How to get rid of the yellowed headlights
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- Vikash
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I don't know much about the different types of clear coat you can get, but it makes sense that a glossy coat would reflect some light back instead of transmitting it. But if the matte coat diffuses the light at all, that'd be undesirable too.
"Just reading vrg3's convoluted, information-packed posts made me feel better all over again." -- subyluvr2212
Well, I had my headlights off today because I'm reworking my driving light mounts, and decided to try this out. The first time was okay, but the clear coat "orange-peeled," I guess. They're nice and clear, though. Then I sanded them again to take off the clear, and tried it again. It looks worse now. I figure I didn't sand them well enough, and/or I'm not putting the clearcoat on right. There's also a little cloudy part. Any suggestions? Should I just sand them down and try again? I put them in the fridge for awhile to dry, too.
peter@functionauto.com
Did you take acetone to them before hand?
You really need to work the wet fine grit sand paper to as smooth/clear as you can.
Put the light in the freezer before you paint the lights. Do a lighter coat, and then a heavy coat.
You really need to work the wet fine grit sand paper to as smooth/clear as you can.
Put the light in the freezer before you paint the lights. Do a lighter coat, and then a heavy coat.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
What I found out was that even with sanding, there was an underlying yellow that just didn't seem to go away. What the acetone did was eat through the plastic, and get me to clear plastic.
When I was wiping the lenses with the acetone, the paper towel would turn yellow. I'd just keep doing this until I got no more yellow.
The only issue with using acetone is that you have a lot more sanding to do since the acetone effectively makes the plastic cloudier. So if you're happy with things now, just leave it.
When I was wiping the lenses with the acetone, the paper towel would turn yellow. I'd just keep doing this until I got no more yellow.
The only issue with using acetone is that you have a lot more sanding to do since the acetone effectively makes the plastic cloudier. So if you're happy with things now, just leave it.
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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- Fourth Gear
- Posts: 1902
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- Location: Woodruff, SC
I sanded the crap out of mine and clearcoated them a while ago.
They look good. No more yellow. I had a bit of orange peel in the clear, but a bit of rubbing compound did the trick.
They look good. No more yellow. I had a bit of orange peel in the clear, but a bit of rubbing compound did the trick.
Disclaimer: If anything I post is inaccurate, please correct me. I do not wish to add to the misinformation floating around on the internet.
That being said, everything I post is accurate to the best of my knowledge.
Rio Red '91 Legacy SS
That being said, everything I post is accurate to the best of my knowledge.
Rio Red '91 Legacy SS
Sandpaper, clear coat, and Meguiar's clear plastic cleaner/polish purchased. Headlights removed and ready for surgery! (The car looks kinda funny with no grill or headlights... )
(NOTE: To anyone who uses the Subaru service manual for grill removal...there are SEVEN clips on the '91 turbo grill, not four like they show in the manual. There are four on top (as in the FSM), one in the bottom middle and one on each side on the bottom. The bottom middle one is best accessed through the top middle area and is a "push down style" clip like the top ones. The bottom side ones are reversed from the others, so the clip needs pushed UP not down to release! )
(NOTE: To anyone who uses the Subaru service manual for grill removal...there are SEVEN clips on the '91 turbo grill, not four like they show in the manual. There are four on top (as in the FSM), one in the bottom middle and one on each side on the bottom. The bottom middle one is best accessed through the top middle area and is a "push down style" clip like the top ones. The bottom side ones are reversed from the others, so the clip needs pushed UP not down to release! )
Shane
2006 Subaru WRX TR
1989 Toyota MR2
2006 Subaru WRX TR
1989 Toyota MR2
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- Fourth Gear
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I think my middle bottom clip is broken. It slots into place, but doesn't clip into it. It just comes right off.
Also, the Haynes manual doesn't show how to adjust a '91 Legacy's headlights. It only shows for '92 on. It's pretty easy to figure out, but still......
Also, the Haynes manual doesn't show how to adjust a '91 Legacy's headlights. It only shows for '92 on. It's pretty easy to figure out, but still......
