Headlamp Lens Cleaning "Worth it?" - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Gachinto · 03-13-2006, 05:37 AM

I found my Gen4 headlamps dim as hell ... I am going to get silverstar bulbs to replace the stock but I might want to clean the INSIDE of the headlamp as well to improve the lighting ~ My question is ... if it's worth the trouble to take out the lamps, bake and melt the silicon, clean and polish the inner surface, and re-seal? Are there easier alternatives to clean the inside of headlamps?

Thanks.

johnnyzee · 03-13-2006, 06:28 AM

easier methods, maybe. try this:

take off the headlight and remove any electrical and bulbs. try pouring in soap and water, or windex, or whatever would work to clean it out, then pour it out and let dry. see if it will help before taking apart the headlight (BELIEVE ME it's not as easy as it seems)

Hajoca · 03-13-2006, 06:48 AM

Look at a glass sealed beam headlamp and compare them to your plastic lenses.
Is the lens faded dull or yellow?

Repolishing the reflector is not easy either, ore than likely, you will be rubbing off and ruining the silver surface.

Gachinto · 03-13-2006, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hajoca

Look at a glass sealed beam headlamp and compare them to your plastic lenses.
Is the lens faded dull or yellow?

Repolishing the reflector is not easy either, ore than likely, you will be rubbing off and ruining the silver surface.

I won't be polishing the silver stuff, the housing, just the lense, which act as light deflector. I'd wish it's a Gen4.5 so I have clear lens, MUCH BETTER LOOKING ...

BlueCam · 03-13-2006, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gachinto

I won't be polishing the silver stuff, the housing, just the lense, which act as light deflector. I'd wish it's a Gen4.5 so I have clear lens, MUCH BETTER LOOKING ...

then do a 4.5 swap...just keep in mind you'll have to swap out the front bumper too...

leasaunce · 03-13-2006, 08:55 AM

you dont need to swap your bumper......

i did a GEN 4.5 swapped..... its in the "SHOW N SHARE" section

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t125621.html
There you go:

***AmanO*** · 03-13-2006, 11:47 AM

what are the differences in the 4-4.5 bumpers?

Can you use a 4.5 if you are keeping the 4.0 lights?

Did stock fogs ever come on a gen 4.5?

megamac83 · 03-13-2006, 12:22 PM

I am thinking if I should clear out the inside of my light because I just got some stobes and clear corner, but the headlights look dirty, should I clear the lens????

drunken_panda · 03-13-2006, 12:29 PM

My 93 Camry and 92 Previa had very yellowish lenses. I used some turtle Wax Rubbing compound and some elbow grease on the outside. It made it look very good and improved the light output.

Davee · 03-13-2006, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drunken_panda

My 93 Camry and 92 Previa had very yellowish lenses. I used some turtle Wax Rubbing compound and some elbow grease on the outside. It made it look very good and improved the light output.

Some autoglass repair outfits have a polishing fix to improve outside of lenses which are destroyed by dirt over time . I would think - if they work?- that that would be the best improvement short of replacing the atrocious stock Gen 4 units. Any experience?

***Silver Streak*** · 03-13-2006, 01:05 PM

I used Colgate Total, it cleared up my lens pretty nicely.

The real cleaner is called Plexus, you can find it here:
http://www.plexusplasticcleaner.com/plexus.html

drunken_panda · 03-13-2006, 01:55 PM

There are real cleaners out there, but most people are more likly to have rubbing compound already.

I dont know if you were kidding, but toothpaste is used quite often as a very fine abrasive. I use it to polish computer heat sinks all the time. But in this case, it is too soft.

***AmanO*** · 03-13-2006, 07:12 PM

Has anyone tried to use strobes for turn signals? Would that be legal if they were amber (or red in back?)

lucanhookup · 03-13-2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leasaunce

you dont need to swap your bumper......

i did a GEN 4.5 swapped..... its in the "SHOW N SHARE" section

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t125621.html
There you go:

yea but your headlights are different, your gen 4 camry came with dual bulbs and not single like ours. our gen 4.5 headlights are they same as yours

Gachinto · 03-18-2006, 11:18 AM

Looks like most people have solutions for outside of the lense, such as using cleaners, compound, and toothpaste... but my question is, if the INSIDE of the lense is also necessary/possible to clean?

The clear lense swap looks HOT and attractive! But correct me if I'm mistaken... aren't gen4.5 headlamps have clear lenses cuz they uses the housing to deflect lights into proper position to reduce glare? Even IF the lenses would work on the original gen4 headlamps, gen4 housing does not have to deflecting function, and therefore a HID retro or at least a projector must be installed to have proper headlights?

Edit: If u did the lense swap, that means you baked open the headlamps and melt the silicone right leasaunce vbmenu_register("postmenu_1164539", true); ? Could you please post the procedures / tips for doing that ? Even if I dun swap the lenses, cuz I will probably not get into HID / projector projects, I can polish / clean the INSIDE of the lenses as well to improve lighting. THanks