Have your cars headlights seen better days?
With the recent time change, are you doing more night driving? Have you noticed that it is harder to clearly see what is ahead of you on the road? I have. It turns out it was not just my eye prescription that needed attention! You may want to take a look at the headlights on your vehicle. Maybe you have noticed that they are yellow and cloudy?
These days, most cars are equipped with polycarbonate-plastic headlamp lenses. It is said that the material is lighter and is cheaper because it is easier to mold and bond. No matter the manufacturer’s motivation, it seems that it is here to stay. Polycarbonate is a porous material and is coated during manufacturing to protect the plastic from sun damage. Eventually, this coating succumbs to the sun’s intense UV rays. The resulting yellow, cloudy headlamp is not just an aesthetic issue. It can also be a safety matter. (Years ago, I had a customer that hit a pedestrian because of UV-damaged lamps. Luckily, everyone recovered.)
There are many solutions for damaged lamps, and a job well done can save you considerable expense. The repair process involves removing the damaged coating, cleaning the exposed plastic, recoating the lens, and then polishing the new coat for clarity. Some solutions involve using abrasives and chemicals we already have at home. But be careful with these, as most will cut right through the coating and damage the plastic lens. Carefully masking the painted area around the lens is important as well. It only takes a second to cut right through the paint. Repair kits are also available at your local auto parts store. These do a fine job of removing the damaged coating, but read the instructions carefully. These kits either do not include a replacement coating, or the coating will be temporary and require frequent re-application. Oftentimes, the provided buffing pad requires a drill. This should be used at low speed to avoid overheating the plastic and ruining the lamp, which instructions can sometimes fail to mention. And then there is the option to replace the lamps with new ones, which will likely be costly.
If you are planning on completing this repair yourself, I am providing a link to a well-done, online tutorial on our website. If you would rather leave it to the pros, give us a call and we will be happy to schedule an appointment.
Drive safely, Alhambra!
For more information on this topic or previous topics give us a call at (626) 872-0705