View Full Version : Dull/Yellowing Headlights
SouthPaw
05-29-2014, 08:39
So my 2008 Silverado started having some dull/hazy/yellowing headlights. Previous places I have worked offer a headlight restoration service for around $70-$80. Being as froogle as I am, I decided I was just going to buy the kit and do it myself at home to save a few bucks. After looking at different options I found Sam's Club offers a headlight renewal service for less than $30. I called my Sams's (Evans, CO) and they confirmed that ALL Sam's offer this service. No appointment was needed and it takes about an hour for the service. I stopped by last night to have it done and was very pleased with the results.
Before:
http://s9.postimg.org/e3mlnr14f/image.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
http://s9.postimg.org/5t0sfx5kf/image_2.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
http://s9.postimg.org/geknrxbvz/image_3.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
http://s9.postimg.org/gos6b9qi7/image_4.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
After:
http://s9.postimg.org/gh4jerfjj/image_5.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
http://s9.postimg.org/vm0nca3qn/image_6.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
http://s9.postimg.org/nlmcnsmsv/image_7.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
http://s9.postimg.org/vuy827gj3/image_8.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
http://s9.postimg.org/zc0a56flb/image_9.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
A big seller for me was they actually use a UV protectant as well as coming with five year warranty. He said if I notice a hazing or anything, just stop by with your receipt for a free touch up. Just thought I would mention this as it seems cars produced after 2000 all seem to have this problem and this is cheap fix. We will see how long it actually lasts but I am very happy with the results.
TheWeeze
05-29-2014, 09:31
My car has the same problem, tried a product my dad had once and while it seemed to help a little, it didn't seem to last. I'll definitely be checking into this. Thank you for the info.
I used the rainex kit. Worked ok.
Hmm. The lenses on my 08 Chevy still look like new. I've only washed it maybe four times since it was new and it has never been parked inside.
Kind of makes me curious why yours would be like that so soon.
I have an '04 Tahoe and they look just fine.
When I see the really bad hazing, it seems to be on imports and Fords.
Sent from my electronic leash.
TheWeeze
05-29-2014, 10:03
I'm surrounded by GM vehicles at work and at home, and every one of them have the dulling problems. Maybe they use higher quality lenses in the Tahoe line and higher end models, but my G6, Saab, and all my older Chevy trucks at work have dulling and fogging.
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SouthPaw
05-29-2014, 10:04
I used the rainex kit. Worked ok.
I have seen the results from the 3M kit and BG kit and both look great for the first month. After that they start to slowly but surely start fade because they don't include the UV coat. We will see how long these last.
Hmm. The lenses on my 08 Chevy still look like new. I've only washed it maybe four times since it was new and it has never been parked inside.
Kind of makes me curious why yours would be like that so soon.
I am not sure either. My dad was the original owner it has always been washed regularly but not excessively. The pictures don't really show how bad they really were. The passenger side was horrible.
I have an '04 Tahoe and they look just fine.
When I see the really bad hazing, it seems to be on imports and Fords.
Sent from my electronic leash.
My '05 Silverado headlights looked brand new when I sold it last August. They did have some pitting but never dulled. I am guessing cheaper materials to save cost is the problem.
Zundfolge
05-29-2014, 10:39
I'm surrounded by GM vehicles at work and at home, and every one of them have the dulling problems.
Its not just GM vehicles, my PT Cruiser has ghastly looking headlights ... I've considered getting one of those kits that you put on your cordless drill, but have no idea how well they work.
There's also a dozen DIY videos on YouTube showing how to clear up your headlights with everything from purpose made kits, toothpolish, baking soda to odd stuff like urine and avacados.
KestrelBike
05-29-2014, 10:40
Very informative. I wonder if Costco does this as well?
This would be for my friend, she has an '00-'04 (can't remember) toyota camry and the headlights look like candlewax. They really don't illuminate the road at all.
newracer
05-29-2014, 12:57
Nice to know, $30 is a deal.
