How do you fix the sun damage on headlights?

Question

I had to leave my car in an Army parking lot for over a year while I was deployed in Iraq. When I returned I saw that my headlights looked like crap.

One person told me to take fine grade sand paper with some soapy water to it. It helped a little bit but it still looks like crap.

Any advice on what I could do? Or a site where I can get cheap headlights?

BTW Its a 2001 Dodge Stratus Sedan

It does make it kind of hard to see at night. It used to be way brighter before the sun damage. I can deal with it for the most part but I don't want to get caught in a situation where I can't see anything because of the lights: heavy rain, snow, etc.....

Answer 1

Take $3 and go to the autoparts store, and look for a white plastic bottle with a black cap that says Maguire's Plastix (I'm pretty sure it's Maguire's, but it's defintely Plastix). You don't have to worry about messing with the sandpaper. This stuff goes on like wax, and with the tiniest amount of elbow grease, it should come right out. I wouldn't resort to sandpaper until you're sure that a towel and that cleaner won't get it done.

Answer 2

ok this is my secret so don't tell anyone ok. use 2000 grit sandpaper and wet sand the headlight lens evenly, then you need to use a power buffer of some kind with a good cleaning wax and lightly buff the lens, repeat the sanding if heavy fogging still appears, but watch when buffing that you don't burn the lens with the buffer, I have done this job many times on many different cars for $150 a car, it is easy money.

Answer 3

Flitz polish and a polishing ball may help, but you might want to look into aftermarket replacements.

I'd throw elbow grease at it before I threw more money at it. Granted aftermarkets may hold up better, but eventually you'll end up trading, selling or getting an insurance payment for your car and will be driving something else.

As long as you can see at night, I wouldn't sweat it too much. Believe me, nobody else is going to.

Answer 4

I would say to just get a new set. If not try some "goof off" that stuff removes darn near everything. I would say you would probably get them cheapest on eBay.

Answer 5

Eastwood has a kit available to repair this and their products all work very well