Yellowed lights are not unusual and appear very often, especially in older cars. This is mainly due to the fact that they have already passed their best years and due to traffic, as well as the influence of sunlight and UV radiation, they gradually turn yellow. And that, quite naturally, can be a big problem. And this is because the light does not penetrate through them as it should. The consequence of this is a situation where we do not see as well as it would be ideal when driving at night. It can also be a problem if we try to pass a technical inspection. Even here, yellowed headlights can be quite a big problem. So let's look together at how to solve the given situation as best as possible.
Prepare everything that is needed
It is possible to go the route of professional repair of yellowed headlights, but it is definitely not the only option. If you primarily want to save money, the renovation of yellowed headlights can also be done yourself. And quite simply and cheaply. You just need to get a few essential things that you cannot do without. They are sandpapers of two different hardnesses, as well as polishing paste. You also need a drill and a foam attachment for it. You can get all these things quite simply and easily these days. You can be 100% sure of that. In addition, auto parts stores can offer you something extra. And what is it specifically? They are entire sets that are intended for the repair of yellowed lights. So the only thing you will need yourself is a drill.
Preparation is the key
First, you need to start with the preparation itself. Here you have a choice of two paths. Let's look at the simpler one first. This consists in covering the area around the headlights with adhesive tape, thereby trying to eliminate both damage and soiling of the area around the headlights. Mainly the bodywork of your car. Here it is important to look for the greatest possible accuracy, as well as the thoroughness of the gluing.
The second, more complicated preparation is connected with the fact that you can dismantle specific yellowed headlights from your car. It is clear that this step will definitely be more time-consuming and also more complicated. On the other hand, we must definitely add that the subsequent work will be easier, since you don't have to watch so much where you go when grinding or polishing.
What we must also not neglect is the preparation associated with the fact that before starting the actual renovation of the headlights, they need to be thoroughly washed. There must not be any dirt on them. After a thorough wash, let them dry and only then can you start sanding.
We are starting the renovation. Grinding is the foundation
The first step, which you definitely cannot do without, is thorough grinding. First, you need to take coarser sandpaper, with which you start the light gently and slowly, and at the same time sand very thoroughly. What is the main goal of the step? Be sure to eliminate any minor scratches, as well as simply try to remove some of the yellowing that may be associated with the top layer itself. It is important not to put too much pressure on the sandpaper and to go the route of slower and thorough sanding, rather than the route of sanding some areas so deeply that you damage the headlight.
Once the initial rough sanding is over, you can already take the second sandpaper, which is finer. It is precisely with it that you can simply grind the entire headlight so that there are no imperfections or bumps on it. You simply level everything to a smooth plane, while you are sure to sand off any minor scratches that may still appear on the headlights after the initial rough sanding.
It won't work without polishing
You have passed the initial and very important stage. But this is only half of the entire process of renovating yellowed headlights. If we look more specifically, it must be said that the second stage of the whole procedure is definitely that you also have to thoroughly polish the headlights . How to do it? Here you can't do without a foam attachment for the drill and the special polishing paste we talked about above. Before starting the actual polishing, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the headlights after sanding with clean water and let them dry. Now you can proceed to the polishing phase, which should not be any different in its procedure than in the case of grinding. Here, too, we must say that polishing must be done very carefully, do not press too hard, just as you must not miss any spot on the headlight. This is the only way you can be sure that the repair of the yellowed lights will really take place as it should.
If the polishing is over, don't forget to clean the paste around the headlights. We also recommend polishing the headlights thoroughly with, for example, a microfiber cloth, as well as polishing with chamois. At this point, your work is done.
Check the condition of the headlights
Their appearance should be much better, both in terms of their color, where the yellow may disappear for good, and their condition should be much better, also considering that they should offer much better illumination of the road ahead. What we must not forget is the fact that in some cases the yellowing of the headlights can be so intense that you cannot do without the need to repeat the entire procedure. But it is still a more acceptable form than changing the headlights, which would be much more expensive than this procedure, which is cheap and we can say that we can also consider it a procedure that is quite fast.
