As long as we're nerding out on detailing supplies, what have y'all used to restore your plastic headlights on the 200?
why there is not a single post about car wax ????
- Thread starter Samuraj
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I plan to put a thread together on this soon. I tried a 3M kit and wasn’t happy with the results..
My next attempt will be along the lines of what is done in this video.
This is the kit that I've used several times and it has always worked really well.
Amazon product ASIN B012OE50BI
Key is using LOTS of water, in a spray bottle. When you see any residue, hose it down to clean it off. Don't push hard, go easy. Make sure you tape off all the way around, with a wide margin, they don't give you enough tape in the box. Then the final "Plastic Scratch Remover" polish at the end really seals the deal and makes it shine. I actually ran out of the little ketchup packet of polish, but you can get this separately. I use that stuff for a lot of things.
I dont recall what I used on my headlights... some variety of dupli-color product. I didn't care for it. Looked like crap and developed an orange peel texture when it dried. Be careful about applying the finish too heavy or you'll be redoing the job. Trust me.
One other tip... Use a sanding block or a sanding sponge with the sand paper wrapped around it. No matter how good you think you are, finger pressure is uneven. Sanding block spreads the pressure more evenly.
One other tip... Use a sanding block or a sanding sponge with the sand paper wrapped around it. No matter how good you think you are, finger pressure is uneven. Sanding block spreads the pressure more evenly.
This is why I won't use the drill-powered kits. It's not that big of an area, doesn't take long, so I much prefer doing it by hand with the squishy foam pad in the kit I posted.
The Land Cruiser gets the Costco treatment, similar to the situation above.
The ACR gets Zaino. But only two or three times per year. Id rather be driving the car than waxing it.
The ACR gets Zaino. But only two or three times per year. Id rather be driving the car than waxing it.
Oh, and for protecting the headlights from further damage, I've read meguairs ultimate paste wax is supposed to be amazing stuff. It's technically not a wax, just a synthetic sealant/polymer, and should do an excellent job of keeping UV damage at bay.
It needs to get reapplied a couple times a year because it is a wax-type sealant. Which, really, any product should.. driving down the road causing rock strikes and similar damages the UV coating and this is a big part of how they degrade in the first place. Fresh coats of UV protectant will keep this damage from starting the yellow haze again.
It needs to get reapplied a couple times a year because it is a wax-type sealant. Which, really, any product should.. driving down the road causing rock strikes and similar damages the UV coating and this is a big part of how they degrade in the first place. Fresh coats of UV protectant will keep this damage from starting the yellow haze again.
Looking for advice here. Ive got a super white 2011. Ive had paint problems along the front of the hood, probably a repaint this summer but thats a bit unrelated as the paint just flakes off. Literally.
With the paint on the rest of the truck, it is single stage and gets dingy fast, such that if you run a DA across it, you can clearly see the color difference. It takes FOREVER to cut and polish to remove all swirls, haze, and holograms. I need something that will last after that is done as I don't have an entire weekend to do this 3 or 4 times a year. Anyone?
With the paint on the rest of the truck, it is single stage and gets dingy fast, such that if you run a DA across it, you can clearly see the color difference. It takes FOREVER to cut and polish to remove all swirls, haze, and holograms. I need something that will last after that is done as I don't have an entire weekend to do this 3 or 4 times a year. Anyone?
I'm no expert but from what I've seen ceramic may be a good option right?
Also paint flaking off the hood sounds non-factory to me.
I had the same exact year and color, for about a year. I was actually really impressed with how that paint held a shine, even after 110K miles. I used Zaino products on it, and it really looked great. Wash, clay, polish with Zaino AIO, then seal with Z-5 and Z-6. This truck had a clear "bra" thing applied on the front of the hood when it was new, it was definitely a Toyota product as it had the "sombrero" logo on it, it fit well and was essentially invisible. Really kept the front of the hood chip-free.
That being said, I am now a believer in ceramic products. My '12 Miata had Simonize ceramic treatment applied when it was brand new, and when I bought it this Spring, it still looked amazing. But, I could tell it was starting to wear off, after 7 years, and I was debating on getting it re-done. Then this Fall I hit a deer, minor damage, but the entire front of the car had to be painted and cleared. Insurance paid $850 towards a new coat of ceramic, so I kicked in the rest ($450) to have the entire car done. Not a cheap process, but it's mostly labor. They used Ceramic Pro, a 5-year guarantee, and they coated everything: wheels, door jambs, trunk jamb, underhood, lights. The result is stunning and crazy smoooooth.
For a truck that old, it's a hard thing to justify the expense of a pro shop. I was quoted $2200 to do my '15 LC, ya not happening. You can buy the kits on Amazon, do it yourself. Watch the YouTube videos. "Pan the Organizer" is the man. A buddy bought a brand new GMC pickup this Spring, and I convinced him to let me to the treatment, I used CarPro products, I think we spent about $150 on just chemicals. It was about 12-14 hours of strenuous work, but it was well worth it. Truck still looks great, he still thanks me.
I'm debating doing the same treatment on my LC in the spring, as my pearl white is still in excellent condition. Meanwhile I'm using the spray-on "ceramic hybrid" products, just to make it look nice. But it doesn't last.
Some of the discoloring you may be seeing might actually be tiny metal particles from brake dust, that are rusting. Consider an iron remover spray, you spray it on after a good wash, let it sit, and you can see it turn purple as it rapidly oxidizes the iron, then you rinse it off. Smells awful, but it works.
I just use the spray wax one spray's on while the car is wet from washing. I usually wash in the quarter bay but sometime's I will go through the automatic and opt for the $12 wash.
I used to wax cars a couple of times per year with paste wax. I stopped doing that 20 years ago and haven't missed it.....
I used to wax cars a couple of times per year with paste wax. I stopped doing that 20 years ago and haven't missed it.....
Usually, I'd agree with you as this is my 8th toyota truck and have never had this problem. Then I saw this and put a call into corporate. Not expecting much.
Thanks a ton for the info. Sounds like this ceramic stuff is the way to go. REALLY appreciate it. I love this truck but its a giant to get cut and waxed. I enjoy doing it still but I simply don't have the time to do that more than once a year.