FocusCanada Forums

Ok now not really focus related, I got a new second car and the headlights are a little yellow and dull. The overall light output is less than ideal because of this. Now I've seen these plastic light polishing kits on a few sites, has anybody tried these? Is there a local place to buy this stuff rather than ebay or some misc. website?

I've seen this kit offered at PI. Their display should be of a Ranger's headlight. I think as long as the housing is plastic, it can be polished at any detailing shop... without any kit. I'm sure Paul must have some trick to this.

hardk0re,Sep 19 2006, 11:56 PM Wrote:Ok now not really focus related, I got a new second car and the headlights are a little yellow and dull.  The overall light output is less than ideal because of this.  Now I've seen these plastic light polishing kits on a few sites, has anybody tried these?  Is there a local place to buy this stuff rather than ebay or some misc. website?
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I use Plexus - available at Canadian Tire - works good IMO.

I think it was T-Dot (or was it SVT Dean).. that mentioned detailing shops use (or used to) clear shoe polish and a buffer to shiny up yellow lights....

Some scrap yards offer this service to you, I know Standard Auto Wreakers is one of them.

what car did you get?

1995 Ford Escort Wagon, Red, Manual, 200K Total step up from the buick :P

hardk0re,Sep 20 2006, 12:04 PM Wrote:1995 Ford Escort Wagon, Red, Manual, 200K Total step up from the buick :P
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Turbo it. :P

hardk0re,Sep 20 2006, 12:04 PM Wrote:1995 Ford Escort Wagon, Red, Manual, 200K Total step up from the buick :P
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Euro Escort conversion?

lol
US and Euro Escorts are about as similar as pancakes and a Escalade! :P

if the yellowing is on the outside, the stuff at Cantire works pretty good.
i restored a friends yellowed headlights on his mustang with it, worked pretty good.
you can always try to find a clean set of used headlights at a wrecker and trade in your old ones to offset the cost... :)

Flofocus,Sep 20 2006, 11:58 AM Wrote:what car did you get?
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Meguiar's Plastx (~$14) cleaned my old Escort GT's headlights up quite well. A full wet sand and clear coat would have been better, but at least I could see at night. I used it on my Escort, and my dad has used it on his Aerocrap's headlights, and brought them right back.

Before and After on Plastx

Wetsanding Headlights

If you go the Plastx route, use it with a terry cloth towel (more 'bite' than microfiber). Work it in well, and it will polish away, it gets 'used up' (Meg's calls it diminishing abrasives).

From what I've read, Plexus is more of a cleaner, and if they're really bad, you need a polish or wet sand. Another option is the Novus three step system (more expensive).

Oh, and to quote Flo, TURBO THAT 1.9! :P

Ryan

Yeah, I use PlasticX on my car a few times a year and it works wonders at keeping lenses spot free... but if the lens is really oxidized, i'd suggest stronger methods as the Meguiars stuff is more precautionary maintenance than anything. I have cleaned up quite a few cars with the stuff... and got half decent results, so it's worth a shot considering how cheap it is.

MY Dad's Topaz had/has the same problem with the headlight lenses and the waterfall "lightbar" grille. He uses NOVUS plastic cleaner and waxing compounds. They are speciffically meant for applications like what you want to do. I also use it on my headlights on my Focus sometimes to help remove minor scratches and buff them up. It also helps create a smoother surface that makes it hard for them to become sandblasted.

Not sure where to buy that stuff, but my dad does...I'll try and find out for you, but I think it comes from UAP NAPA, or somewhere else that sells a lot of bodywork products...

you can use polishing compound on a rag!

meguiars diamond cut is great...and then you can polish the paint too!!! :)

I got some plastix, ok for the 5 minutes I spent on it it was night and day. The lights were really dull looking before and after a rubbing it into one light it was amazing.

Felt like I could have been making an infomercial...

Many of you have seen older stangs with yellowed headlights... i used to use autosol.. but i gave up on these seeing they were really bad.. so i wet sanded them and buffed them with compund... I used to use a real buffer when i worked at the auto wrecker. Some headlights can't be done as easily as others... eg 96-99 taurus, they have like a clearcoat on the outside that cracks and hazes over time.. you have to strip that off completely. I think the focus is kind of like these, but you can get away without taking layers off... I left that job in 01-02 so i didn't get much chance to do alot of focus lights.. but i have polished just about any other car headlight/marker or tail light late eighties to current


this is when i was done with them



I'll see if i can find a pre-polish pic


PS... I DON"T RECOMMEND MY METHOD TO THOSE WHO DON"T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE!!!

Yeah, my dad and I do the same thing with Novus on the headlights and tailights of all of our vehicles. It made the biggest difference on the lenses and grille of the Topaz...