1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Used the 3M headlight restoration kit. Should of left them alone.

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by BarefootBandit, Oct 23, 2011.

  1. Oct 23, 2011 at 2:02 PM
    #1
    BarefootBandit

    BarefootBandit [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2010
    Member:
    #40116
    Messages:
    366
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    TC UCA OME 884 5100 TSB+AAL 4.10 V6 6spd 285/75/16
    Any help is appreciated. The tops of my headlights were becoming foggy so I went out and bought the 3M restoration kit. Did 1 headlight and what do you know... it looked worse than before!

    Anybody have this happen to them? Will I ever be able to get my lens back to completely clear?

    If I bring it to a professional will they be able to make it look completely brand new again?
     
  2. Oct 23, 2011 at 2:10 PM
    #2
    TacomaPrime

    TacomaPrime Cybertronian Tacoma

    Joined:
    May 20, 2011
    Member:
    #56955
    Messages:
    1,782
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gregory
    Illinois
    Vehicle:
    14 TRD sport 4x4 Barcelona Red
    Weathertech front floor liners, window vent visors. Custom bedside decals. OEM bed mat, tonneau covrew. Added D rings to bed.
    post a pic of them.
     
  3. Oct 23, 2011 at 2:11 PM
    #3
    Tacomanator

    Tacomanator Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2010
    Member:
    #40746
    Messages:
    4,613
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Clam Slammer
    Southern Cali
    King 2.5" extended travel coilovers with compression adjusters, Camburg UCA's, King 2.5" rear shocks, TRD 1st gen CAI.
    Rubbing compound always did the trick for me. You could also try wet sanding.
     
  4. Oct 23, 2011 at 2:18 PM
    #4
    BarefootBandit

    BarefootBandit [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2010
    Member:
    #40116
    Messages:
    366
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    TC UCA OME 884 5100 TSB+AAL 4.10 V6 6spd 285/75/16
    I guess this kit is only supposed to be used on headlights that really need them. I did the passenger side. You can see the original untouched driver side looks better. Sigh.

    2011-10-23_17-15-50_722.jpg
     
  5. Oct 23, 2011 at 2:24 PM
    #5
    wildjerseyfirefighter

    wildjerseyfirefighter I sell fishing and fishing accessories

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2008
    Member:
    #11677
    Messages:
    7,937
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joe
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Tacoma TRD Sport
    stock, for now
    try a rubbing compound..3m makes the best stuff IMO. I did a home made headlight restore on my dads 2002 tacoma, came out damn near new looking.
     
  6. Oct 23, 2011 at 2:32 PM
    #6
    Casey05Taco

    Casey05Taco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2008
    Member:
    #8781
    Messages:
    1,985
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Casey
    Penngrove, CA
    Vehicle:
    05 Tacoma Prerunner
    trd seat covers, bed mat, tinted windows, debadged, mud flaps removed, tinted tails, blacked out center console, Black Rims, 6000k HID in highs and fogs, blacked out front emblem, Pioneer AVH-4300DVD, Gauge Cluster, lower valence, retrofitted, audio system, Maxtrac Spindles, Billies
  7. Oct 23, 2011 at 2:42 PM
    #7
    RAT PRODUCTS

    RAT PRODUCTS Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2010
    Member:
    #35140
    Messages:
    13,728
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Farmington, MN
    Vehicle:
    Cummins Coal Roller
    Smokin with a smarty.
    Use a drill buffer and some plastic polish. Work it a lot.
     
  8. Oct 23, 2011 at 2:48 PM
    #8
    UndefinedTaco

    UndefinedTaco I'll eat all your food.

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2011
    Member:
    #59313
    Messages:
    2,021
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Justin
    Tracy, CA
    Vehicle:
    Toyota
    It's an 89 Toyota Pickup. I got some stuff done to it.. FJ axles going under it soon.
    Wet sand the piss out of it with 1500 then wet sand with 2000
    then rub the compound in it(clear x or whatever)..let it sit for a few seconds..rub it out(circular motion),

    then wet sand the piss out of it with 1500 then wet sand with 2000.

    then hit it with the compound again(clear x)..then rub it out again.

    then hit it with a rubbing compound with a buffer...guaranteed it'll look brand new.
     
