Headlight looks dirty inside

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

sassyav8r

sassyav8r

10 Year 15 Year 20 Year
Joined
Aug 1, 2004
Threads
6
Messages
37
Location
Dallas, Tx
Hi folks,
I have done quite a bit of searching on this topic and haven't found any info. on it. Inside the headlight lens it looks as if it is dirty. From a distance, lens looks grey or smoky inside. Any ideas on cleaning it? Should I replace the lens? It doesn't appear to be cracked. I replaced the bulb (HIR) when I installed the Slee headlight harness.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
SAS

:beer:
 
Here's a pic

Here's a photo of the "smoke" behind the lens.

Thanks,
SAS
sas119sm.webp
 
SAS,

No suggestions here, but just wondering whether you had the lense problem before installing the HIR and the harness or something that had developed afterwords?

I've heard of kind of "yellowing" of the lense, but not what you're experiencing too often.

BTW, AFAIK you cannot just replace the lense, so you would either have to clean the lense from the inside (Is the reflector OK?) or get a new/used unit.

Good luck!
 
This discoloration appears to be on the inside, and not so much of a UV hazing on the surface of the lense. If water intruded inside the case, perhaps it has corroded the interior reflective coating.
 
mot said:
BTW, AFAIK you cannot just replace the lense, so you would either have to clean the lense from the inside (Is the reflector OK?) or get a new/used unit.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

If you mean you can't remove the lens, that is incorrect. I've done it myself. You need to remove the rubber tubes, grommets, and everything else you can unscrew. Stick the headlight unit in the oven at 350ºF for a couple minutes (5 or so). As soon as you take it out start prying around the glass with some large flathead screwdrivers. I started at a corner first and worked my way around. It's a pain, but it works. To seal it back up, just place the lens face down and put the reflector on top squeeze them together as best you can. Stick it back in the oven at 350ºF for 5 minutes and then press them together again.
 
mot said:
SAS,

No suggestions here, but just wondering whether you had the lense problem before installing the HIR and the harness or something that had developed afterwords?

I've heard of kind of "yellowing" of the lense, but not what you're experiencing too often.

BTW, AFAIK you cannot just replace the lense, so you would either have to clean the lense from the inside (Is the reflector OK?) or get a new/used unit.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks MOT. You're a prince. I recall prior to doing the light upgrade that there was a slight darkening going on and now with the HIR and harness it shows up even more. I don't think it's gotten worse. Maybe some moisture found it's way in prior to my upgrade. I'll try cleaning inside the lens first and if that doesn't work...well...I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Many thanks for all of your excellent advice!

Sassy

medtro said:
May be this could help.

http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/headlights/index.html
Click to expand...

Holy cow! That is impressive! I might have to give that a try. Thanks!

psfpilot said:
This discoloration appears to be on the inside, and not so much of a UV hazing on the surface of the lense. If water intruded inside the case, perhaps it has corroded the interior reflective coating.
Click to expand...

That is exactly what I was afraid of and you're probably right. Thank you for replying.

Sas

wingman358 said:
If you mean you can't remove the lens, that is incorrect. I've done it myself. You need to remove the rubber tubes, grommets, and everything else you can unscrew. Stick the headlight unit in the oven at 350ºF for a couple minutes (5 or so). As soon as you take it out start prying around the glass with some large flathead screwdrivers. I started at a corner first and worked my way around. It's a pain, but it works. To seal it back up, just place the lens face down and put the reflector on top squeeze them together as best you can. Stick it back in the oven at 350ºF for 5 minutes and then press them together again.
Click to expand...

I might have to have some liquid courage for this. It is a good solution though.
What happens if I open it up and the reflector is shot? Can you just buy the reflector? I am not sure plastic scratch remover is going to cut it.

Thanks for your help.

Sassy
 
Photo of both lights

Does this pic help any? Looks like the bright on the driver's side is fogged in the pic. It doesn't look as bad as it does in the pic but boy does it bug me!

Sas
1SS_0005sm.webp
 
wingman358 said:
If you mean you can't remove the lens, that is incorrect.
Click to expand...

