abu Dhabi, check out our blog page or Time Out Abu Dhabi.
Trust Al Zaabi Autocare for all your automotive needs and drive confidently knowing your vehicle is well cared for.