Or you can just buy some car polish paste and an applicator pad and use your elbow grease to do it for ~$10
Ive done it that way, with wax. Buffed it with a buffer and they looked great, for a couple months.
kawiracer14
05-29-2014, 14:30
Do you have to be a member to get this deal?
SouthPaw
05-29-2014, 14:32
Do you have to be a member to get this deal?
Yes you do. Walmart does the same service for around $80 I think. Even if you had to pay $45 for the year membership + $30 for the service it is still cheaper than anywhere else. Then you can buy everything you ever wanted in bulk for cheap!
kawiracer14
05-29-2014, 14:40
Yes you do. Walmart does the same service for around $80 I think. Even if you had to pay $45 for the year membership + $30 for the service it is still cheaper than anywhere else. Then you can buy everything you ever wanted in bulk for cheap!
Single guy does not need to buy 100 rolls of TP at a time...
eneranch
05-29-2014, 14:45
Had Tire World do my 2000 Navigator in Feb 2012; lasted about a year, then the fog came back, but not as bad as it was.
SouthPaw
05-29-2014, 14:51
Single guy does not need to buy 100 rolls of TP at a time...
You don't party with the right people then.
KestrelBike
05-29-2014, 15:11
Single guy does not need to buy 100 rolls of TP at a time...
I do this at Costco, I don't worry about running out for a whole year (my entire lease).
Hmm, fords typically break down and go to the junk yard before headlights get a chance to turn yellow. I'm happy to know this service is out there for my Chevy though
Fentonite
05-29-2014, 18:01
Tha looks awesome! I need to do this. Too bad costco doesn't do it. Maybe I'll try a do-it-yourself kit.
Or, a local Sam's member could arrange to bring in a few of us for the service, and we'd all chip in enough to get his done free! Any Denver Sam's club members interested????
Buff in some 303 Aerospace Protectant and then coat with a little wax to keep them from hazing.
Or just apply 3M clearbra every couple years...
Single guy does not need to buy 100 rolls of TP at a time...
You would if you bought a pallet of burritos.
My buddy's 2004 Dodge Ram had the worst case of crappy yellow, hazy headlights. He bought new aftermarket factory style lights for 80 or 90 bucks, even came with the bulbs. Little more labor but they look great.
funkymonkey1111
05-29-2014, 21:43
Yes you do. Walmart does the same service for around $80 I think. Even if you had to pay $45 for the year membership + $30 for the service it is still cheaper than anywhere else. Then you can buy everything you ever wanted in bulk for cheap!
i wonder if you could do this with just the temporary membership and upcharge?
Thornton, my membership can be used on my off days. Weekdays after 7, and weekends if I'm not committed to doing something...
I have a sams business membership if anyone needs to use it
Baby oil works wonders on fogged headlights
I used the 3m kit a couple months back and it worked great. They are still clear.
http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee511/jmetz9/3578BF7A-645C-4A01-AAF5-50C0E5A58B9E.jpg
hurley842002
06-01-2014, 08:47
I used the 3m kit a couple months back and it worked great. They are still clear.
http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee511/jmetz9/3578BF7A-645C-4A01-AAF5-50C0E5A58B9E.jpg
Thanks for posting the pic, another Toyota with crusty headlights, now I know what to expect if I use the kit on mine. Looks great!
hurley842002
06-01-2014, 08:49
Jmetz was this the kit you used?
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/01/anyvave3.jpg
That looks about right sir.
funkymonkey1111
06-01-2014, 09:29
i used the 3M kit on a ford escape which had headlights nearly as bad as the toyota above--worked great and also seemed to last for quite a while. it certainly wasn't a matter of months before the haze came back by any stretch of the imagination.
some haze was starting to come back after several years, but that vehicle was parked outside every day
jerrymrc
06-01-2014, 09:48
One thing that helps is a coat of good automotive clear that has UV protectant in it after the polish. 2021 has it but is not cheap.
I so need to do this with my truck...
Sent by a free-range electronic weasel, with no sense of personal space.
gnihcraes
06-05-2014, 21:23
About a week ago, 3m kit from walmart, +/- $11 if I remember right. Worked great on my Jeep and Honda. I still have enough polish left over to do one or two more vehicles.
