Clubjazz - Honda Jazz & HR-V Forums

Diagnostics, Tuning, Modifications and Maintenance - all Hondas => Car Care & Detailing => Topic started by: guest3144 on June 24, 2014, 09:07:12 PM

Title: Headlight haze
Post by: guest3144 on June 24, 2014, 09:07:12 PM
Has anyone got experience of using 1200 wet and dry then brasso on these old
headlight lenses?
This used to work a treat on Cessna airplane windshields!

Many thanks for reading!
Nige
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: culzean on June 24, 2014, 09:51:55 PM
use fenwicks caravan window cleaner cream from Halfords.   Use it with a proper cotton cloth (old shirt or tee shirt etc) - I thought I was being clever using microfibre and didn't seem to be making progress - read the tube label 'use cotton cloth' and it worked 100% quicker.
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: Dustygd3 on June 24, 2014, 10:05:53 PM
Toothpaste works great too  ;)
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: guest4324 on June 25, 2014, 04:43:08 AM
You can also use hand cleaner such as swarfega (any soap with bits in) and then glass cleaner.
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: Pine on June 25, 2014, 10:16:57 AM
T-Cut and then car polish. I just use a frequent application of car polish to keep them crystal clear.
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: SuperCNJ on June 25, 2014, 01:16:21 PM
1200 wet and dry (or finer), rubbing compound then polish. With toothpaste you will be there forever! lol
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: guest3144 on June 28, 2014, 08:40:57 AM
Thanks everybody! We used Brasso [the Wadding type] last night, seems it works a treat.
More work later, but cheers for the suggestions.

[we tried the toothpaste, but after a whole tube...our teeth were sparkling but the headlights..er..............]
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: culzean on June 28, 2014, 09:22:48 AM
Something to think about - even the minimal Northern hemisphere sun we get in most of UK is capable of degrading the tough plastic and paint on your car (and anything else left outdoors) but some people will happily expose vast areas of their skin to much stronger sun while on holidays abroad without even bothering with sun-block cream.  What's the toughest 'polycarbonate / acrylic' or 'human skin' - "there's only on way to find out.................." (as Harry Hill would say!)
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: Bentleymop on June 28, 2014, 04:44:38 PM
Washing up liquid & sugar works well too,just don`t taste it  :o
LOL
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: guest5562 on August 03, 2015, 12:07:36 PM
Our headlamps were very very poor... not just a haze but a layer of brown.

I started with 2000 wet & dry (used wet), then 3000 and 5000. Wet and dry needs using in single direction in line with the longest length of the headlamp... circular or cross rubbing can leave marks.

Final finish was with rubbing compound on a polishing mop fitted to the drill.


They look great now.
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: JazzyB on August 03, 2015, 04:08:08 PM
One thing to bear in mind when using all these methods to remove the haze etc and that is the surface of the lights has a UV coating that helps stop the hazing etc but once this is worn away the lights may come up looking new it will only be short term as without the coating they will quickly haze over.
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: culzean on August 03, 2015, 06:19:40 PM
Found that Fenwicks caravan window cream from Halfords works great - without all the major damage caused by carborundum abrasive paper on the plastic (and as JazzyB says removing the existing UV coating).  Just use a cotton cloth and the cream and a bit of elbow grease - leaves a polished finish and a bit of wax after may stop it happening again too soon.
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: guest5562 on August 05, 2015, 10:06:33 AM
>>> it will only be short term as without the coating they will quickly haze over.

I'd never had this plastic haze to deal with until I bought a car with one dreadful lamp just over a year ago. Like our Jazz I've just done the headlamp looked a scrapper, not just a bit hazy, so it got the full wet and dry treatment.

It has taken a year before the lamp had a noticeable bloom start to appear and then a quick compound and rag brought it back to crystal clear. I do use a car polish with claimed UV protection about three times a year so assuming that helps a bit.

I did try just compound on the Jazz lights first but the improvement was only OK... with the full wet and dry treatment and final buffing they sparkle.
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: bill ericay on August 25, 2015, 07:48:46 PM
Thanks culzean, used the Fenwicks on my wife's Micra headlights, now clear again !
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: Gonzo on August 28, 2015, 08:17:04 PM
Could someone post a link to the specific Fenwicks product used please?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: culzean on August 28, 2015, 08:34:24 PM
http://www.halfords.com/camping-leisure/caravan-motorhomes/chemicals-cleaning/fenwicks-windowize-50ml-tube (http://www.halfords.com/camping-leisure/caravan-motorhomes/chemicals-cleaning/fenwicks-windowize-50ml-tube)
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: bill ericay on August 28, 2015, 10:52:34 PM
also here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fenwicks-Windowize-Scratch-Remover-Litres/dp/B0041T66P4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440798663&sr=8-1&keywords=fenwicks+scratch+remover (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fenwicks-Windowize-Scratch-Remover-Litres/dp/B0041T66P4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440798663&sr=8-1&keywords=fenwicks+scratch+remover)
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: degzi on September 10, 2015, 07:55:34 PM
My local halfords didn't stock it  ???
So I just t-cut, polished, then wax. It worked a treat  :-[
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: guest6981 on June 22, 2017, 09:48:32 PM
Some great suggestions here that I intend to try!
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: culzean on June 22, 2017, 10:50:05 PM
also here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fenwicks-Windowize-Scratch-Remover-Litres/dp/B0041T66P4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440798663&sr=8-1&keywords=fenwicks+scratch+remover (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fenwicks-Windowize-Scratch-Remover-Litres/dp/B0041T66P4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440798663&sr=8-1&keywords=fenwicks+scratch+remover)

Halfords also sell this in their camping / caravan section,  couple of quid dearer but no waiting for delivery (in my experience free delivery option normally takes up to a week LOL)

I have used this with great success on headlights of two Jazzes.  At first I thought it was hard work because instead of using the recommended COTTON cloth I thought it would be smart to use a micro-fibre one - what a mistake - If you use a cotton cloth (old handkerchief or shirt etc.) it is a breeze. This paste is not too aggressive but it does a great job,  apply a couple of coats of good wax afterwards to give plastic some UV protection and jobs a goodun.

