Foggy Headlamps

[duke16]

My headlamps have fogged up on the inside for some reason. Is it possible to clean them, or am I better of getting new ones?

 

[fraxinusalba]

They can be cleaned if they are dirty but you will need to remove them to do a decent job and be able to dump water/cleaner out. If just foggy with moisture, dry them with hair drier.

You've got a bad seal somewhere or didn't get the socket tightened when checking/replacing lamp. If you don't get the headlight sealed, it will just fog up again.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Old trick that worked for us on our yellowed '87-93 Mustang eyes was a little bit of anti freeze swished around... No guarantees though. If it is water moisture, make sure your vents are clear to let air in.

 

[reserved50]

Old trick that worked for us on our yellowed '87-93 Mustang eyes was a little bit of anti freeze swished around... No guarantees though. If it is water moisture, make sure your vents are clear to let air in.

what does that do, turn it from yellow to green ?

 

[Joe Dirt]

No, it cleans the yellow off.

 

[manaen]

well I had the same problem on a ranger, the yellow is actually on the outside. I took mothers plastic polish and a polishing wheel on a drill and they came out sparkly clean. So clean that I had to polish all the lenses so they would match.

Then to stop it from happening again I drilled some very small breather holes in the lens so the moisture could get out.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Ok, I've polished some headlights too, 3M finish restorer (for paint) works well. On our Mustang buckets, it works well to clean up the discoloration on the inside.

 

[duke16]

Crap, I must not have had Thread Notification Emails enabled for this thread... I didn't notice anyone had replied.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll give them a shot when it warms up a little.

 

[manaen]

I'll give them a shot when it warms up a little.

Huh?!? cold? in NC, it doesn't get cold down there

 

[BootyDo]

Not a threadjacker...honest!

Hello,

First, I was about to start a new thread but figured what I posted might belong here. Sorry if it seems like I'm threadjacking...

Anyhow, for my '99 XLT, I just got some sweet SilverStars for Christmas! (I love that Santa! ). Since my front headlamps are also a bit yellow, I was thinking about removing them, cleaning them out entirely and installing my new bulbs. After I looked at the clearance available for installing the new bulbs, I really would like to go this route and not chance scraping the Christmas bulbs, (get it!? ). But now I'm stuck.

From the Ford Service manual, it looks like you first have to remove the "Radiator Sight Shield". Then remove the Parking Lamp Assembly and finally have access to remove the Headlight Assembly. But I'm stuck on the Parking Lamp thing.

On the CD, it states to "remove the screws" and it points to the 2 top exposed ones. That was straightforward. But on the next step, it just says "Remove the parking lamp assembly." In the picture, it acts as though you can just pull it straight out. Unfortunately, I can't.

Is there something else I'm missing here? I thought I might have to remove the plastic/chrome grill first, but the CD makes no mention of that. Actually, when I went to the body trim contents, it says you first must remove the parking lamp unit.

Lastly, I noticed that there's this little area where the parking lamp assembly connects to the reinforced grill, (don't know how to describe it). I think it's more for alignment, but it looks like a little metal widget and has a white plastic circle around it that's not a "whole" unit, i.e. has breaks. I wish I had a camera so I could explain that better. Maybe the big guy will get me that next year!

Again, sorry if this was threadjacking. I can always delete this repsonse and start a new thread if it offends.

And thanks for any help and insight!!!!

 

[duke16]

Then remove the Parking Lamp Assembly and finally have access to remove the Headlight Assembly. But I'm stuck on the Parking Lamp thing.

On the CD, it states to "remove the screws" and it points to the 2 top exposed ones. That was straightforward. But on the next step, it just says "Remove the parking lamp assembly." In the picture, it acts as though you can just pull it straight out. Unfortunately, I can't.

Pretty sure that's all that's holding the corners in, 2 screws. But if they've never been removed before they may take a little work. But they should just pull straight out. Try and ease them side to side a little, just becareful not to break the clips.

 

[manaen]

no need to remove them to get the yellow off, it is actually oxidation on the outside of the lens. It can be cleaned with a good plastic polish and elbow grease.

 

[BootyDo]

Hello All,

First, thanks for the responses!!! Secondly, sorry for the delay in responding. Getting these headlights changes has definitely been a frustrating (and humbling) experience.

Just as you mentioned duke16, I was able to remove the parking light assembly simply by pulling. That little dolly thing that I was referring to, (still can't describe it real well), just needed a good whack to loosen it a bit. In no time I had the assembly out. Then, before I removed the headlight assembly, I apparently did have to remove the grille first. From one of aldive's threads, he referred to this link. But when I got to the point about the clips, I didn't have the energy left to worry about whether I needed new ones. Instead, just as manaen mentioned, if I could just change the headlight bulbs, I could worry about the oxidation from the outside of the headlamps later.

So, with VERY little clearance, I actually was able to change my headlight bulbs without removing the headlamp assemblies - even though the Ford Tech Manual states to remove the headlamps.

Right now, my SilverStars are burning bright! I'm definitely going to look into all those kits/methods of fixing foggy headlamps but probably not until the Spring now. But at least I have a plan!

Thanks again for all the help guys!!!

 

[manaen]

Wait, the ford tech manual says to remove the whole assembly to change the light bulb HUH ?? :scratch:

So that begs for the question, how many ford techs does it take to change a lightbulb?

(that could be a thread all by itself)


Glad you got the bulbs in, cleaning up the oxidation is very easy, so easy that I couldn't believe I waited so long to fix it on my old truck.

here is one product that I had success with

there is also a cleaner that goes along with this...

 

[TeckNine4]

There is some restorer headlight stuff at Wal-Mart, its comes with everything including 400 grit sand paper and both the solutions, it makes them look brand new.

I just am going 2 say forget it and go on ebay and get the full clears including corners and diamond cut lenses,,But shi* I don even have 100$ to get them

 

[manaen]

400 grit is pretty rough for polishing plastic

 

[TeckNine4]

Im not sure if its 400 grit, but sumfin' like that,,,it works if u wanna pay $20 bones...

 

[wood1]

I just use that cheap Turtle Wax polishing compound on the outside of the lense. I also has moisture collecting in a headlight on the stang, drilled a small hole at the bottom corner and haven't had any trouble in the last 7-8 years.