Headlight cleaning problems.

[DARCA]

Ok, So I pulled my driver side head, parking, and turn lights off. I am looking inside them and they have quite a bit of crap in there (dirt, bugs, water, etc...). I would like to clean these lights out but poring more water in to them just doesn't sound like a good idea to me. How should I go about cleaning these out?

Also My headlight has a little metal piece that is loose and rattling around inside of it, I am assuming this is a reflector piece that fits in front of the bulb some how. Am I screwed with it being loose or is there a way to get it back in place that is worth doing?

Thanks again for all the help.

-Brad

 

[1987stangman]

I have cleaned a lot of these lights. A lot of people would rather throw the stockers out for 6 piece replacements but believe in refurbishing original units provided that they are in good repairable shape. I use compressed air to remove water or debris from the inside of the light and then I wet sand the front of the lenses with 1500 grit sand paper and then follow up with 2000. After the wet sand is done use Meguires Xcratch X or 3M rubbing compound to rub out the sand scratches. You will be amazed and the finish lasts for years not months.

 

[DARCA]

I am doing wet sanding as soon as I can get to town to get the supplies, I am currently snowed in though.

Any Ideas on the reflector?

 

[LiquidGT]

I refurbished the headlights on my old Escort, kind of like 1987stangman said, then I sprayed them with a thin layer of clearcoat and they didnt oxidize again. Be sure to put some clear sealant around your lights so they wont leak anymore.

You'll probably need a new sidemarker housing because of the reflector, its near impossible to try to crack open the lense without breaking it.

 

[DARCA]

Ok, yea my side markers are pretty gross but work, so thats gunna have to be good enough for now because of my budget.

 

[DARCA]

Getting ready to wet sand my lights, and I am reading things about using sealant on the lights now. Anyone care to explain what this means to me?

 

[SMOKEDYA]

by useing sealant on them i would assume it's to seal in the finsh and make it last longer. unless you mean sealant as in resealing where the lights are bonded together? peace


john

 

[DARCA]

Sealing the finish is what I had meant yes.