Headlight Restoration Kit

Nice work.

Here is a link to my write up on how to perform the restoration.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ubleshooting/91945-headlight-restoration.html

Here is a picture of my headlight after cleaning.

 

The "after" looks great.

However the question is how long that condition will persist. I suspect you will find the headlight lens will cloud up again soon, if the car is exposed to strong sunlight for extended periods, since the UV protective coating will be removed by the polish.

 

The 3M version of the kit comes with a polish to restore the UV protection.

JeffD

 

So does the $29.95 kit from Meguiar's.

 

How often are you supposed to reapply the UV protection?

 

Every Sunrise!

What about a coat of Krylon #1305 is a clear coat wth UV a protectant?
\Crystal Clear Coatings
• Provides a tough, long-lasting protective coating
• Guards against electrical failures
• Will not affect resistance values or conduct current
• Seals porous surfaces
• Air dries in minutes
• Adds strength and water resistance
• Impedes fading of fluorescents and other paints
• Protects documents
Uses: Televisions, radios, stereos and other electronic units.
Colors Colors
K1301 Acrylic Crystal Clear
(MIL-TT-L-50)
K1302 Acrylic Crystal Clear
(Radio & TV) (MIL-TT-L-50)
K1303 Crystal Clear (MIL-TT-L-50)
Clear Polyurethane Coating
• Crystal clear, flexible film
• Ideal for sealing electrical and electronic parts
• Weatherproofs and waterproofs in one application
• Protects against rust, corrosion and tarnish
• Exceptional resistance to vegetable oils, mineral oils, greases,
chemical fumes
• Dries in approximately 4 minutes
• Meets MIL-C-17504B and TT-L-50G Type I and Type III performance
requirements
• Contains no chlorinated solvents
• Dielectric strength: 1,523 VPM
• Equipped with EZ Touch Standard nozzle
Uses: Wiring installations, printed circuit boards, batteries, chrome and
bright work, metals, paper, wood and leather surfaces.
Colors
K7005 Polyurethane - Gloss
K7006 Polyurethane - Satin
Clear Latex Coatings
• Latex technology in gloss and matte finishes
• Durable finish
Colors
K7110 Low Odor Clear Coating - Gloss
K7120 Low Odor Clear Coating - Matte
Workable Fixative - K1306
• Eliminates smudging, wrinkling and gloss on paper, posters, signs
• Dries in seconds to a clear, durable finish
Dulling Spray - K1310
• Provides a temporary dull finish on plastic, glass and glossy surfaces
• Semi-drying formula wipes off easily
Kamar Varnish - K1312
• Protects oil, latex or acrylic painted surfaces
• Will not yellow with age
• Ideal for signs, tools, artwork
K1305 Crystal Clear, U.V.

When I put up my antenna farm years ago, and coated all the elements. They look as good today as the day I installed them!

 

I would prefer to re-polish the headlights as needed. If you don't let them go completely to hell before polishing them, they are easy enough to clear up.

Once you spray on a clear coat, when the clear coat gets tired, it needs to be removed and you start over.

There are also bad reactions between some headlight plastics and solvents and other plastics. Polycarbonate which is a popular headlight lens material is particularly subject to solvent damage in the form of small cracks that may not show up for days or weeks.

 

I restored mine recently with a kit by Clear Vision ($17 at Walmart) with similar results. It involves sanding with two different grades of sandpaper, polish and two coats of sealant.

 

Often

 

I think my '04 with 176,000 miles is ready for this treatment. Just wondering how the restoration holds up a year later?

PA Prius

 

I just use Eagle One Never Dull on my lenses and it works fine. Afterwards I just apply a quality car wax that has UV protectant in it. I end up doing it about once every year and a half but its much cheaper, and this is Texas where the sun is always shining.