1st Gen Prius: Cleaning inside of Headlights

light dim

A new one on me. You can access the inner surface with some difficulty after removing the bulb assembly (with some difficulty). If the plastic is internally discolored rather than just with surface dirt, this will not help much.

The headlight design may be unique to Prius, thus you may be constrained to buying a replacement from LKQ online or their competitors.

Last time I mentioned LKQ online somebody said whazzat? Does it not come up on google?

 

Really, the discoloration may be on the outside. I had a 96 Subaru (before I traded it for a Prius) and I thought the discoloration was on the inside of the headlight assembly as well.

The best thing is to go buy a headlight refinishing kit at PepBoys. Yes, there is such a thing! It uses a light abrasive material on a rotating pad that you afix to a drill. Then polish.

Try it first before trying to dis-assemble the headlight.

Marvin

 

If at all possible, could you take a before and after picture and post.

 

Just bought an '02 with similar problem: hazing headlight lens. These are sealed beam headlights so the discoloration is on the outside. Check with your Toyota dealer; they should have a cleaning kit made by Bright Solutions that will take the haze off and restore the clarity of the lens. Check out Headlight Restoration Kits to get more info on this product.

 

agreed!

but instead of disassembling the headlights, best bet is to try to find a nice pair from a recycler, worst case scenario opt for new ones from the dealer, although might cost some $$$, IMO is well worth it, and it should last you another 5+years or more depending on how you take care of em

 

I cleaned mine with some kind of goopy polish kit from oreilly's and while there WAS a difference, these headlights are still as dim as my highschool football coach. I am looking at the possibility of new bulbs now.

 

For outside haze and oxidation just use a headlight restoration kit.

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

 

I had the same problem with my head lights being dull, and a yellow color at night. It really bugged me, so I found some guy on youtube using toothpaste to clean his lens to a nice bright finish. I didn't have the whitening tooth paste, so I tried some old chrome polishing liquid on a rag, and with minimal effort the rag turned yellow right away. I keep at it a few more times, and now the lens is crystal clear, and very bright white light at night.