Tacoma plastic headlight covers

07 Jan 2012, 03:52 pm

My 2007 truck has extreme "weathering" of the driver side headlight cover.
Why the heck would one side age faster than the other? It looks like steel
wool has been rubbed on it for hours, maybe crazed is the right word. I do
some driving on dirt roads and have marks from bushes and scrub on both left
and right sides, not just the left. Its disappointing to have to replace
one after just 4 years use.

07 Jan 2012, 05:01 pm

If by "weathering", you mean badly fogged looking, then you may be able
to restore it to clear again with this product (or similar):
http://www.amazon.com/3M-39008-Headl.../dp/B001AIZ5HY

Good luck!

dan

On 1/7/2012 12:52 PM, Stumpy wrote:
> My 2007 truck has extreme "weathering" of the driver side headlight cover.
> Why the heck would one side age faster than the other? It looks like steel
> wool has been rubbed on it for hours, maybe crazed is the right word. I do
> some driving on dirt roads and have marks from bushes and scrub on both left
> and right sides, not just the left. Its disappointing to have to replace
> one after just 4 years use.
>
>

07 Jan 2012, 08:02 pm

"dan" <dan@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:yg3Oq.68$ZX.28@newsreading01.news.tds.net...
> If by "weathering", you mean badly fogged looking, then you may be able to
> restore it to clear again with this product (or similar):
> http://www.amazon.com/3M-39008-Headl.../dp/B001AIZ5HY
>
> Good luck!
>
> dan
>
> On 1/7/2012 12:52 PM, Stumpy wrote:
>> My 2007 truck has extreme "weathering" of the driver side headlight
>> cover.
>> Why the heck would one side age faster than the other? It looks like
>> steel
>> wool has been rubbed on it for hours, maybe crazed is the right word. I
>> do
>> some driving on dirt roads and have marks from bushes and scrub on both
>> left
>> and right sides, not just the left. Its disappointing to have to replace
>> one after just 4 years use.
>>
>>
>

Good idea, it had some positive reviews. Didn't occur to me to polish the
headlight covers. I have some old carnauba wax in the garage. Wonder if it
can take the high beams. I'll do a test.

07 Jan 2012, 08:30 pm

On Sat, 7 Jan 2012 17:02:13 -0800, "Stumpy" <perilmung@spamnet.corn>
wrote:

>
>"dan" <dan@nospam.net> wrote in message
>news:yg3Oq.68$ZX.28@newsreading01.news.tds.net. ..
>> If by "weathering", you mean badly fogged looking, then you may be able to
>> restore it to clear again with this product (or similar):
>> http://www.amazon.com/3M-39008-Headl.../dp/B001AIZ5HY
>>
>> Good luck!
>>
>> dan
>>
>> On 1/7/2012 12:52 PM, Stumpy wrote:
>>> My 2007 truck has extreme "weathering" of the driver side headlight
>>> cover.
>>> Why the heck would one side age faster than the other? It looks like
>>> steel
>>> wool has been rubbed on it for hours, maybe crazed is the right word. I
>>> do
>>> some driving on dirt roads and have marks from bushes and scrub on both
>>> left
>>> and right sides, not just the left. Its disappointing to have to replace
>>> one after just 4 years use.
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>Good idea, it had some positive reviews. Didn't occur to me to polish the
>headlight covers. I have some old carnauba wax in the garage. Wonder if it
>can take the high beams. I'll do a test.
>
You need to POLISH it first BEFORE waxing.
The "polishing" may involve staring with 600 grit wet sandpaper, going
down ro 1500, then 2000 - then polishing with a "rouge" type polisg,
before "sealing" or protecting with wax, or better yet, a sealer
DESIGNED for the purpose - like Plastex, etc.

Had the same problem on my PT Cruiser and Mystique

07 Jan 2012, 10:11 pm

<clare@snyder.on.ca> wrote in message
news:l9shg7p5524k63ofepi62sr4liqfg1n8q5@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 7 Jan 2012 17:02:13 -0800, "Stumpy" <perilmung@spamnet.corn>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"dan" <dan@nospam.net> wrote in message
>>news:yg3Oq.68$ZX.28@newsreading01.news.tds.net.. .
>>> If by "weathering", you mean badly fogged looking, then you may be able
>>> to
>>> restore it to clear again with this product (or similar):
>>> http://www.amazon.com/3M-39008-Headl.../dp/B001AIZ5HY
>>>
>>> Good luck!
>>>
>>> dan
>>>
>>> On 1/7/2012 12:52 PM, Stumpy wrote:
>>>> My 2007 truck has extreme "weathering" of the driver side headlight
>>>> cover.
>>>> Why the heck would one side age faster than the other? It looks like
>>>> steel
>>>> wool has been rubbed on it for hours, maybe crazed is the right word.
>>>> I
>>>> do
>>>> some driving on dirt roads and have marks from bushes and scrub on both
>>>> left
>>>> and right sides, not just the left. Its disappointing to have to
>>>> replace
>>>> one after just 4 years use.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>Good idea, it had some positive reviews. Didn't occur to me to polish the
>>headlight covers. I have some old carnauba wax in the garage. Wonder if
>>it
>>can take the high beams. I'll do a test.
>>
> You need to POLISH it first BEFORE waxing.
> The "polishing" may involve staring with 600 grit wet sandpaper, going
> down ro 1500, then 2000 - then polishing with a "rouge" type polisg,
> before "sealing" or protecting with wax, or better yet, a sealer
> DESIGNED for the purpose - like Plastex, etc.
>
> Had the same problem on my PT Cruiser and Mystique

The wax was all dried up - must have been 20 years old. Found some
Meguilar's Mirror Glaze 17 which says that it will remove fine scratches
from clear plastics. Tried polishing 3 times. It looks better, but the
crazing seems to be mostly on the inside. Didn't really work.

