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Where to buy headlight assemblies for 2002?

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by Anthony2816, Feb 27, 2010.

  1. Anthony2816

    Anthony2816 New Member

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    Does anyone know of an online source where I can buy replacement 2002 headlight assemblies to replace my cloudy ones?

    All I can find are gen II and III models.

    Even eBay doesn't have them.

    My local dealer has them for around $500 a pair...was hoping to pay a bit less than that.
     
    #1 Anthony2816, Feb 27, 2010
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Before you go to the trouble of replacing the housings, have you tried using plastic polish on the lenses?

    Anyway, if you decide you need to replace them, here's a price of $152 each plus shipping: Champion ToyotaWorld
     
    #2 Patrick Wong, Feb 27, 2010
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  3. kocho

    kocho Member

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    As the other post said - have you tried polishing them?

    On my '02 (now with almost 160K) they were awful - the lights were dull and so dim it was a safety concern to me. I too thought of replacing them, but decided to give polish a try. It worked extremely well! I used an electric drill with a simple fabric polishing disk attached and used a fine polishing compound. Finished with regular car wax paste (again with that same polishing disk). Took about 5 minutes to do both lights and they are bright again - the dullness pretty much completely disappeared and there was a marked improvement in the brightness of the light - it is now just as it should be and I can see a lot farther than I could before at night.

    You may be able to do it by hand as well, but I imagine it will involve a lot of "elbow grease" ;)

     
    #3 kocho, Feb 27, 2010
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  4. Anthony2816

    Anthony2816 New Member

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    I haven't tried polishing them...but it sounds worth a try, especially with the price of them (and the pain of replacing them).

    I haven't actually examined them yet...this is my mother-in-law's car. Is it likely that the offending area is on the outside of the lens, and not on the inside...or within the lens itself?

    I'm completely unfamiliar with the process...where does one find "polishing compound", and is there some particular, uh, "grit" that I should get?
     
    #4 Anthony2816, Feb 28, 2010
  5. AquaIce

    AquaIce New Member

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    Heres the general idea with a video, headlights-restore.com
     
    #5 AquaIce, Feb 28, 2010
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  6. Anthony2816

    Anthony2816 New Member

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    Hmm, that product doesn't even require buffing. Just wash, dry, and apply a liquid that I presume fills in the microscopic pits.

    Have you tried it?
     
    #6 Anthony2816, Feb 28, 2010
  7. AquaIce

    AquaIce New Member

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    haven't triedthat exact product but as long as u wet sand the headlights & then rub a polishing compound you should get the same result. I've used a meguires plastic polish before & it gave me a temp fix to oxidized headlights. One ofthe downside to plastic headlights.
     
    #7 AquaIce, Feb 28, 2010
  8. Anthony2816

    Anthony2816 New Member

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    Okay, I'll definitely give the polishing a try.
     
    #8 Anthony2816, Feb 28, 2010
  9. Anthony2816

    Anthony2816 New Member

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    Worked great! I bought a 3M kit for $18, and using it with an electric drill the lenses are glossy and clear again. Coupled with the new HID bi-xenon lights and the driver can see far better at night.

    You guys saved me big bucks...plus the work of removing and installing new lenses...very much appreciated!
     
    #9 Anthony2816, Mar 5, 2010
  10. WU8Y

    WU8Y New Member

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    Were they yellow & foggy, or just foggy?

    I had a collision last year, and my passenger-side headlight was replaced. The driver-side headlight cover is yellowed and foggy, and asymmetric.
     
    #10 WU8Y, Mar 9, 2010
  11. Anthony2816

    Anthony2816 New Member

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    Just foggy.
     
    #11 Anthony2816, Mar 9, 2010
  12. AquaIce

    AquaIce New Member

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    Lets see pics of the hid setup. I want to get some.
     
    #12 AquaIce, Mar 22, 2010
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