  9. Oct 23, 2011 at 3:49 PM
    #9
    iroh

    iroh Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2011
    Member:
    #65439
    Messages:
    1,390
    Gender:
    Male
    michigander
    Vehicle:
    07 AC SR5 2.7 5MT 4x4
    tonneau
    Word of warning, if you wetsand through the plastic's protective layer it'll oxidize again in 6 months and turn yellow.

    Once it gets bad enough to need polishing it typically becomes a yearly - or more often - task. For the worse-off ones I start with mother's mag aluminum polish with a gentle touch and finish with maguiar's scratch-x 2.

    I need to pull an old lamp off one of these days and polish, clearcoat, polish again to see if it sticks.

    If it needs sanding, always always wetsand! I used 1500 and 2500 the only time I had to do it.
     
  10. Oct 23, 2011 at 4:47 PM
    #10
    three west

    three west Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2010
    Member:
    #43917
    Messages:
    126
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    JD
    UP MI
    Vehicle:
    09 DC SB TRD Sport
    you're just not done yet.
    I used the same kit on my old Ram and it worked great, and held up for nearly 2 years before I had to do it again, and then it was a very easy touch up.

    Just get back out there again and work the progressively finer grits & compounds until they're clear again.
     
  11. Oct 23, 2011 at 4:53 PM
    #11
    NelsonTacoma

    NelsonTacoma This is my derpawayinator!!!!!

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2010
    Member:
    #33969
    Messages:
    2,081
    Gender:
    Male
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    06 PreRunner TRD Sport 03 4Runner Limited 4wd
    Bilstein 5100's , 6000k HID Hi/Low Kit, Magnaflow Muffler, 1.5 inch AP Wheel Spacers, Mudflap Delete
    This.

    I just did this to my headlamps a week or two ago. Turned out great. Wet sanded lightly with 3000 grit sand paper. Then buffed the crap out of them. Here's my results.

    Before
    [​IMG]

    After
    [​IMG]

    Lucky for me I had a friend who does this all the time give me advice on what to do before I started.
     
  12. Oct 23, 2011 at 5:00 PM
    #12
    Tacoma Mike

    Tacoma Mike 48 Year Chrysler/Toyota/ASE/ Master Tech.RETIRED

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2011
    Member:
    #61230
    Messages:
    28,619
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Southern Maine
    Vehicle:
    2011 Double Cab V6 1995 Bass Tracker
    Large Storage Box, 02610 intermittent switch swap, "Hot Wire" Power Outlets, DRL Shut Off, Disable Fob Beep, Disable Seat Belt Buzzers, Parking Light Mod, Battery Tender, 4 Leaf Spring Pack, Rear Headrest Removal, Factory Tow Package (7 Pin) Rear Diff Mod, Taco Lean Mod, 2WD Low ECU.
    I never use sandpaper on them. i have a kit with buffing wheels with different compounds. I've had real good luck. I would rather try an extra 5 min and see how it comes out than do that.

    I just deleted a couple of pics off my phone last week.
    Darn.. These were pure yellow and I got them just about clear.
    Give her another shot. You still need to get the compound to them. What else do you have to lose??
    Oh IMO never use the stuff you paint on after.
    It just seals in the yellow and fog you missed. Looks good on TV but I've seen the results. You can't miss it..
     
  13. Oct 25, 2011 at 6:06 AM
    #13
    ST3VE

    ST3VE IG: @fishsohard

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2011
    Member:
    #58595
    Messages:
    2,471
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steve
    MD --> SC
    Tint, car seat, baby wipes
    Easy fix.. wet sand it with 1000 then go out and get a rattle can of clear.. remove the whole housing from the truck and LIGHTLY spray 3 or 4 coats with about a minute between coats. if not come to maryland and I will do it for you.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top