If I'm going to the trouble of removing the cover to polish the inside, I
might as well buy a replacement. Might save the old one and have it ready
for 2016.

07 Jan 2012, 11:17 pm

On Sat, 7 Jan 2012 19:11:25 -0800, "Stumpy" <perilmung@spamnet.corn>
wrote:

>
><clare@snyder.on.ca> wrote in message
>news:l9shg7p5524k63ofepi62sr4liqfg1n8q5@4ax.com.. .
>> On Sat, 7 Jan 2012 17:02:13 -0800, "Stumpy" <perilmung@spamnet.corn>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"dan" <dan@nospam.net> wrote in message
>>>news:yg3Oq.68$ZX.28@newsreading01.news.tds.net. ..
>>>> If by "weathering", you mean badly fogged looking, then you may be able
>>>> to
>>>> restore it to clear again with this product (or similar):
>>>> http://www.amazon.com/3M-39008-Headl.../dp/B001AIZ5HY
>>>>
>>>> Good luck!
>>>>
>>>> dan
>>>>
>>>> On 1/7/2012 12:52 PM, Stumpy wrote:
>>>>> My 2007 truck has extreme "weathering" of the driver side headlight
>>>>> cover.
>>>>> Why the heck would one side age faster than the other? It looks like
>>>>> steel
>>>>> wool has been rubbed on it for hours, maybe crazed is the right word.
>>>>> I
>>>>> do
>>>>> some driving on dirt roads and have marks from bushes and scrub on both
>>>>> left
>>>>> and right sides, not just the left. Its disappointing to have to
>>>>> replace
>>>>> one after just 4 years use.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>Good idea, it had some positive reviews. Didn't occur to me to polish the
>>>headlight covers. I have some old carnauba wax in the garage. Wonder if
>>>it
>>>can take the high beams. I'll do a test.
>>>
>> You need to POLISH it first BEFORE waxing.
>> The "polishing" may involve staring with 600 grit wet sandpaper, going
>> down ro 1500, then 2000 - then polishing with a "rouge" type polisg,
>> before "sealing" or protecting with wax, or better yet, a sealer
>> DESIGNED for the purpose - like Plastex, etc.
>>
>> Had the same problem on my PT Cruiser and Mystique
>
>The wax was all dried up - must have been 20 years old. Found some
>Meguilar's Mirror Glaze 17 which says that it will remove fine scratches
>from clear plastics. Tried polishing 3 times. It looks better, but the
>crazing seems to be mostly on the inside. Didn't really work.
>
>If I'm going to the trouble of removing the cover to polish the inside, I
>might as well buy a replacement. Might save the old one and have it ready
>for 2016.
>
TRY the sandpaper first - if it works - good. If not you haven't lost
anything. I started with 600 and soapy water, went to 1000 with WSW
fluid, the 2000 with WSW fluid, then plastex and a sponge.

09 Jan 2012, 03:35 pm

>>>
>>> You need to POLISH it first BEFORE waxing.
>>> The "polishing" may involve staring with 600 grit wet sandpaper, going
>>> down ro 1500, then 2000 - then polishing with a "rouge" type polisg,
>>> before "sealing" or protecting with wax, or better yet, a sealer
>>> DESIGNED for the purpose - like Plastex, etc.
>>>
>>> Had the same problem on my PT Cruiser and Mystique
>>
>>The wax was all dried up - must have been 20 years old. Found some
>>Meguilar's Mirror Glaze 17 which says that it will remove fine scratches
>>from clear plastics. Tried polishing 3 times. It looks better, but the
>>crazing seems to be mostly on the inside. Didn't really work.
>>
>>If I'm going to the trouble of removing the cover to polish the inside,
>>I
>>might as well buy a replacement. Might save the old one and have it ready
>>for 2016.
>>
> TRY the sandpaper first - if it works - good. If not you haven't lost
> anything. I started with 600 and soapy water, went to 1000 with WSW
> fluid, the 2000 with WSW fluid, then plastex and a sponge.

Found out that the cover is part of headlight assembly. $65 @ JCWitney.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/original-eq...d=d2193y2007j1

The local O'Reilly had a $7 Turtle Wax kit with manual sanding pads - It
worked pretty good, but I think I'll be doing this more than once. Will
order the drill disk system Dan mentioned for $17 and settle for whatever
improvement I can get.The 3M drill disks are for next time.

There is a big difference in how far the headlights project the beam after
polishing.

