Last edit by: IB Advertising
See related guides and technical advice from our community experts:
Browse all: Lighting
- Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ 1999 to 2004 How to Polish Foggy Headlights
Step by step instructions for do-it-yourself repairs.
Browse all: Lighting
Headlight fogging
#1
Shadetree Grease Monkey
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L
Headlight fogging
My Jeep's headlight are looking a little foggy and I was wondering if anyone has a remedy for this.
I've heard good things about Meguiar's Plastx, but I haven't tried it yet. Anyone have some real-world personal experience polishing out your headlights?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 732
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7L V8
I've heard a few people having success with various plastic polish products...but most people I know just find a reasonable priced aftermarket headlight assy on e-bay or something similar...
#3
Seasoned Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Monroe, MI
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.7 Stroker
1000 to 2000 grit sand paper..wet sand the protective coating off of it. Thats what is pitted and making it cloudy.
After that, some car polish like you use on your paint with a buffer. It will look perfect for a few months and then little pits will form in the plastic since the coating is gone.
ultimately you end up replacing it or dealing with it. FYI a headlight assembly for a RAM 3500 was $200 from the dealer and aftermarket was $150. Or $5 in sandpaper and $5-10 in polish...elbow grease is free.
After that, some car polish like you use on your paint with a buffer. It will look perfect for a few months and then little pits will form in the plastic since the coating is gone.
ultimately you end up replacing it or dealing with it. FYI a headlight assembly for a RAM 3500 was $200 from the dealer and aftermarket was $150. Or $5 in sandpaper and $5-10 in polish...elbow grease is free.
#6
CF Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Salem Virginia
Posts: 2,649
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 4.0
#7
Shadetree Grease Monkey
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L
Well I tried the wet-sand and polish method this afternoon using PlastX and I'm pretty happy with the results. I'll write up something on it soon, but for now here's a quick before/after shot:
Last edited by MadMonk; 07-25-2008 at 11:30 PM.
Trending Topics
#8
Registered User
#9
Shadetree Grease Monkey
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Oklahoma, USA
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L
Hmmm. It shows up for me. Not sure what to do about it. This site supports external picture links (like Photobucket) right?
EDIT: Ahh, I think I figured it out. I had rearranged my folder structure in Photobucket and it broke the link. My browser was presenting cached information so it appeared to work for me. Thanks for the heads-up.
EDIT: Ahh, I think I figured it out. I had rearranged my folder structure in Photobucket and it broke the link. My browser was presenting cached information so it appeared to work for me. Thanks for the heads-up.
Last edited by MadMonk; 07-25-2008 at 11:32 PM.
#11
Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Argos indiana
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 98
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Madmonk
I bought new clear headlamps for my wifes GC Laredo off of Ebay.
They were factory GC lamps, not aftermarket. I dont know how well the aftermarkets are and made sure they were chrysler made.
Way way brighter than the old fogged up ones. Hers were fogged from the inside and no amount of buffing on the outside would help on hers.
Easy to change as i she hit a deer and had to buy a grill and header panel and did it all at the same time.
I bought new clear headlamps for my wifes GC Laredo off of Ebay.
They were factory GC lamps, not aftermarket. I dont know how well the aftermarkets are and made sure they were chrysler made.
Way way brighter than the old fogged up ones. Hers were fogged from the inside and no amount of buffing on the outside would help on hers.
Easy to change as i she hit a deer and had to buy a grill and header panel and did it all at the same time.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SergeK
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
8
02-27-2023 03:38 PM
BluJay
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
4
09-26-2015 10:38 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)