Why foggy headlights

Should it appear that the yellowing is too advanced, the old clear coat is going to have to be removed with sandpaper or abrasive cleaner and a new coat of protective film applied. That sanding work ought to be done by a professional. The work can be done by buying a kit from a retail store, but an amateur might make a mistake in sanding the very sensitive and soft polycarbonate surface of automotive headlights.

That generates extra cost, which ought to be avoided. The professional can also recommend the right type of clear coat to produce the best results. The very top of the automotive headlights turning yellow is not as serious an emergency as worn brake pads or pistons starting to malfunction. In fact, you can drive for weeks without noticing there may be a problem.

Taking care of the automotive headlights is not something that should not be put off indefinitely. Home Services Blog. Call Enter your phone number to receive a text message with a link for this information. The number will not be used for any other purpose. Carrier charges may apply for receiving text messages. When it comes to driving at night, or in conditions of limited visibility, one of the most important safety precautions a driver can take is making certain that his or her headlights are in optimal working order.

If you notice that the light emanating from your headlights is much dimmer than it once was, chances are your vehicle is suffering from foggy headlights. Sometimes drivers will also notice that fogging will cause their headlights have a yellowish, dingy tinge to it. The reason for headlight fogginess is a bit scientific. Most headlight lenses these days are made from a thick plastic comprised of polycarbonates.

Unlike the glass lenses that were used in older cars, these plastic lenses are much more scratch-resistant and durable. However, over time, as this polycarbonate plastic is exposed to UV rays from the sun, the outer layers begin to break down and degrade.

These factors cause the lenses to absorb blue light from the bulbs and cause a less potent, yellowish light to be emitted. The good news, however, is that cleaning foggy headlights is fairly easy. Most accessories stores stock at least a product or two that are designed specifically for cleaning foggy headlight lenses caused by UV exposure.

When in a pinch, people who need to clean foggy headlights immediately have a few other options that can also get the job done. According to Brian Noble, North America marketing manager for Sylvania Automotive, two factors contribute to foggy headlights: road debris and UV rays from the sun. Both wear away at the protective coating on headlights. To fix the situation, the damaged coating needs to be removed and a new protective coating added.

Although experts say you should bring your car in for a professional headlight restoration service, here are some of the most common DIY methods we've seen for cleaning headlights.

If the headlights are only slightly foggy, you can try and restore them using an abrasive, like toothpaste , and lots of scrubbing. First, clean the headlights with Windex or soap and water. Another option that will save you money is cleaning your headlights with household products like toothpaste. You can attempt to clean and restore your headlights with toothpaste. Toothpaste containing baking soda is especially effective. Begin by cleaning your headlights with Windex or a combination of soap and water.

Toothpaste can be an effective abrasive for cleaning headlights that are moderately dirty or foggy. Now that you know how to fix foggy headlights, take that knowledge and restore your foggy headlights. This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Sacramento, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing Sacramento County.

We are the premier independent body shop network delivering world-class customer service and high-quality collision repairs across the U.