dirty headlights - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Anh Tung · 08-11-2003, 01:29 PM

i have a gen 4 camry, and i was wondering if there's any way to clean that yellowish hase that bulids up on the inside of the headlight?

CamrySleepsOnU · 08-11-2003, 01:31 PM

someone told me use rubbing compound... I did and I couldn't notice a difference aside from normal dirt being cleaned.

Anh Tung · 08-11-2003, 01:33 PM

where can i get a that rubbing compound and how do i get into the inside of the headlight? isn't sealed?

TypeZer0 · 08-11-2003, 01:57 PM

i tried the rubbing compound stuff, made by turtlewax and was 1.99, it was the only rubbing compound stuff i saw and it was the only one that didn't say avoid plastic trim and stuff. i started on my driver side headlight and rubbed it for a good 10 minutes then i wiped away the excess. i started on the passenger side but a minute or two later, it started raining so i wiped off the excess adn went inside. later that nite, i was adjusting the height of my lowbeams and noticed the driver side was brighter on the wall than the passenger side. previously, both sides were of approximately equal brightness. gotta find some time to finish off the passenger side.

to take apart ur headlight assembly, take the whole assembly to ur ktichen, take otu the bulbs and stuff and bake it at 275degrees fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes and the glue will soften. just carefully pry it apart but remember the glue will be like melted cheese on a pizza. reheat it and push it back together and use the clips to squeeze the parts together

CamrySleepsOnU · 08-11-2003, 02:25 PM

i'll have to try that

jhbhatia · 08-11-2003, 03:19 PM

I've done this similar thing with a friends corolla. Well just remove the headlights (housings...not just the bulbs)...take a ruler, and tie some cloth around it....(making it one giant Q tip)...spray some engine degreeser..and take that Q-tip and clean.......i know it worked for us when we tried it...It was hell of easier than baking in the oven and/or messing with seals on headlights!

Anh Tung · 08-11-2003, 04:47 PM

i think i'll try the degreaser one. sounds safer.

97&02camryleI4 · 09-07-2003, 01:19 AM

Anyone know if I would need to remove the bumper on the '97 camry in order to take out the headlight assembly? I want to try cleaning out the inside of the headlight through the bulb opening also but not sure exactly which parts need to be taken off prior to taking the headlight assembly out. Thanks.