Cleaning Cloudy Headlights

[Elecblondie]

I wasn't sure where this would be best placed but since my motivation is to get more light I thought here is appropriate.

I have a set of Hella black look lights and the inners have started to cloud up presumably the coating on the plastic inserts are slowly vapourised and deposited on the inside of the lense. Does anyone know of an effective method of cleaning them?

If I can not get the light out I want then would these units have any value (considering the clouding, which isn't severe)? They have Bellof HIDs fitted to them.

[ian332isport]

My smoked Hellas were like this from new. I tried washing them out with hot soapy water, but it made no difference. I then poured in a bit of IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol), and sloshed it around. After draining it out, and letting the remaining residue evaporate, they were crystal clear.

Cheers,

Ian.

[Elecblondie]

Awesome, thanks for that.

[siddiqi1]

IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol),

whats that?

[ian332isport]

IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol),

whats that?

Google is your friend...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol

[siddiqi1]

Thank you Ian.

Rather a stupid q i know but i was confused by the name! where can you get this alchy from then? the pub maybe?

[Elecblondie]

Go down to your local Maplins I suggest, that's my plan anyway.

[siddiqi1]

maplins wont have that; i doubt it, they're all electrics and stuff!

[ucpsale]

It is used for cleaning flux from electronics.

[garyn]

Maplin do stock it ,i need some as well after installing new black hellas .

[siddiqi1]

ah thanks guys!

[ian332isport]

Plenty of sellers on eBay as well.

[mr_dink]

I think isopropyl alcohol is the same thing as nail varnish remover.....


Should be easier to find!

HTH

[siddiqi1]

now ive heard of that; but i dont use personally! promise!

[d6dph]

You can also buy it from some chemists or if you know someone in the printing trade they use it too.

I got a 1ltr bottle for nothing from a printer I know

[ian332isport]

I think isopropyl alcohol is the same thing as nail varnish remover.....

And you'de be very very wrong

Nail varnish remover is Acetone, which is a completely different chemical. It will also happily much it's way through plastic & paint, so not something you want to be using on the car.

[Elecblondie]

Right I've cleaned them and all was going well until I decided to put the original lights back on, I was planning on ditching the smoked ones as I'd rather like to put the brightest lights in I can. I went to transplant the adjuster on the outers from unit to unit and the plastic three pronged locking disc just cracked up in my hand, it's all glued together again but it simply isn't strong enough to over come the spring washer and go on again. I've flattened the washer and it'll go on but it doesn't hold for adjustment. I'm guessing the plastic had just become brittle with age and a new one would fix it, anyone know if they are available separately? Also my Hella smoked lights have quite a thick plastic protector over the lense (which has an irritating burn mark in it) does anyone know if this was originally fitted to them or put on later?

[siddiqi1]

the adjusters can be bought separetely from the dealers, there have been many threads with similair problems of either cracked or seized adjusters!