About a week ago, 3m kit from walmart, +/- $11 if I remember right. Worked great on my Jeep and Honda. I still have enough polish left over to do one or two more vehicles.
Well if you're offering...
Sent by a free-range electronic weasel, with no sense of personal space.
I sand the headlights starting at 600 grit go all the way down to 2500 grit then buff to gloss and them reseal with this producthttp://www.tcpglobal.com/AutoBodyDepot/ItemDetail.aspx?ItemNo=SEM+21013&gclid=CIjC-peu5L4CFeZaMgodASgA0w
works great. No fading been over year since I have used it.
Thanks SouthPaw! I will definitely head up there this weekend!
So there was an advantage to the old style glass headlights.
SouthPaw
06-06-2014, 08:55
Thanks SouthPaw! I will definitely head up there this weekend!
Glad to see you are still farting around MCarp!
funkymonkey1111
06-16-2014, 20:21
thought i'd throw this out there--Sam's offers day memberships. you have to pay a 10% premium on anything you buy. so, for a $3.50 surcharge, you can get this deal done at sam's without a membership
MarkUSMC88
06-16-2014, 22:01
I just renewed my SAMs membership today for this service... You couldn't have posted that gem of fact yesterday?!? :)
funkymonkey1111
06-16-2014, 22:28
I just renewed my SAMs membership today for this service... You couldn't have posted that gem of fact yesterday?!? :)
if that's the only reason, i think you can cancel your membership at any time.
Old thread bump. Sam's still offers this service, only now it is $39.99. I've never used any of the products, and will probably try it myself next time. I wasn't sure what to expect and I have no idea how long it will last. Here are the before and after pictures. The reason my passenger light looks less fogged than the driver is that someone rubbed some Deet on the pass side with a rag a few months ago to show me that you can use Deet.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/z-WZe-iDQw0hsCaDzivasQTMJJevMElwFKEtvq9Ac9FFlaMd2T2x3rL4 6H_ODcKVV5MBmBmsde63LmXiZbvuZy9mZawLGRbegBsbQ77Awi QkaFPK1L2KDfOhQ6vJbeVOe4xGFNly6a96Tm5rtcrSAMTE3GYw 4YqfSkO13FqWcZbqeEyZsvKDdggFISfTvujCBMqfZk1qjL3pf0 s9Khk5JC5_wKWWr2JhImhkgkXRtcUIVjKDlabH6dLnCGEly6VG MwEoI2R67dEozD3Fo3iGxxyzgelLPK-tDhuSWjtVXuWn5UgWe6Rdgtkxs5GkQkh4aFdEtUkICVFkkzDdV