Contrary to popular beliefs, WE cavemen are much smarter than some of those slick talking snake-oil salesmen would like to give credit for.  Here is an example…

1. We are smart enough to remain close to a shelter in the event of a storm or harsh conditions like intolerable wind, heat or cold.
2. We are smart enough to use the most reliable method available to accomplish our goals.
3. We are also smart enough not to just blindly accept some magic potions as the better way of life just because one man claims it to be “better” than our tried and true methods.

Fact:  Our traditional methods have proven to be the most reliable and effective solutions to the widespread problems associated with surviving the natural elements.

Fact:  All the plastic technology in the world still cannot withstand the forces of Mother Nature forever!  Just look what happens to any community that chooses to remain in the path of any major storm or natural event.  Especially at traveling speeds in excess of 55 MPH or greater.  Not to mention the harmful rays from the sun and a wide fluctuations in temperature.

Fact:  Most of the problems that are occurring with today’s plastic headlight covers are caused by the effects of Mother Nature because we don’t keep our vehicles hidden away in our caves.  Contrary to popular belief, and I believe I speak for all my cave brethren; we love to drive at night.

A wise caveperson (caveman or cavewoman) will not go out into the world without wearing some kind of protective clothing to insulate them from the elements.  So why would we put some magical, invisible potion into or on our bodies unless we are “certain” that it will protect us from harm?  History has shown us that this is not the solution.  There is ‘no free ride’ these days… sorry, but that’s just the TRUTH of the matter.

We realize that there are a lot of fancy words out there, and one such word that is so popular when it comes to the problem of foggy, faded, hazy, yellow, brown or dim headlights is “OXIDATION” and “UV Protection”…  whoooo!!!

Here are a few other things to think about:

• Fact:  If a headlights UV Protection (oh yeah, for those of you that just haven’t heard yet, UV stands for “Ultra Violet”… which is not some really cool purple flower by the way) was really still working, then there should not be ANY oxidation occurring on your lens in the first place.

To put it in more understandable terms for all you folks who, like me, just don’t understand all the fancy words that are being thrown around.  Ever burn something you were cooking in a frying pan?  What is the best method for removing the burnt on mess?  I’ll argue that nothing works better than scrubbing!  Sorry all you “Teflon” manufacturers, but it’s the TRUTH.  And we all know that the Teflon coating on a pan will eventually rub and scratch off over time.  The same is true of the original surface protection on your factory headlights, if it even had some to begin with.

Here are some definitions to consider: 

Polishing is the process of creating a smooth and shiny surface by using rubbing or a chemical action. (source: Wikipedia)

Restoration is the process of bringing an object back to its original state.

Cleaning is to make clean: as (1) : to rid of dirt, impurities, or extraneous matter (2) : to rid of corruption (boy wouldn’t that be nice!) – this came from Webster’s Online.

There are some other common problems that you will see sometimes:

Condensation (or water) inside your headlight covers.  Yes, I said “covers” because that’s just what they are.  On the vast majority of vehicles today, the light bulb itself is located in an assembly behind that plastic cover that seems to have lost its original beauty.

This could only be because of a three different things, each with a different solution:

Holes(s) -  most likely due to a collision with some kind of road debris like a flying or bouncing rock from that dusty old dump truck you were stuck behind.

• Possible Solutions depends on the size and location of the hole or holes.  Watch it now… I know some of you are thinking about that dill hole that damaged your beautiful headlight lens.
• Fill it with a clear silicone sealant available at hardware or auto part stores. (cheapest solution, but may be noticeable for larger holes)
• Repair it with one of many other clear plastic fillers or auto glass repair kits (prices vary widely)

Crack(s) - and no, I’m not talking about street drugs!  That’s usually because it was accidentally hit or jarred violently from either inside or outside the cover while work was being performed on your vehicle or some other type of collision.

• Possible Solutions depends on the size and location of the crack.  Remember… CRACK KILLS!
• If the crack is on the inside (meaning you can’t see it when you are just standing there looking at your car), then you may be able to fill it with a clear silicone sealant available at hardware or auto part stores. (cheapest solution)
• If it is on the outside, then you may try using a clear plastic resin that is available at your local hardware store or on the internet (of course).  If applied correctly, they dry solid and can improve the integrity of the damaged housing and generally hold their appearance well enough to pass inspection.  You may need to consider replacing the cracked headlight cover if the damage is too extensive. 

Note:  cracks can be difficult to completely fix or seal and they will likely created more trouble down the road.  If you are not sure, then you may want to consult a headlight repair professional.  That may still be cheaper than replacing the lens outright.

Inner seal compromised – this can happen for the same reason a crack occurred, or during a headlight bulb replacement where the housing may have been removed improperly or care wasn’t taken when changing the bulb.  After a few years of operating your vehicle in the elements, plastic lens covers often become brittle due to the constant heating and cooling due to normal operation.

• Solutions – reseal with a silicone sealant after removing all of the old seal and cleaning both surfaces thoroughly with a plastic safe cleaner that will not leave any residue (ammonia or Windex is cheap and usually does a good job) – do not use degreasers

SO HERE IS THE DEAL - If there is water or condensation inside your lens, then it must be drained and the inside of the housing must be totally dry and cleaned before trying to do any of the repairs mentioned above.  There are many different variations of headlight assemblies, so be forewarned that this may not be an easy job, and it will require some mechanical skill and tools.

You should remove the entire housing from the vehicle first and determine the best way to get to the inside of the lens.  Some units it will be obvious how the lens cover can be separated, and others it may not.  Many trucks and SUV’s and older square-faced cars have assemblies that when removed, will give you sufficient access to the inside of the lens without much trouble.

The other type housings are found on vehicles with contoured front ends like sports cars and luxury sedans.  They often have a solid single lens housing with a socket for the bulb.  In some cases you may need to drill a small hole into the bottom in order to get all the water to drain out.  Drain out all the water and then place the headlight assembly next an air conditioning vent in your home or use a hair dryer to remove all moisture. Reseal the hole with silicone seal (not glue which will crack and leak). Remember to check the whole seal that attaches the outer cover to the headlight assembly and reseal if necessary. Re-install the assembly.

Now let’s get back to the MOST COMMON PROBLEM that is much easier for YOU to FIX YOURSELF.

EXTERIOR ONLY DAMAGE

Common Descriptions: DISCOLORED (usually yellow or brown), FADED (usually white or light grey), FOGGY (this is a misused term, as fog is really moisture – see above), DIM (another misused term that describes the resulting loss or diffusion of light getting through the lens), HAZY (see DIM), YELLOWED (same as discolored)… you get the picture here.

THE SOLUTION IS REALLY SIMPLE – USE CRYSTAL VIEW

For more detailed instructions, visit my other guide here on eBay called Restore Faded Foggy Cloudy Headlights Permanently.

Visit The PWS Trading Post for Crystal View's CV Headlight Restorer/Defogger

This process is not really magic… it is “like” Magic.  Some religious folks would be more likely to refer to our product as a “Miracle.”  Either way, the bottom line is this… “IT JUST WORKS!”  And hey…guess what… they have a LIFETIME WARRANTY!

In the end, we are all just people… weather we live in a cave or not.  So why don’t we just all get along and stop all the name calling already!

Sincerely yours,

A Peaceful Caveman

If you found this guide to be useful in helping you understand the real issues, or if you just feel like giving a caveman a pat on the back, then please vote for my guide.  If you really want your plastic headlight lens to look like-new again, then try Crystal View. Learn even more online at MyHeadlight dot com or at BestHeadlightCleaner dot com.