The inside of my headlights are quite dull and yellow, and was wondering the best way to clean this up? it is greatly effecting my light output... I was planning on wet sanding the inside with 600 grit then going over that with a applicator pad with headlight restore paste... any ideas or advice is greatly appreciated

 

i would just buy new ones. are you asking how to split the case open?

 

Get a set of euro head lamps from lmc I think thir pretty cheap. I think head lights are one piece so u cant split them but not sure never tried

 

If it it the lensm get new ones. If it is the back, take it apart,a nd paint the back with Metallic Silver spray paint.

 

Yeah, it is the lens... I guess i can add another thing on the list but i didnt know if i could just take the lens out and clean it? that would make a big difference in tell i can buy the new ones.

 

Never hurts to try.....

 

is there just clips holding the lens on? or is it glued on?

 

have you tried to clean the outside already? i used mothers aluminum polish and just a rag to clean mine and it worked great. the housing is a sealed unit and if you do split it open it could leak and blow bulbs like crazy

 

I used some cr@p I bought on eBay a few years ago on my F150, applied by hand. Did not do much good. When I bought my 06 PT Cruiser in 09 the headlights were pretty cloudy for a 3 year old, worse than my 21 yo F150 is now. I cleaned up the PT Cruiser headlights really nicely with Maguires Headlight Cleaner. Comes with a pad, use a drill, preferably on low speed to polish the headlights. I don't know why I have not found the time to try polishing my F150 lights since I did the PT about 10 weeks ago. Well ... it ain't gettin done today either, theres a game to watch!

 

^ That only works if its on the outside of the light and it can be done with some rubbing compound, some fine grit sandpaper and time.

If its on the inside unless you bake the light in the oven to get the glue soft enough to get the lens off it wont do you any good.

I do recall I once had a headlight for an atv that was similar in the way it was made like a car. I tried backing it but it wouldnt budge, finally got out the dremel and cut it apart at the seam. I just reglued it with some clear silicone when I was done.

 

You can get the lens off if you carefully start pealing them. It takes time but the glue Ford used is rubbery and will peal off. I had one of my lens actily fall off! On my 89 the back reflector is gone so I used that silver metal A/C duct tape, that made a big improvement and used RTV to seal the lens back on.

I don't like these "plastic composet" crap, Would like to go back the the sealed glass bulbs. There's another thread on here showing the "Australian headlights" which uses the real glass lights. So far I have not found a source here yet.

 

i tried to get the yellowing off my lights on the outside and got most of it off then clear coated the lens but could still see the yellowing and it didn't last long. maybe a year. i ended up just buying a complete set of clear lens and it was much better. my suggestion is don't waste your time just buy new 1's.

 

i agree, new lamps, get the clear lensed ones and some decent bulbs like the sylvainia silverstars, its night and day and you will be able to see again! stock wattage too btw

 

I've never taken apart that model light, but all the lights I have ever taken apart where clipped and glued. Just heat it up with a propane torch, and they will come apart. Use silicone to put them back together.

 

I agree on the clear lenses, but stock watt bulbs stink. When I converted my 1980 F-150 to H4 style bulbs, I put 138/121w Hi/Low. I did have to had a relay, but it was really simple. On the newer trucks (Ones taht came stock with H4 bulbs), sould already have a relay, so all you have to do, is plug them in.