Automotive

Can my headlights become worse?

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  • Jul 30th, 2018 3:59 pm
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Deal Addict
Sep 6, 2017
4615 posts
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Can my headlights become worse?

Anyways been noticing that the headlight lens turning yellow lately. How much of a hit in the brightness category of I leave them like that? Also looking at youtube video people use toothpaste to clean off the yellowness. Should I try it?
Here is how they look.
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  • 20180728_102124.jpg
18 replies
Deal Guru
Feb 9, 2006
13378 posts
8308 upvotes
Brampton
Yes they can get worse.

Toothpaste is useless for this problem. Go to Crappytire and get the 3M headlight kit it's one of the better DIY ones.

The problem with clouded lights isn't just reduced brightness but also increased glare for other drivers as your projectors cutoffs arent as effective anymore.
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Feb 11, 2007
21248 posts
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GTA
Make sure whatever you use has a UV protecting coating, otherwise it will yellow even faster.
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Deal Addict
Sep 6, 2017
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Ok I just came back from ct and will try rubbing them lights with the stuff in the kit.
Deal Addict
Sep 6, 2017
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The water sand made it very matte and the paste using a polisher seem to bring back the original state.
Now to do the other side.
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  • 20180728_102120.jpg
Deal Guru
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Jul 15, 2008
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Toronto
You'll need to apply some UV Protectant + seal to it otherwise it will go yellow. I never restored my headlights but that's what I've read and seems to make sense.
Sr. Member
Jan 13, 2007
689 posts
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Toronto, Ontario
cristianosham wrote: The water sand made it very matte and the paste using a polisher seem to bring back the original state.
Now to do the other side.
Good job. That's all it takes to rejuvenate headlights. I've done this a few times already and the difference is literally night and day.
Deal Expert
Jan 15, 2006
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Richmond Hill
chinesedevil wrote: You'll need to apply some UV Protectant + seal to it otherwise it will go yellow. I never restored my headlights but that's what I've read and seems to make sense.
The kit he bought comes with the UV protectant.
Deal Addict
Sep 8, 2017
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Good results, OP!

I restored mine using the 3M kit after reading good reviews for it and got good results too. But I've never seen it at CT, I got my kit at NAPA.
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May 11, 2009
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Trudostan
chinesedevil wrote: You'll need to apply some UV Protectant + seal to it otherwise it will go yellow. I never restored my headlights but that's what I've read and seems to make sense.
Can you recommend a brand/source of said UV protectant? I don;t need a restoration kit, just prevention right now. I use wax as a UV barrier right now but it's not a perfect solution
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Jul 15, 2008
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M1K3Z0R wrote: Can you recommend a brand/source of said UV protectant? I don;t need a restoration kit, just prevention right now. I use wax as a UV barrier right now but it's not a perfect solution
Unfortunately I don't know of any. I was researching restoring a older cars head lights and just read some info on the procedure, but didn't actually act on it yet. So at this point I have no recommendation. Would love to hear from other members for future reference though.
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Sep 26, 2007
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do your park your vehicle outdoor most of the time during the day?
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Deal Addict
Apr 30, 2015
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SaskBerta
I've been debating buying the 3M kit for a few months now. After seeing this I'll definitely give it a try. My truck could use a makeover badly.
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Jun 12, 2007
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M1K3Z0R wrote: Can you recommend a brand/source of said UV protectant? I don;t need a restoration kit, just prevention right now. I use wax as a UV barrier right now but it's not a perfect solution
chinesedevil wrote: Unfortunately I don't know of any. I was researching restoring a older cars head lights and just read some info on the procedure, but didn't actually act on it yet. So at this point I have no recommendation. Would love to hear from other members for future reference though.
There used to be a product called Rust-Oleum Clear Coat with uv protection . There were two versions, the correct one explicitly said "safe for plastic" vs the bad one says "can be used on plastic"
Sr. Member
Dec 1, 2006
953 posts
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Toronto
cristianosham wrote: Anyways been noticing that the headlight lens turning yellow lately. How much of a hit in the brightness category of I leave them like that? Also looking at youtube video people use toothpaste to clean off the yellowness. Should I try it?
Here is how they look.
I've gone through this process several times and it always just returns, until I found this guy in Ajax who does it out of his driveway. He did it for my car last summer and it still looks the same. Definitely worth it if you don't want to keep doing it.
PM me if you need the contact.
Member
Sep 7, 2007
361 posts
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Woodstock
cristianosham wrote: Anyways been noticing that the headlight lens turning yellow lately. How much of a hit in the brightness category of I leave them like that? Also looking at youtube video people use toothpaste to clean off the yellowness. Should I try it?
Here is how they look.
Today's tooth paste is not abrasive, so it won't do a thing. There are all kinds of kits to polish headlight lenses at various prices, but they are a lot of work. Sometimes the "haze" is actually fine cracks and can't be polished out. What I use is Turtle Wax Trim Restorer that's intended to restore black plastic trim pieces that are turning grey. It makes the scratches and minute cracks invisible, for a while, but probably won't totally get rid of the yellow.
Deal Fanatic
Jul 26, 2007
7579 posts
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Toronto
McLaren__F1 wrote: Put on a clear bra film
Film will turn yellow too after 10+ years. I had to remove mine which was on from day 1 and now headlights looks like brand new.

Now how long will these 15 years old headlights will turn yellow?

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