Headlight Haze

[Camry1999]

Hey everyone,
I have an '05 Camry & I have been getting a lot of haze over the headlights. I tried the headlights restoration kits, but none of them work for all that long. What is the best way to clean off the haze & make it stay like that for a long time (I am trying to avoid buying new headlights). Any suggestions...thanks

[humanoid]

What kits have you used? How long before the haze returns? My dad had them professionally polished a couple months ago, they still look great.

[eyezack87]

I am hoping you are aware that each time you polish your lights you're removing the protective coating that also includes UV filtering or whatever. Without that coating, its bound to oxidize again and again. That is why you must protect it frequently by waxing it. Another option is to clear coat it with UV resistant paint

[Camry1999]

Originally Posted by humanoid

What kits have you used? How long before the haze returns? My dad had them professionally polished a couple months ago, they still look great.

It's one of those headlight restoration kits from Meguiar's. It still leaves a little of haze on it still, but it looks better, but then the haze comes back...w/a vengeance.

Originally Posted by eyezack87

I am hoping you are aware that each time you polish your lights you're removing the protective coating that also includes UV filtering or whatever. Without that coating, its bound to oxidize again and again. That is why you must protect it frequently by waxing it. Another option is to clear coat it with UV resistant paint

Haha, I had no idea. So what should I use to really take it off? I'm guessing that UV resistant paint I can get anyplace or are there certain places that carry it?

[eyezack87]

I think any clear coat made for cars should have some UV protection in it. If the lights are yellowing as badly as you say, then I bet most of the layer is gone so it doesn't really matter what you use to remove it

[Camry1999]

I took some pictures so you can see...

[eyezack87]

Looks like the standard hazing after the UV coating disappears. You're doing it the right way now. After the clearcoat is applied it should help slow the process down even further

[ToyotaJimD.]

The Mothers PowerBall 4Lights really works well, but with any polishing kit, you have to apply a plastic polish periodically to keep the oxidation at bay.

Mothers includes a special polish -- enough to maintain several cars for a couple years.