Head light covers...

[number 9]

Question number two:

My '03 Forester has for some time had
a cloudy head light cover. It's cutting
down the brightness.

Is this common? What do I use to clean
it up?

"As always, we thank you for your support."

H.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Question number two:

My '03 Forester has for some time had
a cloudy head light cover. It's cutting
down the brightness.

Is this common? What do I use to clean
it up?

"As always, we thank you for your support."

H.

Most steps to clean up the yellow/pitted lenses involve wet sanding with
2-3-4 succesively finer grit abrasives and finishing with a plastic
polish and a clearcoat spray. Likely there are kits for this as well.
I've read instructions from folks at both www.usmb.net and
www.nasioc.com . In addition to anyone;s experience here - try searching
those forums.

Carl

 

[Backfire Bob]

Question number two:

My '03 Forester has for some time had
a cloudy head light cover. It's cutting
down the brightness.

Is this common? What do I use to clean
it up?

It's called CHEAP plastic. Subaru will cut corners on everything.
Even the lens on Fords last longer than 3 years....

Try this link. It doesn't list a 2003, but they might have it now.

http://www.carlightswholesale.com

A friend bought a set of headlights for his 96 Taurus (god knows WHY he
bought that wreck).
They were good quality

 

[S]

Hi #9!

Is this common?

What do I use to clean
it up?

Yes.

Plastic polish and elbow grease if it's not real bad, soap and water,
fine wet-r-dry sandpaper, plastic polish and lotsa elbow grease if it
is.
Not much trouble to install new headlight assemblies if they don't
clean up to your satisfaction, but they're kinda pricy.

"As always, we thank you for your support."

Yer welcome.

ByeBye! S.


Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[number 9]

Thank you all!
I thought it was on the inside, but as you
pointed out, it is in fact on the outside of the plastic.

Do you think waxing it afterwords will keep
it better longer?

H.

 

[Sheldon]

Thank you all!
I thought it was on the inside, but as you
pointed out, it is in fact on the outside of the plastic.

Do you think waxing it afterwords will keep
it better longer?

H.

They weather pretty fast. It's weather cracks, which are very fine, and
just plain old sandblasting from driving the car. The damage is on the
outside, but fortunately the actual "lens" is on the inside. The trick is
to use fine wet/dry sandpaper to take it down relatively fast, then follow
it up with polishes. If you have the bucks just get new ones, or try a
junkyard for a cleaner headlight assembly. Unfortunately I think they cost
around $300 each new.

If there are a lot of fine cracks in the lens, wax might fill them in and
make it look clearer. I used to use Amour All on my plastic bike speedo and
tach after polishing it with Simichrome polish. Did a pretty good job.
Usually started with some fine wet/dry paper.

 

[AS]

Just to stir the subject:

Most plastic headlamp lenses are made out of Polycarbonate (PC such as
Lexan and other commercial names).

PC is used because it is a tough material, does not break easily, and
withstands high temperatures, but unfortunately, it is one of the worst
materials to use outdoors because it is highly susceptible to UV
radiation, even when loaded with UV stabilization additives. The UV
radiation from the sun is what turns the clear lenses into yellowish
light intensity hogs.

So why is it used? Weight, Cost and moldability to conform to weird
designs. Besides, manufacturers do not mind the extra business of
selling replacement lenses at outrageously high prices, do they?

As an after-thought: PC is derived from oil, while glass, for the old
fashioned headlights, made from sand.