I just said that you cannot replace the lense (there is no part number just for the lense, but you'll need to get the whole headlight assy) and did not say anything about whether it was possible to take the lense apart or not.:hillbilly: ;)

Kidding aside, I've heard about the oven trick and I had tried it with one of my fog lights. The outcome was slightly less than perfect :doh:

I hope whatever the path you end up taking (maybe try the least level of difficulty (or least $) to the most ($$$:D) and see what happens!

Keep us posted!

Mot:)
 
Will do Mot. Thanks.

:cheers:
 
I took my headlight assemblies out and reached inside from the "bulb" portal and cleaned them with paper towels. Good as new.
 
DTAYLOR said:
I took my headlight assemblies out and reached inside from the "bulb" portal and cleaned them with paper towels. Good as new.
Click to expand...


I did the same with chopsticks made into giant cotton buds. Wrapped cotton on the tips of disposeable wood chopsticks. Change as often as needed.


Kalawang
 
I did the same with chopsticks made into giant cotton buds. Wrapped cotton on the tips of disposable wood chopsticks.
Click to expand...

I had the same problem. One headlight foggy on the inside. Removed the headlight from my 1997 cruiser, cleaned the inside with water and CLR using chopsticks and cotton balls. Bought those little rubber bands to hold the cotton balls on the chopsticks. Paid special attention to cleaning the inside of the headlight glass and the silver reflector area as best I could. After drying out with a hair drying and putting back on my rig, the difference is night and day. It looks great and the headlight now puts more light on the road. Pretty much good as new.

:popcorn:
 
psfpilot said:
This discoloration appears to be on the inside, and not so much of a UV hazing on the surface of the lense. If water intruded inside the case, perhaps it has corroded the interior reflective coating.
Click to expand...

I have the same issue with my DS headlight, but not as bad. However, it is certainly dimmer than the PS. I did find a crack which has been letting water in a few weeks ago and hit is with some silicone so my new HIRs don't get damaged. Plan is to replace the entire assembly...
 
RichElliott said:
I had the same problem. One headlight foggy on the inside. Removed the headlight from my 1997 cruiser, cleaned the inside with water and CLR using chopsticks and cotton balls. Bought those little rubber bands to hold the cotton balls on the chopsticks. Paid special attention to cleaning the inside of the headlight glass and the silver reflector area as best I could. After drying out with a hair drying and putting back on my rig, the difference is night and day. It looks great and the headlight now puts more light on the road. Pretty much good as new.

:popcorn:
Click to expand...

Crap, do I need to add this to my PM list now?...
 
Just a quick update.... I took the headlamp assembly out of the truck this morning thinking I could clean the inside from the bulb holes. Long story short--that is a real PITA. Not to mention, I could still see a haze on the reflective coating.

Next Idea-- Take the Headlamp assembly apart. Actually guys, this procedure is cake.

1. heat up the oven to 200 degrees f.
2. Pop the little metal clips off of the perimeter of the housing.
3. Place in the oven for about 10 minutes. (all you are trying to do during this step is get the adhesive soft enough that you can separate the lens from the housing)
4. Remove Headlamp with some pot holders
5. I used a 1" wood chisel and carefully pried the lens from the housing. I started on the bottom corner. Once you have good separation, the lens will come off very easily.
6. Once apart, you will have access to thoroughly clean all components of the headlamp assembly.

My reflective coating was shot. Cleaning it did not help. I could actually see the grey plastic through the coating in some areas. (this is why your headlights appear to have a grey hue). The coating is very thin and will come off very easily if you use harsh chemicals. Someone in an earlier post said they used CLR-- I did not have any so I just tried some soap and water. I would test whatever you use in a section that is not used for reflecting light.

When you are done cleaning just reverse the order. Just make sure both the housing and lens are thoroughly heated up so the glue is sticky. Press the pieces together and snap the clips back on.

Hope this helps.
 
It seems the DS isn't sealed as well as the pass. side for some reason.
My DS lens and reflector were foggy/dirty inside. I did the "oven trick" a couple of years ago,
cleaning the inside along with using silicone in gaps I found. Still looks good.
 
You could slip someone at your local University's microfab lab $20.00 and have them sputter an new layer of silver on the inside of it for ya :grinpimp:. I used to make mirrors in college this way and they rock!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom