hey all, new here, need help w/ headlights

[bears96explr]

Hey everyone, hope all is doing well,
I own a 96 exoplorer xlt, 5.0 2wd, my odom is currently reading 133,325 miles, and i gather im pushing rought 200,000 + miles, and she still runs strong.... but that was before the odom stopped working aprox 2 years ago, it doesnt bother me much at all, but i was wondering what to do with my head lights, they are sooo bad looking, they appear very DIM, DIRTY, I just dont feel as tho they are doing what they should be, i drive with my H/B on ALL the time, and it doesnt appear to bother anyone, is there and easy soluction to this, or is replacing the housing they only way to go? any help would be greatly appreciated, and thanks again, and thanks for welcoming me to the Ford Family...

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I have wet sanded and cleared those headlight lenses and made them much better. Just use very fine sand paper, sand the lens, then clear. Works pretty well.

 

[bears96explr]

this is prob a dum question, but do u do it to the inside housing, or the outside? and how easy is it to remove the housing from the truck itself?
thanks!

 

[ExplorerDMB]

the inside is sealed and shouldn't have any dirt or any obstruction at that matter. The outside is what you sand - until all the dirt is gone and then spray it down. McQuires or however you spell it makes a headlight polish that you have two bottles - a cleaner and then a polish. It works pretty well for aged headlights

-Drew

 

[bears96explr]

hey good stuff, im going to do that, cause i cant stand not being able to see what ahead of me, when i get it all done ill post back and u all no, \
**BTW** where is a good place to pursches such clear coats? like PepBoys? Autozone? maybe WalMart? and what grade sand paper is the best to use?
thanks again for the help, i do have other issues as well, but i dont want to burden anybody with everything at the same time, so i'll take it a stop at a time
THANKS AGAIN

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

think about new bulbs as well....i used euoro degsigns and i loved them...many have used silver stars and liked them too......and then there are those guys that fork over 250 clams and get a HID retro fit kit.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Fine sand paper such as 800+ grit, and a high quality automotive clear coat. The cheap stuff turns yellow over time.

 

[bears96explr]

MountaineerGreen thanks a lot, im going to do it either 2nite, or tm, ill take some beofre and after photos and ill get back to you and let you no how i made out, thanks again, hopefuly this will help out, cause at the moment with the holidays and a vaca on the aporach i dont have any extra $$ sittin around
Thanks agian

 

[bears96explr]

heres what i got

:exp: i went to Lowes and picked up 400grit sand paprt, it was the highist they had, and being that today is sunday, and stores close early, i was able to pick up " Plactic Primer" that " BONDS TO PLASTIC " ........what do you guys think of this? i think cause of the temp outside ill wait till tm to start doing this work, cause its about 40some degrees out there.
thanks again to all

 

[MountaineerGreen]

woah- 400 grit is too coarse for sanding plastic. You do not need primer either, just clear paint. Just take that stuff back and go to auto zone and get what you need. 800 grit is minimum for this- you only want to remove a thin layer and polish the lens.

 

[bears96explr]

the paper i got is a 400 from lowes it was the highest they had, i had asked for the 800, and they said that this is equivelent to the 800, is that true or is that just a case of a lazy employee? i mean the paper is really really really smooth, and the primer i have is a clear coat, that im sure of, cause it says it on there

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Well if its 400, then its 400, and 800 is what it is as well. I have never heard of sandpaper that says 400 that is the same as 800. I think you had a lazy employee, or mis labeled sand paper.

 

[bears96explr]

its made by 3M..... SANDBLASTER

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Id be really careful, too course of sand paper will scratch your lenses too deeply. Id probably just go buy some finer sandpaper from somewhere else.

 

[1996explorerxlt]

Whoa whoa whoa! No way thats true! 400 grit means there should be 400 pieces of "sand" per square inch. The more grit per inch, the less coarse. Thats way too much.

You should have no problem getting 1000 grit at some kind of auto store, i just used 2000 grit when i final wet sanded my taillight tint, after I used 1000 wetsand grit initially. Your also definetly better off wet sanding it, and then after clear coating it, wet sand that too with the 2000 grit. To wet sand it, it needs to be wet/dry sand paper.

After that, use rubbing compound or polish compound to make it look shiny like your paint does and the light will shine through mint.

Or

I really like the diamond clear headlight and blinker combo I got of ebay! With the Silverstar headlight bulbs, Silverstar blinker bulbs, and 4-led amber 194 bulbs it really sets off my front end nice!

 

[bears96explr]

hey guys i did some futher investigactions and found out that the employee's i talked with was a case of " lazy basterds" as i spoke with someone over the phone, they do have a higher grid, he wasnt sure how hight, be he new it was higher then 400, tommorow im going to check the local auto stores, for the sandpaper, and id imagine while im there i should check for some clear coat,
****also, i was speaking with a friend of mine, and he has suggested that i try using a scrubby pad, like a brillow, but not a brillow, and some lestoil? any of you guys heard of that?
AND TO EVERYONE: thank you all a ton, im doing all this to save a few $'s, that i cant afford right now, so again, thanks to u all

 

[bears96explr]

oo, and wats this whole 194 bulbs and led's your speaking of, where i can i go about and learn some 411 about them, they sound pretty interesting, and thes Xeon light's i see on Ebay for like $14.00, are they anything good, or just a POS?
THANKS

 

[dj60]

there's a kit you can buy. but all it is 1000,1500,2000,2500grit sandpaper some polish a cloth and some rubber gloves

 

[bears96explr]

update:

hey folks, just wanna let u guys no i was able to locate 1,000 grid paper, and no luk with the clear coat, BUT while i was autozone asking if they had clear coat, there was a painter in there, and he was genrous and gave me a can of it, should i use a spray can or paint it on?

 

[KPT]

Try getting better bulbs too. I'd check whats in there now first though.

I have silverstars and people will flash me when I do not have the highbeams on.