Though I'm sure that none of us need to restore our headlights on our HHR's...there are some of us who may have vehicles that are a little older and who's headlights are starting to show their age. I have a 1997 Chevy C1500 pickup that is in great shape with the exception of the plasic headlights/directionals. While in Advance Auto store the other day I saw this stuff, Turtle Wax Headlight Restorer...



For $7.99 I figured that I'd give it a try. The kit comes with four different abrasive pads, spray lubricant and polish. So you clean your headlights, mask around them and start with pad #1 and work up to #4 then polish.
Sorry I didn't take a photo after each step, but here's what I started with:







I have to confess that after using the first pad for about 15 mins and still seeing oxidation in the lense, I decided to use a different approach. I went into my garage and grabbed some 800, 1000 and 1500 wet/dry sandpaper. Starting with 800 nd working up to 1500 I was able to sand down past the cloudiness. I then continued with the kit. After polishing a few times with the kit polish, here is the final result. I am very happy. My headlights will no longer give away the age of my truck!


This was taken before I did the parking light lense:


This was taken after I polished the parking lense:

 

well, i had to restore mine already. for some reason the driver side got pretty yellowed and foggy. the passenger side still looked new though. i used the 3M headlight restorer kit, it came with a drill attachment and different grit sand paper and polish. the kit was about $20. i thought it was worth it, but if the Turtle Wax works, i'd go for it. guess i shoulda took some pics of before and after.

 

I have a friend who works in a shop that does this kind of work and he told me you have to add a UV protectant after you polish or the lens will deteriorate again but faster. That's what professionals do.

 

i read on the Meguiars forum, if you clearcoat them, they wont oxidize again

 

BTW, any fine polishing compound seems to work just fine on (both the tailights and headlights on my 2000 K2500 for example).

 

you have to be careful not to sand all the way through the clear coat. If you go all the way through you are screwed. I actually work at company that our main business is restoring headlights. We Sand the clear coat all the way off to get out scratches ect. after removing clearcoat we buff/polish them and then respray them w/ clear coat. They are just like from the factory, and actually our clearcoat is stronger then some factory clearcoat. (i.e. lexus)

 

Guys, thanks for the tip on the clear. Do you know what type of clear is used...urethane?

Thanks, Jim