Headlight Haze

[taylor's 2001 Tundra]

i was checking out my headlights when i was washing my truck when i noticed a film or haze on the inside of my headlight, what works best to clean it up since i dont want to damage it any further. i have a 2001 tundra and my drl's are off.

thanks

[Dude Boy]

I've noticed the same thing on my 2000. I'm thinking we are just "stuck" with this unless there's a way to go in through the opening for the bulb. I don't think you could do much with that method though. I think I'm just going to have to live with it. Mine looks kind of like "jack frost" on a window; kind of patterns to it or something.

[MarkF]

My neighbor just had his headlight assemblies on his car cleaned and polished by a fellow that does it for a side business. He pulled out both assemblies and cleaned the inside with a detergent and rinsed with distilled water and denatured alcohol. Then connected a shopvac to the assembly and blew out/evaporated all the liquid. Next, he wet sanded the outside with very fine paper (like you would use for auto body work) and then used 3-4 different grades of compound polish with a buffer and finished with a wax. They went from cloudy and yellow to clear. It took most of a Saturday morning and I think he paid ~$100.00
If you have a buffer I think there are kits available to DIY online.

[shelbix2020]

or find some replacement ones on ebay for $35 like I did! ... brand new, off a wrecked Tundra

[longboard]

I had the same problem with an 88 mustang years ago, at that time i learned a secret that really worked well - you fill the inside of the headlight cover with some windex mixed with lime away and let it sit for a few minutes - then put a paint brush inside and scrub until your hand feels like it will fall off - rinse well and blow dry with the air hose, presto all clean. For the outside just use a good plastic polish. This worked good on ford plastic! Or the best way just buy new ones.

[Agent WD-40]

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/bgi-20214.html
Might want to give that a try. Perhaps it will work on the insde of the light to help out in the future.

[Supraman93]

This is what I did on my supra when my headlights fogged up. Pretty sure the tundra headlight would be a similiar process polishing headlights. Don't let the fact that you are putting them in the oven scare you. I set the oven for 190*. Just be careful because the seal will be pretty warm. Just polish with the Novus/Plexus or another plastic polish. I used Blue Magic Plastic/Plexiglass polish from Wal-mart and had great results. I had a write up on supraforums but I can't find it anymore.
Ryan

[BraneDead]

We did the same thing to my buddy's 98 Accord to get the lenses apart pretty much. Actually instead of the oven, we just evenely hit the entire seal with a heat gun, and slowly pried it apart and ventually it came right apart. Make sure you run a new silicon bead though, or else you'll be cleaning them again in another month.

[Kevin7909]

as for cloudy yellow headlights...my lexus did this and so did my t100(no water inside the lense tho)....believe it or not brake fluid on a towel cleans it extremely well....just be sure to hose the lens off when your done and avoid touching paint with the brake fluid...a friend spilled nitro from his RC car onto his acura TL brake light and stained it...brake fluid took it off in no time...i have done this multiple times and have never had any issues with the plastic/glass lenses on any vehicle....and it's basically free since most of us have brake fluid sitting in our garage anyway....
Kevin

[BlackLTD]

Wow..that brake fluid trick actually worked. Thanks for the tip. My 2001 Sequoia's headlight were getting kind of cloudy. After the brake fluid, they look pretty good...not brand new, but good enough to consider not replacing them.

[Agent WD-40]

I just used a bit of Mothers PowerMetal Aluminum polish on a rag. It took my haze right off. I was quite impressed. No negatives either. It is the stuff they recomend when using the Mothers Power Ball. It is nice too because you don't need to worry about the paint like you do with the brake fluid.