z0zDFx_xJ9HGxd5X5H6HTetwgSlQTGyxTFTpv67d1dQSF52me6 M4_NLklkAYsgMGL8Pm_nSjdP6MR5RV_LmptbIW2l3NEWc2W8uq SaU16Xx-R1azPkdLZqNv7uLL68VFSxQaYI3IkcZPHOYlrkt-spSKFLht9wKIE24JPwdnVAEOa6vnPgF-eYFfarU6S7-OyC3PNi6omL7jOaJApS4c_1ZexRlTIgOq1cEOcCqgMDoX_jl5k YKmqUrSRpIERdCVYCiXi3XDeXYAsp8tIwzW_1C_IlwTT93OvlF 4fICMMV5zKRsae1o8wCwPNGIxTtsIdKpk16RXdoaFAtZhw=w16 32-h918-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9pelEv2kf2dbKvsnMxVIxXoMSXXwrnV4KYCyCVUPVsZS7AqWh2 tAd_0FTzBCzdO12drBt7Mh3ugBH3jcjqK7NOyLUtKEwku0UQqu rZfO7ckOjeJ2SJ7V-s1crPalWjCAwbROmQSU-NV46Jvf5TSqITQgutIhYoVOdZ5f8fkv-Dz-fsPM0zm9Jgn6IJBxVzSJ7a8Lj9sCvXqwVvOrhF8cXAekQ30wEP PInm25AgbhzYpUgXmhrUGx4nWlTN50ukQT3CbxdUWA581DuFTd y2nbuGv7IDHVLUDtnS0BmADG-MMT7KWruQpeQUIlKG_B6-ZTvyfkbEm-9XIGQlJ-HJYDVj5n3gtJ5VPEnGFDLwOvKbvY1LELTXBMy3-IMM4dISB6iPRCU_-UPTysUvL8aTPpRTQUdo4gjsCWBnanaO3MfdIEvRwdyUS7IFIoO 5QA095asvVHSnpRtFe9DWrTIXuqW0kk-g__Nmz3J8TxeSsGHf-aJLT6AO6J-xyRNM55h89r1JHoeExwUsrUGepLUs-kgidvZUxGIfdTRm-FqRvCPE6xFV1_uTuV3j3yVI52QxDW6pJhYO8tqfEPwouzMaBnI 9F_KIENqpggkD_cJ-ULuGXFb6lc-Hg2sfZrKSAGR19oHD4TVvEY7K26qY5kkBJr-r6EAKzc9s4Dkg=w1632-h918-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/nFV0uAuukDHAaoLPxj-2jcu5X0KK2Niau5Gtq302yiaZPH0cFiYk2MQf-CcPo20YLQVpY_bDjA_RGAkyvSYKLro8x5w2jR1u9VejjuwcuM0 qMrFFAoNeLg8yIjHkk3JmfsAfm4Bd90RwSVPGLzERjkqP0n5KY duyZldEy6hIvINASDpRFOhNJ6cnJz5D6brel2G7yaeuTK9nvTl YigO9iXCadXM9XkeWIkECDGScKgp1vAuH0SmmTzFEMjlGglKEL 6x9kEhFsfzPbqWAsM66wj9cmSV3Cty6krBRgtgml4GMWeU143A rPW3wCkyPYbe0gp3XZrVhAbEVgGqTQVYwc4-eL9Zn2Jp60UKGjZIC3yb8HupnfIff-Vy_Obilnx5rMD99bnL4vvl8iDYowjV53LyPXjXO0pXsLJAcYQr E5Y3vhgEFFD6syxYlxeiHE71XusyRF25G5IyqJoaOCiiN6jVF3 V7jf1a8dZinw4aMjiJQaRsh-iXp2WenS8s6RIqAVBle7ey0PHhgDNPvJdpfyd4pDC62F6ow-7HWojwtBlqUQJB1hZ_QIpWwdIsr_ENAN7CaFZKbW9kpMsezArq oCsZ_3CwzMUkVom2TutL31KkItiNArOgXIRhBrGkGzFQNSdy_B N-UdGd7rol-1Sy0S9K3Pqz0qkw_sQ=w1632-h918-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jOY8GUvWBfGWyhwaUIEMhF8Sxyxk22zBNmifra-WosaSu2xf4S_dUVlXazQgc6Cjx5S38_cjeIGYGJLw5OIV1likp FjHapVsb5GuL5-44plbclvShNTi2q6vEPWrjLLQMnNsmdO-TQMFB7lJSkoQxjPhc-sQTjjSN1ubh1UydLWniriWKgQH4raJNNcHJ3UK3z1TRbGCzTaD IZGz-xtwlJxgeON7FVytGE6VRXJLeypWi0qiALRysf5hUrsPkJUd3zV KOmMw5NF6qZ73wGERjXQDcOj8k2dzVY6JmYdE1WTJtnv2JHp0X s9fhpwADwpTyhG28Zvq4DImN_JM6H5df4704NVaBng4HTsUAqa