Foggy Headlamps on your 02-06 Lade? Free fix

Stoneage_Caddy · #1 (**permalink**) 07-30-07, 09:37 PM

Not sure if anyone has posted this in here or not.

I was at work the other day and were doing a new process to clear the headlamps on the 02-06 Lades . Know how they get all hazy at the top ?

Well we remove both headlamp units , then remove all bulbs and wireing from the headlamps , then pour rubbing alcohol inside the lamps and let it soak for like 15 minutes or more ...then allow them to dry out and put them back in , works great !!!!

z06killr · #2 (**permalink**) 10-22-07, 08:21 PM

Anyone try this?

Laker_Dynasty · #3 (**permalink**) 10-22-07, 09:10 PM

oh snap,,i've never seen this topic,,im trying it this weekend!!

Stoneage_Caddy · #4 (**permalink**) 10-22-07, 09:49 PM

make sure to cut it with a little water , forgot to mention that in my post there

Laker_Dynasty · #5 (**permalink**) 10-22-07, 10:18 PM

like 50/50??? what made you think of trying this??

250motorsportz · #6 (**permalink**) 10-22-07, 11:28 PM

So what exactly does this do? just get rid of the fog?

Eldo1953 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-23-07, 01:50 PM

Do you rinse out after? More details please!

Mobius · #8 (**permalink**) 10-24-07, 08:07 PM

Please!!! More info... how much alcohol to water? Did you use the 70% alcohol or the 95% etc....

I was affraid I was going to have to buy new lenses at $350 each.

Laker_Dynasty · #9 (**permalink**) 10-24-07, 09:23 PM

I know someone has had to have tried this,,if not, I'll let everyone know this weekend how well it works, if it does. I guess, I'll start with a light Alcohol mixture and work my way up.

**slk230mb** · #10 (**permalink**) 10-24-07, 09:35 PM

I must have missed this the first time around. Mike, any pics?

Laker_Dynasty · #11 (**permalink**) 10-28-07, 09:09 PM

Well today I decided to give this trick a try. I pulled the headlights out and decided to just try a bit of water to see if that would even do anything without the alcohol. And to my amazement, it works!!! Just plain old water. I ran scolding hot water into one of the bulb sockets and shook the hell out of it side to side. After about 2 or 3 minutes of this I emptied it out, and voila, clear again. After that I took an air hose to every crevice and blew all the water out. Great tip, hope it helps everyone out.

Eldo1953 · #12 (**permalink**) 11-02-07, 12:19 AM

So why are the lights going cloudy at the top then?

Laker_Dynasty · #13 (**permalink**) 11-02-07, 09:53 AM

well, from what I understand, the daytime running lights get soo hot, they put off a sort of smoke, which clings to the topside of the headlight. I assume the reason it just washes out is because it is only smoke, not actual fogging of the plastic light.

Mobius · #14 (**permalink**) 11-02-07, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laker_Dynasty

well, from what I understand, the daytime running lights get soo hot, they put off a sort of smoke, which clings to the topside of the headlight. I assume the reason it just washes out is because it is only smoke, not actual fogging of the plastic light.

I'm no expert on this particular item, but I'll share my experience and maybe it will help explain? Maybe?

Shortly after I bought my 03, I switched the DRL's from stock to Silverstar Ambers. I did it because I liked the amber DRL's better than "white" and because it made the DRL's and the turnsignals the same irridescent color instead of yellow when they were off. Fast forward a year and the inside of my headlight lenses are fogging up. I did some research and found out that the Silver Stars are hotter than the stock since if I remember correct they operate at 30 Watts or so instead of 22 Watts. Anyway, they actually slightly melted the sockets so they had to go. I switched to LED DRL's and now I want to get rid of the fogging. I'm hoping that this is the issue.... I'm going to try it tonight.

Eldo1953 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-02-07, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobius

I'm no expert on this particular item, but I'll share my experience and maybe it will help explain? Maybe?

Shortly after I bought my 03, I switched the DRL's from stock to Silverstar Ambers. I did it because I liked the amber DRL's better than "white" and because it made the DRL's and the turnsignals the same irridescent color instead of yellow when they were off. Fast forward a year and the inside of my headlight lenses are fogging up. I did some research and found out that the Silver Stars are hotter than the stock since if I remember correct they operate at 30 Watts or so instead of 22 Watts. Anyway, they actually slightly melted the sockets so they had to go. I switched to LED DRL's and now I want to get rid of the fogging. I'm hoping that this is the issue.... I'm going to try it tonight.

Let us know how it goes! Also get some pics of the LEDs if you can.