I've searched the archive and could not find a relevant thread. (I am also frustrated cause the forum has me re-login whenever I do a search or click on new posts).

My '06 headlight lenses are cloudy so I bought the Turtle wax headlight lens cleaner, followed the instructions, seemed to work especially after applying the last step (some sort of sealer). They looked good for a couple of months but are getting cloudy again. The HHR sits outside all the time as there is no room in the garage (my '56 Mark II lives there) in the so-cal sun (read hot and sunny). Any suggestions? The guys at the car wash want $50.00 to do them!!!

 

I used the Miguires formula with the ball and they seem to stay polished. But I do live in Washington. reads, I live in the clouds and the rinse cycle.

 

Huh, well this is the first time I've heard about the lenses on the HHR doing the "cloudy with a chance of going in the ditch" trick that's so common to other makes and models.

What you're dealing with is the problem of the original clear coat applied to the polycarbonate weathering off, the DIY kits and the polishing done by detailers and body shops are a stop gap measure.

I've heard of some folks successfully recoating fogged lenses after they have been polished, but the only real long term solution is to replace the headlamp assemblies.

Its an issue here in Carolina too, plentiful Southern sunshine does a real number on cars that sit out all year round. Its hard to find a Chrysler product or Honda without clouded lenses.

 

I bought a polishing kit at Wal-Mart that worked OK for my ‘98 Neon.

It came with 6 little foam pads that are coated with something you just dip them in water and use a variable speed drill to work it in

The first time I did this it was like magic. The yellowed dim lenses looked like new. Within 6 months they looked worse than before.

Now I took pride in my ride and was always washing and waxing it just like I am doing with my HHR. I used a decent Turtle wax paste wax and have a orbital polisher with a bunch of micro fiber pads. I change pads very frequently to keep them as clean as I can while polishing. When I finish polishing whatever vehicle I do it gleams in the sunlight.

But the lenses on the Neon would still get dingy looking about every 6 months.

So far the lenses on my HHR are not suffering the same fate.

 

Wet sand them with 1000 and then 1500 or 2000 grit sand paper-be sure to place a water-logged rag above them so a constant stream of water is running over it to draw the dust away.

Long full strokes in one direction only.

When you've sanded enough away so that the paper glides over the lamp, machine buff with a light machine compound, then glaze.

Done.

 

Glaze with a particular product?

I have this problem on some other vehicles, not on the HHR so far though. I have used the Meguiar's stuff to clean them and they look good for now but...

 

...buuut they can oxidize again, and may do so much sooner than before. A fine machine glaze polish should do the trick. Mine is 3M. Many say that it is a great protectant to sand and then clear coat. I don't see the point, once you glaze it.

I did a friends VW Jetta headlamps a couple years ago. They were so bad that his light output was greater than halved. They were crystal clear when we finished. They look great, even now. No oxidization or anything. Crystal clear.

 

thanks

 

Thanks all for the responses, guess I'll try again and see how long it lasts this time

 

SindyDix just fixed this problem.

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