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there are some LEDs that may work in a reflective type headlight. However, most will not. The internet will have more information on which LEDs will or won't work in the HHR. Because our headlight is a reflective type, as was stated already, keep the lens sparkling clear and change the H13 halogen bulb every year.
Bonez - I clean up alot of headlights and there is a way to make them sparkling clear. I don't know how you are sanding them, so I'll explain how I do it and ask forgiveness later. I use a Dual Action (DA) polisher, works the best, is my experience, Harbor Freight $80. Most car/truck lenses are made of a hard plastic and are 'sand blasted' by all the dirt ,etc. from the road surface. The trick is to take off a very thin layer of plastic from the lens cover, several times. I may start by using a 500 grit wet and dry sandpaper. Begin by sanding up and down, then side to side, then corner to corner....over and over again. When you can NOT see thru the lens, move up a 800 or 1000 grit. Start over again, sanding up and down, then side to side, then corner to corner....over and over again. The idea is to use less and less course sandpaper every time. When you get to using a 1200 or 1500 grit sandpaper, you'll want to start polishing the lens with a compound like you'd use on a car. I like using 105 compound with an aggressive pad. Set the speed at 4000-5000rpm. Same up and down, side to side....you get the idea. Watch a few youtube videos and you'll get the idea.
Brand-new aftermarkets can be found pretty cheap, so I'll probably never bother refinishing again.
There are a bunch of defective factory replacements out there, where the adjuster is detached, so watch out.
There are sets with black bezels instead of chrome. They look great. Here's a fleabay example, without endorsement:
A relatively new arrival is these custom jobs. They come WITHOUT the headlight bulbs. The rest are built-in LED. The strip is the DTR, maybe? Not sure how they work.
I wouldn't bother with junkyard headlights that need refinishing, but if they're pristine recent replacements, why not?
I have used this stuff. Makes the polish job last a year or two, then easy to renew.
there are some LEDs that may work in a reflective type headlight. However, most will not. The internet will have more information on which LEDs will or won't work in the HHR. Because our headlight is a reflective type, as was stated already, keep the lens sparkling clear and change the H13 halogen bulb every year.
Bonez - I clean up alot of headlights and there is a way to make them sparkling clear. I don't know how you are sanding them, so I'll explain how I do it and ask forgiveness later. I use a Dual Action (DA) polisher, works the best, is my experience, Harbor Freight $80. Most car/truck lenses are made of a hard plastic and are 'sand blasted' by all the dirt ,etc. from the road surface. The trick is to take off a very thin layer of plastic from the lens cover, several times. I may start by using a 500 grit wet and dry sandpaper. Begin by sanding up and down, then side to side, then corner to corner....over and over again. When you can NOT see thru the lens, move up a 800 or 1000 grit. Start over again, sanding up and down, then side to side, then corner to corner....over and over again. The idea is to use less and less course sandpaper every time. When you get to using a 1200 or 1500 grit sandpaper, you'll want to start polishing the lens with a compound like you'd use on a car. I like using 105 compound with an aggressive pad. Set the speed at 4000-5000rpm. Same up and down, side to side....you get the idea. Watch a few youtube videos and you'll get the idea.
You left out the part about the first layer of the plastic is a kind of membrane that protects the lens from UV. It needs to be replaced with something, like the product PulpFriction posted. Once that is gone you will need to continue polishing.
Currently using these LED headlight bulbs and they are great. Previously, I tried some other online "off-brand" LED headlight bulbs and they were terrible.
Once you've sanded and polished the coating and maintaining it is vital.
Replacing lenses with aftermarket ones seems the quality is not there and the deterioration from sunlight is sooner the OEM.
Whatever you choose, imo it's best to use DOT approved products.
So much traffic in Cali hardly get a chance to use high beams.
Clearcoating is an option but not every product is compatible. Polycarbonate is very sensitive to chemicals. 2-part clearcoat is an option, dunno if that's trouble free.
there are some LEDs that may work in a reflective type headlight. However, most will not. The internet will have more information on which LEDs will or won't work in the HHR. Because our headlight is a reflective type, as was stated already, keep the lens sparkling clear and change the H13 halogen bulb every year.
Bonez - I clean up alot of headlights and there is a way to make them sparkling clear. I don't know how you are sanding them, so I'll explain how I do it and ask forgiveness later. I use a Dual Action (DA) polisher, works the best, is my experience, Harbor Freight $80. Most car/truck lenses are made of a hard plastic and are 'sand blasted' by all the dirt ,etc. from the road surface. The trick is to take off a very thin layer of plastic from the lens cover, several times. I may start by using a 500 grit wet and dry sandpaper. Begin by sanding up and down, then side to side, then corner to corner....over and over again. When you can NOT see thru the lens, move up a 800 or 1000 grit. Start over again, sanding up and down, then side to side, then corner to corner....over and over again. The idea is to use less and less course sandpaper every time. When you get to using a 1200 or 1500 grit sandpaper, you'll want to start polishing the lens with a compound like you'd use on a car. I like using 105 compound with an aggressive pad. Set the speed at 4000-5000rpm. Same up and down, side to side....you get the idea. Watch a few youtube videos and you'll get the idea.
Yeah Ive done it twice with these already DA polish and clear laquer... just to get all foggy again after several months, besides the plastic is cracked/spiderwebbed.... so they are shot anyways, just trying to have better lighting for the time. Ill buy new ones soon here that are crystal clear.
just trying to have better lighting for the time. Ill buy new ones soon here that are crystal clear.
It's a maintenance thing until they get hazy and won't clear out. Then it's r&r for best night vision. Many options to suit personal preferences availible.
I prefer oem as long as I can.
