Last x Days Posts  1 | 3 | 7 Days  Search  Topics  Tree View  Help
  Soarer Central * How-to and Tutorials * Cleaning Headlights from the outside... Previous Previous    Next Next  

Author Message
David Topolovac
Tinkerer
Victoria
Soarer TT

Posts: 37
Reg: 11-2005

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Sunday, January 08, 2006 - 11:13 am, by:  David Topolovac (Topola) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I know there are many ways people suggested to shine up your headlights, however i've found my way how to clean them up.

1.
Get the "methylated spirits"(i got one from Coles)


Upload


2.
Get one spunge called "Scotch Brite" (also from Coles)[this spunge is designed to remove hard stains, as they show on tv]
Upload


3.If you don't have any polish then get one. I used Polyglaze liquid polish.
Upload


And now get to work...

Get the spunge put some methylated spirits on it and rub the headlight, continue until you see that brown stuff is not coming off anymore.
Clean off the white residue that's been created by this process.
The cleaning process has left the plastic on the head light dull looking(no gloss), hence the need for the polish. Use the polish to polish the just cleaned surface.

And here you are have a look at it now and you'll say WOW! as i did.

However, the effectiveness of this process largely depends on the state of the inside of the head lights.

Mine are pretty good thus i've achieved a very good result.
Simon Triantafillou
TryHard
NSW
Soarer Turbo

Posts: 397
Reg: 07-2005

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Sunday, January 08, 2006 - 01:41 pm, by:  Simon Triantafillou (Soarer) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Got any before & after photos of the headlight?
Luke Nieuwhof
Goo Roo
WA
Soarer TT

Posts: 1423
Reg: 07-2005

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Saturday, September 09, 2006 - 06:35 pm, by:  Luke Nieuwhof (Luke_nieuwhof) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Before

Upload

After

Upload

It does not look that good in the photos however note in the first one how it is rather cloudy but in the bottom one you can see inside with more clarity.
Adam Neilson
Tinkerer
QLD
3L non-turbo

Posts: 10
Reg: 09-2006

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 06:28 pm, by:  Adam Neilson (Ill90_soarer) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

jus do what i did, pull the light apart, and then buff the inside aswell as the outside, comes up a million bucks. also i dont have the problem of the high beam lights going dull as i have glass ones.
my2cents

ADAM
Peter Bullman
Tinkerer
NSW
SC400

Posts: 71
Reg: 06-2006

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 08:47 am, by:  Peter Bullman (Pete) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Also try a product from Meguires called Plast-x.. I used that on mine, ie, no scotch brite or polish, and it cam up awesome! and 2 weeks later I still havn't had to re-apply!!
Aaron Mead
Goo Roo
NT
TT

Posts: 1535
Reg: 03-2006

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 05:55 pm, by:  Aaron Mead (Aaron) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Find a UV stable polish like SYNPOL to stop the UV making the lights yellowish.
Brian Timms
TryHard
New South Wales
TT Soarer Goodness.

Posts: 281
Reg: 12-2006

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 06:38 pm, by:  Brian Timms (Turbo_brian) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I did the same thing, BUT I didn't use metho (Metho and some plastics dont blend, I rathered not take the chance).

The Polish will take a very thin layer of surface from the plastic, the same way it does with your paint work.

Also, as Aaron has said, get a UV stable polish, they are slightly more expensive, but they wont yellow as quickly. Trust me, they will yellow up again, but not in a huge amount of time.

B.
Kristian Bird
Tinkerer
Victoria
Soarer GT-L V8 UZZ31

Posts: 14
Reg: 04-2007

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Tuesday, September 04, 2007 - 10:53 am, by:  Kristian Bird (Kgb) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I did a cut and polish, did the headlights at the same time as the paint. Came out sweet.
Adam Peterson
Goo Roo
Western Australia
Lexus Roller Coaster

Posts: 1388
Reg: 04-2006

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, November 22, 2007 - 12:00 pm, by:  Adam Peterson (President) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I use Meguires Scratch X. Works a treat in seconds.
Luke Streat
TryHard
WA
Soarer TT

Posts: 125
Reg: 09-2008

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Saturday, December 06, 2008 - 10:45 pm, by:  Luke Streat (Streatracer) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I use FW1 Waterless wash. My lights were really bad and one quick wipe with this stuff and theyre crystal.
Barry Main
Tinkerer
Victoria
TT Manual

Posts: 47
Reg: 05-2008

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Sunday, December 07, 2008 - 10:14 am, by:  Barry Main (Barry_m) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi guys, I'm assuming the After shot posted by Luke has involved pulling the headlight apart.

Is it a real mission to do this and get it back together.

I think I've read somewhere ages ago that Soarer headlights were prone to getting moisture inside. Is this right and if so, is there a trick to making them moisture proof, especially if you have to pull them apart to clean the reflector?

One other question, this time regarding taillights. A mate has water in one of his taillights and for the life of me I couldn't get the thing apart. Has anyone else had this problem (water in the unit) and how did you solve it?
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Soarer Limited UZZ31 V8

Posts: 2927
Reg: 11-2005

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Monday, December 08, 2008 - 12:08 am, by:  Mike Beck (Gold_40gt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

To keep my lights in good nick while my car is outside off the road for repairs I have taken my lights out and put them in doors... gives more room to work too.

:-)
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31

Posts: 3950
Reg: 10-2005

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Tuesday, December 09, 2008 - 05:40 pm, by:  Matthew Sharpe (Madmatt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Only open the headlights if they are leaking. If they aren't leaking then cleaning the outside is all you need do.

Never seen a soared tail light leak.
Vinny Ozorio
Tinkerer
NT
Z30 Soarer V8

Posts: 29
Reg: 05-2007

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 07:24 am, by:  Vinny Ozorio (Fruitloop) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yep I got water in my tail-lights as well...(condensation from living in the tropics,beside the usual cyclone or two)at the end of the wet season usually remove from the car and just use a hairdryer to get the excess out..
Nettie Barton
Tinkerer
East Sussex
Soarer V8 GT Ltd

Posts: 6
Reg: 12-2008

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Friday, December 12, 2008 - 06:19 am, by:  Nettie Barton (Nettielikescars) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I've cleaned mine which were quite bad with T-Cut then A-plan triple wax polish 100% better, just got to do the insides, as they have condensation in them, but that can wait till next year, as it's too cold here at the moment.
Josh Halse
Tinkerer
South Australia
soarer v8

Posts: 41
Reg: 12-2011

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Monday, May 21, 2012 - 12:36 pm, by:  Josh Halse (Sir_400) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Toothpaste also works well :-)

Add Your Message Here
Eye Candy
Click for full size
Bold text Italics Underline Center Text Upload photo from your hard drive Make a List Make a Table Make an Image Thumbnail Create a hyperlink Insert a clipart image Formatting Help
         

Username: Important Posting Information:
If asking a question, have you done a search to see if your question has already been answered?
Be aware that the use of SMS-speak eg "u" instead of "you" etc, will get your post deleted.
Password:
Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message

  Administration Administration      Log Out Log Out Previous Previous      Next Next