09 Jan 2012, 04:12 pm

On 1/7/2012 12:52 PM, Stumpy wrote:
> My 2007 truck has extreme "weathering" of the driver side headlight cover.
> Why the heck would one side age faster than the other? It looks like
> steel
> wool has been rubbed on it for hours, maybe crazed is the right word. I
> do
> some driving on dirt roads and have marks from bushes and scrub on both
> left
> and right sides, not just the left. Its disappointing to have to replace
> one after just 4 years use.

---

>>>
>>> You need to POLISH it first BEFORE waxing.
>>> The "polishing" may involve staring with 600 grit wet sandpaper, going
>>> down ro 1500, then 2000 - then polishing with a "rouge" type polisg,
>>> before "sealing" or protecting with wax, or better yet, a sealer
>>> DESIGNED for the purpose - like Plastex, etc.
>>>
>>> Had the same problem on my PT Cruiser and Mystique
>>>

---

> TRY the sandpaper first - if it works - good. If not you haven't lost
> anything. I started with 600 and soapy water, went to 1000 with WSW
> fluid, the 2000 with WSW fluid, then plastex and a sponge.

Forgot to mention that the truck is parked facing West ~75% of the time .:.
the left headlight gets much more sun than the right. The damage is likely
solar and not thermal or mechanical.. Toyota needs to hire a
chemist/materials science guy for their external plastic components.

09 Jan 2012, 07:56 pm

On Mon, 9 Jan 2012 13:12:03 -0800, "Stumpy" <perilmung@spamnet.corn>
wrote:

>On 1/7/2012 12:52 PM, Stumpy wrote:
>> My 2007 truck has extreme "weathering" of the driver side headlight cover.
>> Why the heck would one side age faster than the other? It looks like
>> steel
>> wool has been rubbed on it for hours, maybe crazed is the right word. I
>> do
>> some driving on dirt roads and have marks from bushes and scrub on both
>> left
>> and right sides, not just the left. Its disappointing to have to replace
>> one after just 4 years use.
>
>---
>
>>>>
>>>> You need to POLISH it first BEFORE waxing.
>>>> The "polishing" may involve staring with 600 grit wet sandpaper, going
>>>> down ro 1500, then 2000 - then polishing with a "rouge" type polisg,
>>>> before "sealing" or protecting with wax, or better yet, a sealer
>>>> DESIGNED for the purpose - like Plastex, etc.
>>>>
>>>> Had the same problem on my PT Cruiser and Mystique
>>>>
>
>---
>
>> TRY the sandpaper first - if it works - good. If not you haven't lost
>> anything. I started with 600 and soapy water, went to 1000 with WSW
>> fluid, the 2000 with WSW fluid, then plastex and a sponge.
>
>Forgot to mention that the truck is parked facing West ~75% of the time .:.
>the left headlight gets much more sun than the right. The damage is likely
>solar and not thermal or mechanical.. Toyota needs to hire a
>chemist/materials science guy for the

So does Chrysler, GM, Ford and a host of other manufacturers who are
having EXACTLY the SAME problem.

09 Jan 2012, 08:19 pm

In article <EZqdnVRWXtYK0pbSnZ2dnUVZ_uednZ2d@earthlink.com> , "Stumpy" <perilmung@spamnet.corn> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> You need to POLISH it first BEFORE waxing.
>>>> The "polishing" may involve staring with 600 grit wet sandpaper, going
>>>> down ro 1500, then 2000 - then polishing with a "rouge" type polisg,
>>>> before "sealing" or protecting with wax, or better yet, a sealer
>>>> DESIGNED for the purpose - like Plastex, etc.
>>>>
>>>> Had the same problem on my PT Cruiser and Mystique
>>>
>>>The wax was all dried up - must have been 20 years old. Found some
>>>Meguilar's Mirror Glaze 17 which says that it will remove fine scratches
>>>from clear plastics. Tried polishing 3 times. It looks better, but the
>>>crazing seems to be mostly on the inside. Didn't really work.
>>>
>>>If I'm going to the trouble of removing the cover to polish the inside,
>>>I
>>>might as well buy a replacement. Might save the old one and have it ready
>>>for 2016.
>>>
>> TRY the sandpaper first - if it works - good. If not you haven't lost
>> anything. I started with 600 and soapy water, went to 1000 with WSW
>> fluid, the 2000 with WSW fluid, then plastex and a sponge.
>
>Found out that the cover is part of headlight assembly. $65 @ JCWitney.
>
>http://www.jcwhitney.com/original-eq...723.jcwx?filte
>rid=d2193y2007j1
>
>The local O'Reilly had a $7 Turtle Wax kit with manual sanding pads - It
>worked pretty good, but I think I'll be doing this more than once. Will
>order the drill disk system Dan mentioned for $17 and settle for whatever
>improvement I can get.The 3M drill disks are for next time.
>
>There is a big difference in how far the headlights project the beam after
>polishing.
>
>
i've found brasso best for clearing plastic. model builders have used it for
years to make canopys look like glass.
it works on headlight stuff, too. use a buffer pad on a wheel.
costs about $6

Tacoma plastic headlight covers

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