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headlight restoration

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by da0023, May 19, 2009.

  1. May 19, 2009 at 2:39 PM
    #1
    da0023

    da0023 [OP] The One, The Only

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    has any one tried those headlight restoration kits, the ones that remove that yellowish haze. If so, how were your results.
     
  2. May 19, 2009 at 2:47 PM
    #2
    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

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    getting there....
    i havent tried one of those kits per say.....but what i have done...to a few different vehicles too......is use a mothers powerball mini with some meguiars plast-x...............really cleans the lights up, and then i'll use a wax on them to keep them looking good.
     
  3. May 19, 2009 at 3:34 PM
    #3
    da0023

    da0023 [OP] The One, The Only

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    did you use just a regular car wax? where the results pretty noticable?
     
  4. May 19, 2009 at 3:36 PM
    #4
    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

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    getting there....
    yeah.....i used eagle1 nanowax after i polished the lights. any wax,mostly,will work. the results after polishing the lights were like night and day...............but you do gotta apply some good pressure when you are using the powerball, depending on how badly hazed up the lights are.
     
  5. May 19, 2009 at 3:44 PM
    #5
    da0023

    da0023 [OP] The One, The Only

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    aight tacomaman. thanks for the info. i will try that this weekend. first i have to go out and fet a powerball mini. and some plast-x. btw, about how much did you pay for the powerball mini and is there any special technique to use. high speed, low speed. you already mentioned apply good pressure. any other suggestions?
     
  6. May 19, 2009 at 3:45 PM
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    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

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    getting there....
    i got my powerball mini from walmart....or autozone....really cant remember, and it was around $20 or so. another tip.......spread the plast-x on the lights with a cloth, and let it start to dry a bit....but not all the way. on the wax....use a microfiber cloth to apply and buff off.
     
  7. May 19, 2009 at 3:52 PM
    #7
    da0023

    da0023 [OP] The One, The Only

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    will do
     
  8. May 19, 2009 at 4:10 PM
    #8
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    PolishandWax has a product that fixes headlights. Hopefully, he will chime in....
     
  9. May 19, 2009 at 5:58 PM
    #9
    justalilcrazy625

    justalilcrazy625 Got the yota feverrrr.

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    Theres a restoration kit that they have at Advance Auto Parts(if you're anywhere near one) for doing headlights. It's in a silver bag type thing and its enough to do a pair of headlights. It comes with 2 different grit sandpapers, sealer, and a finishing wax type thing. It's actually on sale for $17 something, I think. It works better than plast-x. I tried that first and it's a night and day difference.
     
  10. May 19, 2009 at 6:06 PM
    #10
    da0023

    da0023 [OP] The One, The Only

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    as matter of fact i saw that kit the other day when i was buying some grease...that's what i posted the thread. i just wanted to know if anyone else has used it and if it is worth the $$$.
     
  11. May 19, 2009 at 8:44 PM
    #11
    Mac2118

    Mac2118 Well-Known Member

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    my truck is 8 years old (kind of hard to believe with an '01.. I must be getting old). I notice everytime I wash my truck that my headlights are starting to get yellow. I was thinking about buffing them out alot sometime this week and throwing some HID's in them. I threw some 8000k's in my car and I absolutly love them
     
  12. May 19, 2009 at 10:17 PM
    #12
    aznpg

    aznpg Well-Known Member

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    crappy state of California with a ban on anything
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    front suspension: camburg gen 2 kit with custom donahoe resivoir coilovers and radflo bump stops rear suspension: deaver 8 with fox 2.5x14 remote resi
    heres how i do mine list
    1. wetsand with 1000 grit(this will remove all of the yellow haze and any crap on the lens)
    2. wetsand with 1500 grit(this will make the deeper scratches from the 1000 grit go away)
    3. wetsand with 2000 grit(same as number 2 to remove the finer scratches from the 1500 grit)
    4. now use a buffer and plastic polish and buff away and ur headlights will be like brand new feels brand new too (i use mothers plastic polish but u can use whatever kind u like. and for the buffer i have my 1/2 drill with the mothers powerball works great i know i'm a mothers fan they r down the street lol)
     
  13. May 20, 2009 at 4:02 AM
    #13
    da0023

    da0023 [OP] The One, The Only

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    i am kinda embarrased...but what does wet sand mean?
     
  14. May 20, 2009 at 7:50 AM
    #14
    justalilcrazy625

    justalilcrazy625 Got the yota feverrrr.

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    lol, wet the sandpaper and sand it instead of doin it dry.
     
  15. May 20, 2009 at 8:32 AM
    #15
    Mac2118

    Mac2118 Well-Known Member

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    When I wetsand, I like to keep a steady stream of water on it, or have a spray bottle filled with water and always making sure that it's wet.

    Ok, i was a bit bored earlier and took out my Zaino clay bar for some fun.

    Before:

    IMG_0114_bdff454cdd618863b9850d1a2f994a5f4b475e1f.jpg

    I used Meguires Spray Detailer as a lubricant instead of a degreaser like I normally use. I took about 10 minutes on each headlight rubbing away with the clay bar until everything was very nice and smooth.

    After:

    IMG_0115_a19d928b9cb3c08ae70595f9bc8ab400afdc8466.jpg

    There's definitly a noticible difference. It might not be as great as a full kit or sanding, but it looks a hell of alot better. I'll have to see if I notice a difference or not at night.
     

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