How to Restore Headlights on your Car

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How to Restore Headlights on your Car

Рет қаралды 5,698

Күн бұрын

How to restore faded, hazy, foggy, or yellowing headlights using the wet sanding and polishing method. Faded headlight don’t look good on a vehicle and can cause poor light output at night. For this I am using my 2006 Dodge Ram as an example. This can be done with the lights left in the vehicle or they can be removed. I will provide both examples along with two different polishing methods too. #headlightrestoration #dodgeram #autodetailing
Amazon links for products used in the video:
USA:
1000 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/2YkJzmq
1500 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/3qTem61
2000 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/3iWGzWX
Polishing Compound: amzn.to/3omIghF
Wax and applicator kit: amzn.to/36xqYs7
Canada:
1000 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/36e2fZs
1500 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/3cfSJZx
2000 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/3pot4BF
Polishing Compound: amzn.to/36g3PKq
Wax and applicator kit: amzn.to/3sZXoF6
Website: 4diyers.com
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Tools/Supplies Needed:
-1000, 1500, & 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper
-sanding backing pad
-bucket of water with soap
-polishing compound
-wax
-clean polishing clothes
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:35 Method #1
00:45 Headlight Removal
01:13 Preparation
01:40 Wet Sanding
04:53 Hand Polishing Process
05:50 Finished
06:10 Method #2
06:20 Paint Protection
06:39 Wet Sanding
07:45 Machine Polishing Process
08:23 Final Protection
09:14 Finish Lenses
Procedure:
Wash the lights to remove any dirt or debris. Presoak the sandpaper in a bucket of water. This must be a wet/dry compatible sandpaper. A small amount of soap is added to the water to help with lubrication.
Start with 1000 grit, wet the lens, sand the surface working evenly across the lens. Keep the area well lubricated, rinse the as needed and keep inspecting the lens for clarity. With 1000 grit, this is used to remove a majority of the imperfections. When wet, the lens will appear someone clear, but if dry, it will be hazy and this is perfectly normal.
Using 1500 grit, continue the same process. A backing pad can be used to prevent any distortion. Light to medium pressure is all that’s needed. Rinse the lens and sandpaper as needed to remove any sanding residue and continue to work the surface. In this stage, we’re only really removing any imperfections and the 1000 grit sanding marks.
Using 2000 grit sandpaper, this stage is used to remove the 1500 grit sanding marks. Rinse the lens and sandpaper as needed. Despite wet sanding the surface, some UV coating is still left on the front of the headlight, but due to its deterioration, the UV coating has been removed on the top and you may be able to see that transition line.
When dried, it will still appear hazy and this is normal. Make sure the light is dry, next is onto the polishing stage. Polishing can be done by hand, apply a small amount to a soft clean cloth and work it into the surface. Light to medium pressure is only needed.
Moving onto the opposite light, this time using a different method. Wash the light and surrounding area so no containments cause any issues.
Dry the light and area, apply tape on the surrounding area such as the paint, plastic trim, rubber gaskets, etc.
Wet sand the surface using the same method as above. Rinse the light. Onto polishing, this time using a machine polisher. I prefer using a finishing pad. Apply the polish to the pad in dabs, then smear it on the surface to reduce the chance of sling. The headlight can be installed back into the vehicle making this a little easier, but you do have the risk of damaging the paint just like wet sanding. Apply light pressure with a slow speed, only use the weight of the polisher across the surface.
Using a clean soft cloth, wipe the surface and inspect as needed. If sanding marks are still present, then continue polishing.
Considering some of the UV coating has been removed, there is now no protection. For this I will be a wax, same as what is used for protecting paint. A sealant or nano coating can also be used depending on your preference and budget. Make sure the lenses are clean, for my method using wax, apply it to an applicator and work it across the surface. Wax will need to be applied every 4-6 months depending on your climate and what type of wax is used for maximum protection.
Thank you to all those who watch my videos and support my content. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel for future tutorial videos and like my video if you found it helpful. New videos are always being uploaded every week!
© 4DIYers 2013
All Rights Reserved
No part of this video or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author.

