The Headlight Lens' on my mothers car are quite dirty and I'd like to clean them up for her. Is it possible to take the front lens off and clean them (inside and out)? Does anyone know how to (or if I even should) take the lens off? Thanks.

 

All you need to do is bake the headlight in an oven or use a heat gun... But simply removing the headlight and wetsanding then polishing the outer lense should be sufficient, from what I've read.

 

if your gonna take apart the headlight to clean it you might as well clear the turn signals too. Search, you'll find how-to's.

 

if you want something really simple, just buy a bottle of meguiers plastX. it works wonders. i use it everytime i wash my car. it takes off all that oxidation. if you want a smooth glass looking finish, then do the oven thing but ive seen some people eff that up and it turned out worse what they began with. so its your call.

EDIT: His mother's car

 

Meguiers PlastX works wonders

 

some of that oxidation gets on the inside of the headlight assembly too, right? which means we would have to take it off?

 

I'll just use the Meguiers. Its no my car so I don't want to risk destroying a 1000 dollar part.

 

If you want to bake your headlights to get them apart, then best wishes. Keep in mind that if you mess up, it is extremely expensive to fix. You could always try a heatgun, or even a hairdryer if you don't want to risk the oven.

 

pimpin02max posted this thread. I've done two sets of headlights and they've turned out great.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=526992

 

Ehh, not that expensive. If worse some to worse, (at least for a 4th-gener) you now have an excuse to get some R34-style heads off ebay...sell the others and youve only spent a bit...I guess Im saying that if you do the outsides, but dont like the result, and want them clean, do the inside too.

 

I'm not going to bake anything, its too much of a risk to take with a car that is not mine.

 

WOW, thanks for posting. Ive been wondering what to do about that.

 

Get it professionaly done!

 

Why spend all of that money to get it professionally done when that kit that I used is only $20 at Wal-Mart...took me about 30min. for headlights that look new...can't beat that.

 

http://customchemicalpkg.com/headlight.html

WORKS EXCELLENT

 

Can get for $11.99 at Autozone. 3 pads on each headlight killed all the yellowing and hazyness. It does not get rid of the rock nicks and minor imperfections but it definitly makes it look 10x better.

 

I use a compound with a wax pad to get the oxidation off, then I use a wax to polish the plastic (I use Nanowax). Works awesome, and only cost me under 10 bux for the supplys which last awhile.

 

hey, i notice my headlights are starting to become a little foggy.. do i have to take the assebly apart and clean the inside of it too, or is that stuff just on the outside?

 

ok, it seems as if it's just on the outside.. now im contemplating whether or not to get new ones.. this mechanic i know has a 2001 max that he's fixing up, and it has brand new headlights.. he'll charge me $40 to swap mine with the new ones.. so i can pay $40 for brand new assemblies, or i can pay $20 for a kit and possibly not have it come out right.. hmmm...

do brand new aftermarket headlight assemblies come pre-aimed or would i have to aim my lights again?

 

I remember using the oven in my house on my other car (97 civic) and it worked. I did it again later in my apt. and since the oven was smaller I accidentally melted them. I'm just glad it was pretty cheap to replace those...don't take the risk. Use the Meguiars, it works superb!