Cloudy lens after 3M headlight kit

Seems like all restoration efforts work.... for a short time.

I put clear vinyl over my wife's rav4 and that lasted. I am going to do my tacoma soon.

 

Spend a bit more time on each step and you should be good

 

The 3000 grit sand paper maybe struggling to remove the 800 grit sand marks, Maybe added a 1500 or 2000 grit sand paper to help remove the 800 grit sand marks, the continue with the 3000 grit sand paper, then the 5000.

Sand in 1 direction, up and down then the next step sand in the other direction, side to side. To make sure all the sand marks from the previous step are remove. Turning on your headlights on will help you see if all the sand scratches are removed.

 

I use Autosol (aggressive metal polish) and skip the sanding. they look great when finished but it only lasts ~6 months until it needs to be done again. But it only takes a few minutes per lens.

 

What sealant do you use?

 

Honestly the only time I've ever had issues with headlights is when I get a vehicle were the previous owner messed with polishing. I've owned several cars from new without ever touching the headlights and they continued to look great.

My solution would be to replace the housings and stop messing with them.

 

All plastic headlight lenses will oxidize eventually when exposed to sunlight. That's the unfortunate truth. The more exposure, the faster they will oxidize. One can slow down the oxidation process by coating the lenses (on a regular basis) with a wax, sealant or ceramic coating - especially one with UV inhibitors.

The reason headlight lenses will oxidize faster after they have been polished is quite simple. There is a certain amount of UV inhibitor on the outside of the lens of a new OEM housing from the manufacturing process. This is why a new headlight oxidizes relatively slowly. But this layer breaks down over time. Hence, oxidation accelerates. And any time you polish a lens, you remove a bit of this protection. When you wet sand an polish, you are 100% guaranteed to go through the protective layer exposing raw plastic - which will now oxidize even faster due to the lack of any protection. You may now have a pristine looking lens, but unless you replace the (now) missing UV inhibiting layer, you'll be right back where you started from pretty quickly. Some folks re-coat the lens while others just elect to re-polish on a more frequent basis. Pick your poison.

 

I’ve had good luck with the rust oleum kit

 

I would look at something like

$26 Spray max USC 2k High Gloss Clearcoat Aerosol

this to final seal your lenses.

-J

 

I concur. After sanding and the usual steps, instead of polishing, use spraymax 2k clear. Lots of good videos on youtube.

Polishing only lasts so long, usually I use some carnauba wax to prolong a headlight restoration but spraymax 2k is a much more permanent and lasting solution.

 

Looking into this. I checked out before and after pictures of headlights using this spray and it is amazingly clear. I think I might just order this $26 can of clear spray and try it for myself.

 

Just go to Home Depot and grab a 2k clear with uv protection. The key with this is like anything else it’s all about the prep. You have to do the work with each step and completely sand out the previous scratches. It’s kinda like what they say about collecting firewood get as much as you think you need them double it. When you think you have sanded enough with the 1000 get another piece and do it again then move on to the next grit. By the time you get the clear on it it should literally be as smooth as glass then hit it with the clear. If you don’t then it won’t matter what clear you use it still won’t be perfect.

 

honestly don’t know. Whatever happens to be on the shelf in my garage. Maybe turtle wax. I do think it really matter or even needs to be polishing compound. I think I even used regular polish before and something else made for a buffer.

PORTER-CABLE Polishing Pad, Lambs Wool, Hook and Loop, 6-Inch (18007)

$17 PORTER-CABLE Polishing Pad, Lambs Wool, Hook and Loop, 6" (18007), Brown

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004Y774/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-D1MFbXDDP4GR

 

Just a few words of caution from somebody who details vehicles for a living. You do want to be careful with what you use and all polishes are not the same. Some are way too aggressive for headlights and some are not aggressive enough. It all depends on how bad the oxidation is and what step in the correction process you're at. BTW, a wool pad like the one shown is very aggressive. That's why so many companies make kits to restore headlights. They've taken all of the guess work out of pad and polish selection for those that don't have the experience needed to pick the right products. So just be careful out there.