Пікірлер: 11

@mbzd1 3 жыл бұрын

your approach to explaining things is excellent -- very detailed but quick-paced. well filmed and edited too. thank you

@4DIYers 3 жыл бұрын

Amazon links for some of the products used in the video: USA: 1000 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/2YkJzmq 1500 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/3qTem61 2000 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/3iWGzWX Polishing Compound: amzn.to/3omIghF Wax and applicator kit: amzn.to/36xqYs7 Canada: 1000 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/36e2fZs 1500 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/3cfSJZx 2000 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/3pot4BF Polishing Compound: amzn.to/36g3PKq Wax and applicator kit: amzn.to/3sZXoF6

@redrhino4370 3 жыл бұрын

Very informative! Thank you! I am now a subscriber! Keep up the videos.

@4DIYers 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the kind words and support!

@Tiffany.Detailer 2 жыл бұрын

Finally doing this to my dad’s ‘06 Ram 1500 truck tomorrow. Almost the same paint color as well. His is a super light tan ish color but looks kinda silver sometimes. I bought the stuff to do this about 2 years ago, but I was so lazy and it makes me sad that he passed away and now I’m doing them tomorrow so my mom can sell the truck to pay the mortgage one more month before selling a the house as well. The truck runs great (he made sure of that by fixing any issue himself) the outside didn’t matter too much if it was pristine because he knew when he bought this in ‘07, it would be sitting outside 24/7, and it has been! So the lights are far wiirse than the ones in this video. The whole light looks even worse than the top of these ones! So I may have to drop down to 800, and one seen people say to go down to 600, but I really can’t mess this up. With him being the sole income provider, letting me move back home with him and my mom so I could save up money to start my detailing business and mine out. Well in August (after spending 1 1/2 inside being careful) I was dumb and a friend texted me saying he was in town and wanted to go to dinner. What he failed to mention was that he was feeling ill and was only recently available to go out after canceling dinner plans with his grandma in fear of giving her Covid (this was when Delta was bad everywhere especially in here in AZ.) I was only with him for a few hours, but that’s all it took. I drove home, started feeling sick 2 days later texted him, and he told me he just tested positive for Covid. So I told my parents (who were both starting to feel sick, and well my dad went to the hospital for oxygen per my parents friend who just happens to be the main dr at the nearest hospital. He said he’d be there for 3 days at maximum. I was too weak to get out of bed quick enough to tell my dad bye while they were leaning out the garage so my mom could drop him off. Well by day 5 he was out in a coma (they didn’t even call us to let us talk to him before putting him on the ventilator, which he stayed on until is completely shut down every vital organ and he passed. At age 57. He was otherwise happy and healthy. Never drank never even tried a cigarette in his life. Worked too Sam hard and died so a guy who I thought was a friend could hide the fact that he was sick just to hit on me all night and make me feel uncomfortable. My parents were so happy together. My dad even took apart his truck just days before I went to dinner with that guy. If that guy would’ve told me he had so much as a tickle in his throat I would’ve stayed home. I should’ve stayed home. I killed my dad. And of course the savings I had made from staying here are now gone because he was the sole provider and didn’t have life insurance (he passed away weeks after turning 57 (which was the age he was waiting to be to buy a new truck and retire and get an RV so him and my mom could travel the US and do fun things together because even after 50 years of being best friends, and 40 years of marriage, they didn’t get to do a lot of fun things because he worked SO hard to keep my mom, myself and my 4 siblings in great newly built neighborhoods with great schools clean clothes on our back and so much more, and he never once complained! He was the greatest dad ever and I’m so grateful I had him here with me for the time that I did, yet so mad that I gave him the thing that killed him. He always told me if the truck was still in good condition when he was ready for a new one, I could have it, but I can’t afford to buy it from my mom because she needs the cash and I’ve been wanting to buy a truck or a van for my mobile detailing business and having my dads truck would be not only the greatest because it was his, but I wouldn’t have to buy something else whenever I have the money. Heck I can’t even buy food these days. I think I’m going on 3 days without eating, I’m just filling up on water, hoping that helps. It’s so heartbreaking to have everything my dad worked so hard for to be sold off. I’m hoping that my mom can sell the truck for a decent amount (which is why I’m doing these headlights as well as the paint and trim because I’m hoping whoever buys it will keep up with it and take care of it and maybe one day I can track it down and buy it back. I apologize for this novel of a comment. I was planning on saying I’m going to do this with my Griot’s G8 3” DA (sanding and everything afterward), but because the oxidation is so terrible I was wondering if I should start with a 60@ grit disc, then go up to 2000, or 2500, then the a compound and maybe even a polish if needed before sealing it. Anyway sorry again I’m such a mess right now. I’ve been in shock and blocking out all thoughts since he passed and this week I started really grieving bad so I think my brain is wearing out of the shock I’ve been in. So I’m a hot mess who is going to post this because I’m too mentally spent and lazy to take out anything not auto related. I really hope no one reads this whole thing! And hopefully 600 isn’t too crazy to start out with. I’ve been seeing kits for severe headlights start out at 600, and another brand for severe starting off at 2000 grit so I have no idea !

