Sosie

The question is: How do you remove the headlight lens to clean the inside due to fogging???

Should I bring it to the body shop and let them cleaning them for me? Or can I do it myself? (with what?)

Any thoughts???

,
Sosie

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Deafness

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Banjo

Sounds like there may be a chip or a sealing issue. It shouldn't fog up unless there's a hole in it.

Jiro

if your headlight glasses is made of plastic - you're screwed. you'll need to get new one.

if it's made of real glasses, it is a bit quite a hassle to take it apart and back on especially with a sealing rubber (it's suggested that you get a new one) but it's not hard.

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deafsmogtech

Replace headlight len assy per banjo and Jiro. Not worth to clean inside.

Glenn

Remove & replace.

Reba

Hubby says it depends on the kind of fixture it is.

If the bulb can be removed from behind the bumper, then it can be taken out, and use a warm hair dryer to dry out the moisture. Then, replace the bulb, and make sure it seals properly.

If it can't be removed from the back then, sadly, you probably need to replace the unit.

Jiro

yea I was in middle of looking up for a diagram of its headlight lens assembly. still looking.

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The Highlander

Like that? Replace a new one.

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03-08 Toyota Corolla Halo Projector Headlights Installation | Dash Z Racing Blog

Holy shit. That's a lot work to replace a headlight. (ignored HID kit)

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deafsmogtech

Lot of work. I still have tools for that. Hey The Highlander.... I love ur work. Hey, Sosie, mind if you come to my work, do the headlight len replacement for 2 hours labor? My trick work is about 15 minute to replace a headlight len without remove front bumper. Big money. I can't wait. Lol

Jiro

wow.... what a poorly designed headlight. It's very easy to remove headlight from my 1999 Saab.

removing bumper just to remove headlight? get outta here. I'd fire design team.

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The Highlander

Same thing with my Subaru and almost all GM at work that I know so far.

Bad Toyota design for electric accelerator pedal too.

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Sosie

Thanks, everyone!

My car's headlight lens are made of polycarbonate plastic.. I like the glass lens better because they never get fogged. I like old days better. Well, I guess I am kind of an old-fashioned lady.

Alright, I will bring my car to the shop as same time as the maintenance light comes on every 10,000 miles to remind me to change the oil and other required service. (Which is due next week.) There is a procedure to reset the light. I still have a 7 year warranty. (One year and half left.. I was thinking of extending my car coverage or buy a new car. I haven't decided yet.. )

Thanks again!

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Sosie

I forgot to add that I agree with you, guys that it's a lot of work to replace the lens. Let the mechanic to do all the work for me but I will ask him to see if it's worth to replace the lens.

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deafsmogtech

Ok, I have one question for you.... Was any repairs that involved with headlight bulb replacement? If so, it is mechanic's fault for not secure the headlight bulb socket in, that caused poor sealing like banjo mentioned.
I hope you can be pretend to ask a mechanic to see if he can wipe the fog off inside with a ramrod with a soft towel wrapped. Or you request maintenance service on your car and try to ask them to see if they can fix fogged headlight len. Maybe no charge for it. Hope that help. Dst

Sosie

Shoot, yes, they did replace the bulbs in the past. Maybe you and Banjo two are right. I will have to talk with the mechanic about this when I bring my car to the shop next week. I am sure they will fix them at no charge because I still have a warranty. Keep you guys posted.
Thanks for your advice!!!

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deafsmogtech

welcome, not me. I thank to Reba's hubby and Banjo. Somehow my brain pop out that I ve seen some headlight sockets in the vehicles, were not fastened proper, some of them were fall out that explains poor sealing.
Hope they fix it for u at no charge.

green427

Are your headlight lens "yellowed" and hazy?

If yes, you are one of the millions of us that have this problem. It is not condensation inside the lens. The plastic surface on the outside is oxidized and has UV damage. My 7 year old Accord has it.

You will have to sand it down in steps and buff the plastic. There are many "headlight restoring kits" out there. If you take about 1/32" of plastic off the surface, it makes a big difference.

BUT, if you are 100% sure there is moisture inside your headlight, that is a different issue. All headlights come with vent holes, when your headlight is on, it generates a lot of heat and the condensation evaporates through the vents.