Disclaimer: If anything I post is inaccurate, please correct me. I do not wish to add to the misinformation floating around on the internet.
That being said, everything I post is accurate to the best of my knowledge.
Rio Red '91 Legacy SS
That being said, everything I post is accurate to the best of my knowledge.
Rio Red '91 Legacy SS
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- Spelling Nazi
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Yeah, I've got the Haynes manual as well (came with the car) but only recently picked up the FSM set from the dealer. Sad thing is the Haynes better is actually better for a few tasks like certain part removal/installation steps. The FSM definitely has the edge for exploded views, torque specs and sheer volume of information, though.IronMonkeyL255 wrote:Also, the Haynes manual doesn't show how to adjust a '91 Legacy's headlights. It only shows for '92 on. It's pretty easy to figure out, but still......
Got one of the headlamps mostly done last night and plan to finish the job completely tonight. Hopefully I'll remember to borrow my friend's digital camera after work today, so I can take some before/after pics (as the passenger lens is still untouched).
Shane
2006 Subaru WRX TR
1989 Toyota MR2
2006 Subaru WRX TR
1989 Toyota MR2
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- Third Gear
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I did the one on my '92 SS a while back, wet sanded with 400 grit to remove the damaged (yellow) layer, then on to 600. 1000, 1500 grits, finished with polishing compound with the buffer, just like finishing clearcoat, after all cured clearcoat is just clear plastic. Came out clear and beautiful, I didn't coat them with anything but it might not be a bad idea to protect them from more UV damage. I figure I'll just hit them with the 1500 and the buffer from time to time. One note, they are much easier to work with off the car.
Gary
P.S. I have some pics (before, durring, after) if anybody wants to see.
Gary
P.S. I have some pics (before, durring, after) if anybody wants to see.
No matter how broke I am... I always seem to find two cents.
Never did get pics of mine (doh), but I did get them finished and reinstalled last night. I wet-sanded with 220, 400, 800, then 1000 grit (the four types that come in the 3M variety pack at Advance Auto Parts ), then did a thin coat of DupliColor clearcoat, followed by a thicker coat of it.
While it isn't quite as "white/clear" as the corner lenses, it is definitely light years better than previously (as noted by my still yellowed bumper turn signals, which matched the headlamps when I started but now are nowhere close).
While it isn't quite as "white/clear" as the corner lenses, it is definitely light years better than previously (as noted by my still yellowed bumper turn signals, which matched the headlamps when I started but now are nowhere close).
Shane
2006 Subaru WRX TR
1989 Toyota MR2
2006 Subaru WRX TR
1989 Toyota MR2
yeah....let's see some pics
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
Nice.....you had the buffer out
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
Ok, finally got some pics (unfortunately, no before pics, though).
Two things of note:
1) Note the color of the bumper turn signals. This is very similar to what the headlights looked like originally.
2) The passenger side lens is now MUCH clearer than the driver side lens. I suspect this is because there was still some moisture in the passenger lens when I reinstalled them, so it appears to have steam-cleaned the inside of them!
Overall view (note the comparison with the still yellowed turn signals):
Driver side closeup:
Passenger side closeup:
Two things of note:
1) Note the color of the bumper turn signals. This is very similar to what the headlights looked like originally.
2) The passenger side lens is now MUCH clearer than the driver side lens. I suspect this is because there was still some moisture in the passenger lens when I reinstalled them, so it appears to have steam-cleaned the inside of them!
Overall view (note the comparison with the still yellowed turn signals):
Driver side closeup:
Passenger side closeup:
Shane
2006 Subaru WRX TR
1989 Toyota MR2
2006 Subaru WRX TR
1989 Toyota MR2
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- Fourth Gear
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You cheated.josh9227 wrote:I got JDM glass head lights
I got my headlights back to full complexion (Mine look like that silver legacy above). My problem is now how to get them back to pointing the right direction.
1995 Polo Green Subaru SVX (189k miles - 08/2007-Present)Manarius wrote:The Neo-Cons would call me a defeatist. I'd call me a realist. I'm realistically saying that a snowball has better chances in the blazes of hell than democracy has in Iraq.