@4DIYers 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Tiffany, I am so sorry for your loss but please don’t blame yourself. I am a firm believer we have different paths in life and regardless of what we do or how hard we fight it, it can’t be changed. Normally I’m not one for talking about my personal stuff on my channel, however I am in a similar situation with losing a parent and hopefully my experiences can help you out. My mom died in January from cancer, everything happened so quickly and somehow I’ve been able to make it this far which I would have never expected. I believe she’s been looking out for me and have been experiencing a lot of weird situations shortly before and after her passing. Along with yours, there’s been a few other commenters who have lost a loved one recently, no one ever spoke about such a topic on my channel before. My mom played a huge role in my life, I was very close to her. She was the person I had to talk to about anything, she was always there to support me, hang out with, and she was always there for me regardless of the situation. I don’t have that anymore, I’m stuck drowning in my own thoughts, trying to make sense of things, and making all the decisions myself without any input. Her and I were actually renovating a house together too… Everything from the landscaping, the exterior and interior, and building a garage. Now that’s all on me, trying to balance everything in life. It’s hard, there will be times you don’t know how to feel, you won’t have answers to certain things or you’ll never find those answers. She passed away in the hospital a few days after being admitted. I dropped everything and spending time with her was my priority. The hospital was 45min away so I was commuting everyday… To top it off, I was having car trouble too. The night before she passed away, I was wanting to spend the night at the hospital but had to go home that night to grab a couple few things. The next morning I was getting ready, then I got the call she was doing worse. I immediately left, half way there I found out she passed away. I wanted to be there for her, to keep her company. Normally I’m pretty hard on myself for simple stuff, never mind a situation like this. But for whatever reason I haven’t been. There was things I wanted to do for her but now I’ll never have the chance. I was in the process of getting her a car too. It wasn’t new but something nice she could enjoy and instead of that I’m paying for her funeral. I can’t say time will heal, but you’ll learn to accept the situation, learn to live with what is the new normal. You’ll have your up and down moment, even into almost six months I have some tough moment. But I’ve found keeping myself busy, I just went completely crazy with reno work and most likely am well over my head in projects, more than I can keep up with. With that being said, it’s kept my mind occupied and it’s helped push me along too. I’ll also put on my favorite movies, listen to music in between, or even play video games. Most people I find don’t like talking about situations like this… I even went out with a couple women who lost a parent and they weren’t very supportive either so I just avoid the topic all together now. Don’t expect people to understand. You do however have siblings and it sounds like you’re close to your mother, so do still have that going for you and I really hope you’re able to talk to them. And most importantly, your dad wanted you to have a good life, keep that going. Make sure you’re eating, sleep well, look after yourself. Don’t let your family experience another heartbreak. Invest time in your detailing business, it’ll not only keep yourself busy and preoccupied, but you can sort out the financial situation too.   As for your question regarding the headlights. I would start with 800, take your time, it’s plastic so material can be removed easily. Hazy headlights are by far the biggest eye sore when selling a vehicle. If they’re too far gone, perhaps picking up a used set maybe an option.   While you still have the truck and if you’re set on keeping it. Why not offer a moving service instead for different items like furniture, yard equipment, lumber, etc?

@4DIYers 9 ай бұрын

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