I have read some barbarous methods of removing headlight haze (which is apparently caused by a combination of sunlight / UV ray damage and exhaust fumes attacking the plastic),  from sanding down to using all sorts of agressive power tools and substances.  The idea is to keep as much of the existing UV coating on the plastic as you can and then protect it with a decent wax after,  if you are too aggressive and remove all the coating the plastic will just haze up again very quickly. 

On the cars we have now I tend to be pro-active and apply a coating of AutoGlym super resin wax to headlight covers every few month to try to give the plastic good UV protection and protection from road fumes etc and stop it clouding up. May be working because my Civic is 5 years old and headlights are still crystal clear.
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: culzean on June 23, 2017, 08:37:10 AM
http://www.lamin-x.com/Universal-Film-Sheet-Covers-s/1885.htm (http://www.lamin-x.com/Universal-Film-Sheet-Covers-s/1885.htm)

You can get products like one in link to replace the UV protection on plastic light covers after you spent all that time cleaning them,  as I said I use AutoGlym wax once a month (I am not a great cleaner of cars,  but it is so quick and easy to do front and rear lights that I will do it) to stop exhaust fumes and sun damaging the lenses mainly because it is so cheap and easy to do but also when you get older you need the headlights to be working at peak efficiency LOL
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: jazzway on June 23, 2017, 12:22:09 PM
I have done some severe headlights last week on a friends car. Started with wet sanding them with 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000 and finish with a medium light abrasive polish on a (white) light polisher foam pad. I sealed the then crystal clear headlights with Finish Kare 1000p high temp paste wax, but with a durability of max 6 months the sealant have to be reapplied 2 or 3 times a year. Better option is sealing them with something like Carpro Dlux.
Preventing the fuss with sand paper is keeping the car protected for the elements all year round. ;)
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: guest7110 on September 02, 2017, 11:52:00 AM
All the 3M headlight restoration kit is a worthy option to try to restore your headlights. The only downside is that you will need to find some protective sealant as the kit does not contain any.
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: RichardA on September 10, 2017, 11:49:47 AM
Autoglym now do a Headlight Restoration Kit, can't comment on how good it is.
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: sparky Paul on September 11, 2017, 06:00:17 PM
I have done some severe headlights last week on a friends car. Started with wet sanding them with 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000 and finish with a medium light abrasive polish on a (white) light polisher foam pad.

Same method I use, wet & dry and plenty of soapy water, followed by a compounding.

The yellowing/crazing is actually the polycarbonate hard coat, the plastic is all UV stable. The only problem is that the remaining polycarbonate is slightly softer, and in theory will scratch easier... so a good wax coating won't hurt. I've done a few of these and in my experience there is little or no difference in longevity between a polished headlight and a new one.
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: culzean on September 11, 2017, 07:19:57 PM
For many years now I have applied auto glym super resin wax to headlights on our cars about every month  and seems to work( (and prevention is  better than cure) - it is the only part of the cars I do wash and wax. Have used Fenwick caravan window scratch remover cream on other cars and it works without all that sanding, but only if you catch it before it gets really bad.

The hard coating on the polycarb is the UV protection, polycarbonate itself is not very resistant to UV. The heat from filament bulbs cooks the atmospheric pollution  grime onto the plastic and degrades it,  that is why I keep wax on them, I have also fitted LED headlight bulbs,  which produce a lot less infra red heat than filaments and keep plastic cooler,  don't even melt the frost off headlamp cover.

Worth fitting LED bulbs just for that reason - because they are cheaper than a new headlight - and provide a lot more light on the road than even best xenon filament bulb I have used.

classiccarleds H4 LED bulbs with Philips Z-ES chips
Title: Re: Headlight haze
Post by: sparky Paul on September 12, 2017, 10:01:38 AM
I don't think UV degradation is such a major problem in the UK. I did a pair on a Clio, the driver's side was getting so bad it was borderline for the MOT, and that car was only 7 years old. The headlights still looked perfectly okay with no yellowing when I last saw the car four years later, and that was without any special treatment - I think that's pretty good considering that some headlights are showing deterioration 5-6 years from new.

A good finish on the surfaces seems to slow further deterioration. Obviously, a regular wax, or better still something with UV protection, is always a good idea.

The polycarbonate used for headlights is basically UV stable, it has to withstand the intense illumination from the rear, which will of course have a UV component. There is additional UV protection in the hard coat, but I don't think you should get too hung up about removing the hard coat, if the alternative is a new headlight.

I also like the idea of retrofit LED headlight bulbs, but if you do consider going this route, make sure you buy only the type approved CE marked ones that culzean recommends. Don't be tempted by the cheap ones, they are not legal for UK road use.