SCeMtABCzd2NwGYnxbHUYQUL_kkYkl45KcfmAL1rI_0kdSLkUh ASR1Z5DIG-Lp-Af8obffqtGy9O_QFlAcvWIfi9GCUs7q1VKFRc4-UECzsC7H4151YNig03caaiZ4uKOvoFVBV5S41V7r6UadZHJHVm fvhLzcnZuvNVXh_J8wprXS2nEfOo09_JPZDgVPzVD6Q7tWzP9s 72cUT3grFlI5uK4L-I9YqQ8O1LoUqxIyZFquDvvMkdKJEKdMNf6vBxStSGO2eeww37n RnsT1DDhcrGnNwreFBDLMp5iuxkEXQ3WeavCFSmViqmScg=w16 32-h918-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uedUdIFwCQ3wVv3SoDgd0P6A5hzst4pUhMXlUm0dRvNKe3aDH2 tPOJyJD64iQWYumblD6G1EMNB0at2Q2IXlnaY8UEmZjIqTcsxN XzjDVqu5nbNlh8oOSQF9rKYdQSn8Ce1t8xpeYR5EDCmPGL_eaD N4cLNvJ4fOjMnK-MqwO9PdA3FzVeq24F-76sn3zEP3QUGMb3xJ7yzZsMgGFG-42EjSQ63nxmoP6BV1JF0FKYg7X3ArD12d4bA5uzKs3kgAnlxY6 M26UrxEbF6CGuUqX0gAhMzAgyE0xz0kFdVYACXo9JkJvKwJInY m0faG7MSOODJ0wTyJZcxRay6bQkN12YZfCRMMiYrJqAp9Rjt87 EZjp9J6OqjKz78QKiLu6f2FC8XuCvUGmdxGRk6hEiVlO0sxPgV qfX0LZLV7gZn2GDNjTfMSiXIiajv007GLuPgT2NQPrgNj1Vl04 l7NBGJCfdmscPQBwmLv3Rcgt_QbMkWc18TPFv-xnHAFtFFrInNgJRtLqMG-B_OvVw3ipGsaSKQb1RhTzch_Krke63t4aFPqOs4EPvtMt8G4dN f4YSCd_TNBj5X6nVuJSs1I-fCryHuSDtEGRd63vpeUTiBF9lLVazBgWMlcelhi8U2hsVd8UFc AS532UUIE9imc9YENGba8I6WLnEU2Sg=w1632-h918-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lYyR5iEwURju1GSz_8mLYmtUyU52jpTCqunWjq3nQE8ueVT9VN dMLrjQdclUk7uXMLjdjE1dLjoV6YqWUp3VqURA05e57bCFJW6h t34_onR445oL2ufWUgNHdB5sOv3kRFt-qDV8BiDvr08gPxLzzYwUUwkuKj3rxGQuN_3_Re9o5q9rwhdORb vHBncwPjHyR0oFmm_ImcVMUWxrTGHf_c8ytqGMsWe1-STZi8uCD82uc5fwMfl-_Z2q67d45Am1hzP9I5whGi2nA3AkAXA0PL7d6BPPPP6rm0L2hh Y9plBtwZ_fRD_QRE7s_92klYyVYdUa7aO4hORd5AeGbQ608y--rVFbgnxhn4-qbfgDM_IPv0A2qtke_Iq8MTE2r9rXak0T7RI72bqch36igOMWp D4tZthuLF0Ca3ffjBA8Fjl02ze5MwDSDhYMsEqB6VQ1xvg12l3 vlKXO8L2tIZbeAJ_7asj0-IiciCGUNVnHPBiMX0SOor3hIKmYzq88-HiOIiin2gatP8dpTLbMwj_jT6tV3fTRSGbIWPNHHI584PhyKhY Heee43NNsxETP6yFLjwPLl3DEiOuc_L0mxi3N_TnQqf7Mzlf9I UPPv-SlZhxzLeXhkXSP8YF360Eb92u7rLGHF_mhipyGIbi0JDqB-y-YcsYGl2Pczw=w1632-h918-no
South Paw, how long did yours last?
SouthPaw
06-01-2018, 15:34
I told you.
How are yours holding up?
SouthPaw
06-01-2018, 16:06
How are yours holding up?
Couldn't tell you as I sold the truck a year later. Until then, I think they were fine but might remember a corner of the lense I had them touch up. Five year warranty, you are set.
Huh, need this! Surely my wife knows someone with a membership, we're Costco people.
