Blurry Headlights
06-19-2018, 12:19 AM
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Kuala Lumpur
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Blurry Headlights
Hi guys!
I need you because I have to deal with the scourge of all headlights… BLURRY HEADLIGHTS!
I did not pay attention to my headlights and now they are all dirty, I tried cleaning them with toothpaste and a brush as a friend told me but it failed and I really have to get it done: It would be dangerous to drive without them being spotless… any tips? I am getting really desperate…
Also, if anyone knew how to protect my headlights so it does not happen again, I’d love them to share with me!
I need you because I have to deal with the scourge of all headlights… BLURRY HEADLIGHTS!
I did not pay attention to my headlights and now they are all dirty, I tried cleaning them with toothpaste and a brush as a friend told me but it failed and I really have to get it done: It would be dangerous to drive without them being spotless… any tips? I am getting really desperate…
Also, if anyone knew how to protect my headlights so it does not happen again, I’d love them to share with me!
06-24-2018, 09:47 PM
#2
Junior Member
Hi Hammondt!
I feel you man, foggy healights are the worst!
A bit of science first, this blur is due to UV rays that attack your polycarbonate headlights!
If you want to give them their original look here is how to do it!
For protection you can apply a coating. My detailer applied IGL Coatings Headlights on mine approximately 5 months ago and so far so good! It is a Malaysia company and as such they are used to much harsh UV ray (as in during the whole year) and also acidic rains so all in all I feel that it should work longer than most products available in the market.
I feel you man, foggy healights are the worst!
A bit of science first, this blur is due to UV rays that attack your polycarbonate headlights!
If you want to give them their original look here is how to do it!
- clean them, I usually just use soap.
- Use sand paper on them! You want to be extremely methodical. I usually do several steps and start at 1000 and end up somewhere between 2500 and 3000. You can damp your sandpaper too, it will be even more effective. Each pass is probably 10 minutes, just be patient!
- Polish (preferably with a polishing machine but you can also do it manually)
For protection you can apply a coating. My detailer applied IGL Coatings Headlights on mine approximately 5 months ago and so far so good! It is a Malaysia company and as such they are used to much harsh UV ray (as in during the whole year) and also acidic rains so all in all I feel that it should work longer than most products available in the market.
10-10-2018, 10:18 AM
#4
If your headlights are really hazy you might have to do a full on restoration. Wet sand, polish, clear coat.
If your headlights are lighting pitted simply applying a headlight protection film kit may help clear up the lens - the adhesive tends to fill in minor pitting - see vid:
The most likely reason your headlight will fog up / did fog up is not usually do to UV on its own. All headlights come with a hard protective UV coating from the factory. The problem starts when you drive your vehicle without a lighting protection film applied to the lights. Over time sand and road debris chip the hard coating the headlights came with and the sun starts to break down the polycarbonate. This process happens slowly, little by little. So slow you don’t notice it until it is too late.
If you then sand down and polish the lamp and return the clarity you must protect the lamp from both exposure to the atmosphere and UV otherwise you will have the fogginess return. While you could use some sort of polymer sealant they typically do not last that long and of course will do nothing again further pitting – and pitting was the root cause of the cloudy / foggy lens. Your best course of action is to protect the lens with our Headlight Armor lighting protection kits! More info in our vendor thread here: https://www.f150forum.com/f37/headli...r-f150-428380/
If your headlights are lighting pitted simply applying a headlight protection film kit may help clear up the lens - the adhesive tends to fill in minor pitting - see vid:
The most likely reason your headlight will fog up / did fog up is not usually do to UV on its own. All headlights come with a hard protective UV coating from the factory. The problem starts when you drive your vehicle without a lighting protection film applied to the lights. Over time sand and road debris chip the hard coating the headlights came with and the sun starts to break down the polycarbonate. This process happens slowly, little by little. So slow you don’t notice it until it is too late.
If you then sand down and polish the lamp and return the clarity you must protect the lamp from both exposure to the atmosphere and UV otherwise you will have the fogginess return. While you could use some sort of polymer sealant they typically do not last that long and of course will do nothing again further pitting – and pitting was the root cause of the cloudy / foggy lens. Your best course of action is to protect the lens with our Headlight Armor lighting protection kits! More info in our vendor thread here: https://www.f150forum.com/f37/headli...r-f150-428380/