What's a good product to use for getting rid of yellow on plastic headlamps?

[Silver744]

I've got a '96 Avalon in my family which has the driver's side headlight cover showing lots of yellow in color.

I was wondering if there was a Meguiars product available which can be used w/ an orbital buffer to take care of this problem.

Thanks in advance!

[gb387]

Yes... I have used PlastX before and it works well on plastic, they also have a "clear plastic collection" I like the plastx better having used both the plastx is easier to use and cheaper, not sure what works better.

Plastx (http://www.meguiars.com/store_meguiars/search_results.cfm)

clear plastic collection (http://www.meguiars.com/store_meguiars/product_detail.cfm?sku=MPLAS03)

[Rick]

I had an issue with a haze on these headlights on a 99 lexus with almost 100,000 miles.

Before:
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/193headlight_before_with_haze-med.jpg

It did look worse in person than the picture shows. I used the clear plastic cleaner and polish on them. Two times over with the cleaner and once with the polish to finish it off. This was probabl really stupid, but to speed it up I put a applicator pad on the backing plate of my DA polisher and very very carefully polished it in to the plastic. This being stupid because there was velcro exposed on the outside, but luckily the contours around the headlight permitted it to be applied this way. I could have gotten the same result by hand, it just would have taken longer.

Here's the end result:
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/193Headlight_after_reduced_haze-med.jpg

Also, you should probably take a clay bar to the headlight first too to remove anything that may be bonded to it. Good luck.

[Mike Phillips]

I too would recommend PlastX by hand. Use a piece of clean, 100% cotton, terry cloth for a little extra cleaning power and use some elbow grease and they should clean up real well.

If PlastX by hand doesn't work, then it could be the yellowing is inside the plastic, (highly unlikely). The idea of using a traditional orbital buffer would probably work, but it will be just as much work, if not more. Plus you use more product because a lot of the product will saturate into the bonnet.

If you have a PC, then you could try the PlastX with either a W-8006, or the W-7006.

Mike

[DETLMAN]

If all else fails get some 2000 grit sandpaper and sand the light untill the yellowing is gone and its smooth. Then you can use DACP ( #83 ) to polish out the sand marks ( with a high speed buffer ) Believe me I have restored many ford headlights this way. I had an acura rsx with pretty big and deep scratch on the headlight and I carefully sanded it out being sure to feather the sanded area out and then buffed out the scratches from the sand paper ( I actually started with 600 on this one ) and the end result was a PERFECT headlight.

[Rusty Bumper]

Originally posted by SqkyKln
If all else fails get some 2000 grit sandpaper and sand the light untill the yellowing is gone and its smooth. Then you can use DACP ( #83 ) to polish out the sand marks ( with a high speed buffer ) Believe me I have restored many ford headlights this way. I had an acura rsx with pretty big and deep scratch on the headlight and I carefully sanded it out being sure to feather the sanded area out and then buffed out the scratches from the sand paper ( I actually started with 600 on this one ) and the end result was a PERFECT headlight.

What do you think of 00 or 000 steel wool?

[DETLMAN]

never tried wool on plastic, I think it would be to inconsistant and make it hard to buff out the marks. Plastic is forgiving to an extent. One other time my wifes toyota was hit in the back and one of the marker lights was over $100. I took it out and sanded the scratch out of it and saved the money.

[DETLMAN]

Excellent point, and thank you for mentioning it. I havent had that problem yet but I know what you are talking about.!

[Rick]

I wounder if it's just clear coat on the plastic? Actually, could you spray some clear on headlights? That might be a good final step if restoring plastic.

[Silver744]

Thanks for the help everyone!

I've gone crazy and ordered over $150 worth of Meguiars products in the last 2 weeks. What's one more ;) Just have to keep this silent from my better half.