Shooter45
06-01-2018, 20:30
Do it yourself for about $10 from Home Depot/Walmart
Parts needed:
Roll of painters tape
400 grit sandpaper
600 grit sandpaper
2000 grit sandpaper
Rustoleum clear gloss
Wax
Tape headlights and cover all areas that need protection from sanding and the paint. Wet sand headlights starting with 400 if needed depending how bad they are then progress forward. Once polished with 2000 grit paper clean headlights off and apply clear coat finish. I did 3 coats allowing time to dry between coats per the directions on the can. Once dry, lightly wax and enjoy. I did this on my truck almost two years ago and it is still crystal clear. The advantage to this over the "restoration kits" you can buy at the store is the clear coat finish and wax. Works perfect and is way more cost effective to me.
*Don't use bug spray to restore your headlights. It works temporarily but it actually melts the plastic headlights are made out of now and will varnish and degrade soon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEJbKLZ7RmM
Before:
74984
74985
After:
74986
74987
theGinsue
06-02-2018, 10:41
I bought 2 different kits to de-haze the headlights on my '02 Intrepid, each one cost me between $20-$30.
Each time I worked on them I spent a good 2 hours on each headlight. The results were good initially, but after 6 months the hazing was beginning to become obvious again.
Time is money. Even if all I'd be doing is taking a nap instead of putting the effort into each headlight, it's still time spend not having to do something I'd rather not have to do.
Just over a year ago I decided that the headligts were dangerously hazed again and instead of going to the effort of de-hazing (or having someone else do it) I chose to order 2 new headlight assemblies (which included the bulbs and all wiring harnesses) from RockAuto.com. These cost me about $70/ea, but the removal of the old assemblies and installation of the new took me about 1/2 hr total for both. Even after the de-hazing attempts the headlights didn't look as good as the new ones. Even today the headlamps make the car look newer than it actually is. These new assemblies will last in a nice clear shiny state until it's time to finally let go of the vehicle and I won't have to put another minute into their maintenance.
While it's not for everyone, replacing the assemblies with new ones was the best decision I could have make.
I've made the same decision as theginsue after several attempts at cleaning them I'll be replacing them next. The nice thing about 20 year old vehicles is parts are not expensive.
Each time I worked on them I spent a good 2 hours on each headlight.
That’s pretty good. I’ve seen guys take four or five hours.
No thanks.
I’d just drive it with cloudy lenses before I killed that much of my free time.
Beyond that, if it really bothered me I’d buy new ones as well.
Also, it’s weird that some of them cloud up and some never do. We had two identical Chevy trucks that were picked up brand new from the dealership on the same day. Five or six years later and one had cloudy lenses and the other was as clear as the day it was new. Both spent their entire lives outside and never saw a garage so it wasn’t like one was more exposed to the elements than the other.
I drive with my lights on at all times, and wonder if that is a contributing factor.
I want to get new assemblies, especially since one is broken, but I plan on getting late model HIDs from a newer vehicle since the body style hasn't changed.
Shooter45
06-02-2018, 21:22
I prefer to do my own maintenance on my vehicles and everything else as I'm a perfectionist. The refinishing kits do not last because they do not have a protective coating such as the sanding/clear coat/waxing method. It works perfectly but takes a couple of hours or you can replace the entire headlight assembly if desired. $10 and a couple hours was more than worth it to me and it lasts.
JethroBodine
06-03-2018, 07:11
Shooter45,
Thanks for the info and link to the video. I also like to do as much as I can of my own maintenance, at least I know it's done right. Only problem is that now I have several more projects to do :(
Yep, how much is your time worth?
When I was younger I had more time than money and I had to do everything myself. Now that I have less time and a little more money, one has to decide if it is better to spend a little to save some time.
Sent from my electronic leash using Tapatalk
OneGuy67
06-04-2018, 11:15
$39.99 and 1-1/2 hours of my time spent shopping and having a hot dog with my son was well worth the investment. My 2001 Tahoe's lenses were incredibly hazed up and they did a good job of cleaning them up. Thanks for the reminder Stu.
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