View Full Version : Front light and Fog light clean procedure.


Benjamin Simon
02-04-06, 11:18 PM
First remove the fog light. Take off the plastic splash guard off. Use a deep socket 10mm to take off the 2 bolts holding the fog light assembly.

I wrecked last summer and only one of my fog lights was replaced. It is much brighter than the original light due to 120K of wear. I wanted to share the procedure I used to clear up the fog light and I speculate it would work on the front lamps. (Both of mine were replaced in the wreck.)

I sanded them down with 800 grit sand paper by hand for 30 minutes. I then sanded them with 2000 grit sand paper. I then applied 3M rubbing compound.

I still was not total satisfied with results. I decided to spray some Wal-Mart clear coat. I put 2 coats. (In hindsight, I would suggest 3 or maybe even 4) I also used a hair dryer to dry them faster. After the clear coat had dried, I sanded again with 2000 grit sand paper and then used 3M rubbing compound. Finally I waxed them with a good wax.

The seal around the light was leaking and this also gave me an opportunity to reseal the case with glue.

The fog lights adjust up and down by spinning with plastic grip on the back of the fog light.
After doing this, the old fog light is 90% new and I can hardly tell a difference between the two and that is because I am looking for it. It was a 4/10 and now a 9.5/10 compared to the new light being a 10.
I hope this is helpful.

iametarq
02-05-06, 10:25 AM
did you wet sand the lights or was this all dry sanding??

Closet Boy
02-05-06, 09:58 PM
I did the same thing last week. Mine were beat from the elements of Ohio, along with 158k of use. Although the clarity is not like new, they are much better.

I used 600, 800, 1000, and 2000 grits. They were removed, and then wet sanded in the kitchen sink. Finally, I used Meguirs Step 1, 2, and 3 for polishing and/or waxing.

JimD
02-05-06, 10:10 PM
If a milky looking haze appears several days after this treatment with wet/dry sandpapers, Mequiar's PlastX Cleaner & Polish will eliminate the problem.

Benjamin Simon
02-06-06, 06:45 AM
It was a combo of wet and dry.
What reallly did the trick for my was spraying clearcoat on it. There was still a haze.
I suppose the clear coat got into the pours and really evened the finish. I would have put 3 or 4 coats on it, but still, very close to new.