How do I remove the clear plastic thats covers the front of the headlights?

[fobdout]

Hey guys! I just changed the headlights for my girlfriend's 98 Corolla. I put in some new Sylvania Silverstar Utra (they're 25% off in Advanced Auto Parts, btw) and I don't really see a difference between those and the stock. Its a little brighter and whiter but that's about it. When i looked closer at the headlights, I noticed that there's a layer of opaque dirt on the inside part of the headlight... on the inner side of the clear plastic. I want to remove the clear plastic so I can clean it but its stuck on there pretty good. I first removed four metal clips that I thought was holding the clear plastic on the headlight housing but it seems like there might also be some glue on it??

Any advice on how i can approach this??? I already checked Haynes and they didn't mention anything about the headlight clear plastic...

thanks!

[Flashmn]

its glued on...
You can soften the glue in an oven, but 99% you wont be able to get them back together after that, or you'll crack the glass.. I think a 98 has plastic lenses in which case you probably cant do anything to them.

Best way to try to remove the dirt is to put some dishwashing fluid and water into the headlight, shake it few times, then rinse it out with water and hope the chroming doesnt get ruined.

[fobdout]

thanks for the advice! i was looking at the housing again and when i removed the headlight, there was access to the inside of the clear plastic! so i bought a scrubber and tried to scrub off the film that was obstructing the light from passing... even put some dishwashing soap in there... but the film was still there. the weird thing was that when i front part of the clear plastic got wet, it was totally transparent, clear, like i was intending to do when i tried to scrub it. but when you wipe a paper towel to dry off the front, it became opaque again...

i'm thinking that there might have been a clear coating that helped the clear plastic become more translucent?? has anyone ever heard of anything like that before?