Sosie

I don't think this one because they are tighten well enough.
I am sure they will fix it for me at no charge. Thanks.
Thanks, everyone, just the same.

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Sosie

Yes.
Yeah, I have seen other cars have similar problem, too, like mine. You mentioned that the plastic surface on the outside is oxidized and has UV damage. I didn't know that. Interesting. Well, I guess I am still learning every day. OK, I will ask the mechanic to have a look at them. (I don't want to do it myself.. Let the mechanic to do his job... )
Thanks so much, Green427!!!

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purplecatty

Yup. I agree with you, fire the design team. My 2005 Dodge Durango and formerly 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan Sport headlight are well designed and just three bolts on easy spot removes headlights very easily. I like it and it's a quick job for me to swap out headlight bulbs.

Catty

green427

Anytime...

You can do it yourself if you and/or someone in your household knows how to handle a drill & polish surfaces.

Here is a video with captions:

Sosie

Yeah, I know but unfortunately, I don't have this kind of drill and also, I don't have a garage except a storage shed, either. (It's too cold outside doing it myself... LOL.. I am still looking a townhouse with two car garages, no luck.. ) I wish I have those. Thanks, though.

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tigersharkdude

Cleaning headlights is super easy. Plastic headlights are much, much easier than glass

Get this....Car Care Products: Car Waxes to Leather Cleaners, Meguiar's the Leader in Car and Surface Care since 1901
Put some elbow grease into it and it will they come very clean. Once you are done be sure to apply a few coats of wax to the lights so they dont haze over quickly. Everytime you clean your car apply a coat of wax to the lights, they will probably never haze again..................FWIW I polish headlights on cars for friends and family.

If you have any questions PM me

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purplecatty

I've repaired my friend's hazed headlight lens. He bought it from auto shop (you also can find one big silver packet at Walmart where headlight bulbs located, it's the same what I used). It takes 15 min each to repair headlight lens. It consists liquid abrasive, scrubbing towels, superfine sandpapers (two different grits), liquid sealer (it clears up headlight lens). The only thing you need is enough water and paper towels to do the jobs.

It did removed yellow haze and cleared up headlight. It saved my friend $400 replacement that he don't need. Few weeks later, I asked him what he think of it. He said it was super!!! See in dark so much better!!

Catty

dawsonast

Your problem may look like it is on the inside but 90% of the time its on the outside. Toyotas lens are one of the worst and will fog after only 2-3 years. There is a new product called 60 Second Lens Restorer that will clean them in under 1 minute per lens using a clean cloth to apply. You won't need a three step process or any equipment to solve the problem. I have seen it work on Toyotas, Hondas, and Nissans a thousand times and its unreal how it works. It also won't harm your paint or chrome on your car. If you shoot me an email I will forward you the info. It costs between $15-20 dollars and it is worth it.

tigersharkdude

Thats just a quick fix. I know first hand. If you want to actually remove the haze/yellowing you have to buff the headlight with an abrasive and remove just a little bit of the plastic.

I can use some cheapo headlight cleaner, but I can tell you first hand that the haze will be back within weeks, if not days.

If you have access to a cordless drill, watch this tutorial. Its the easiest way for a beginner to do the job. If you really want to clean some headlights, I can show you how but its not for beginners

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Sosie

Last week, I took my car to the shop because the light came on, to tell me that it's time to change oil, etc, which they did but I forgot to ask them to check the plastic headlights for me. Aaaahhhhhh.. *I am screaming!* LOL... Also, they forgot to put the air filter. Grrrrr.. I will do it myself anyway.

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deafsmogtech

I think the light on is "MAINT REQ'D". Am I correct? You forget again. Next time you tie robbin thread or string on the steering wheel or somewhere to remind you. Of course, I sometime forget to put the air filter or cabin air filter in the customer's car, like every mechanics in anywhere.

Sosie

Yes, you are correct. Yeah, I should.
I will put the air filter when the weather is nice.. and warm. Right now, we are having snow. So, I better wait till next week.
I will bring my car in a month or so, it depends how much I am driving. I travel a lot. My car has about 260,000 miles.

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