Has anyone ever had headlights that peeled. It is like there is a clear coat on them and it is starting to peel?? Anyone no a fix for this.

 

Are they aftermarket lights ? If so they grade of polycarbonate they used for the lens is not rated for the heat of the DRL being on all the time . It breaks down the plastic , hence the peeling appearence . Anything short of sanding the lens down below the surface of the problem and then bring back the gloss with 400 , then 800 then 1000 , 1500 grit paper with a polishing compound ....there really isnt a easy fix .

If u have stock headlights that are painted like what looks like in your sig pic .....what u used to seal them up and the paint itself can be causing a chemical etching on the inside of the lens . The same process as above applies , you cant just wipe off or buff chemically etched plastic . The Vapors from Silicone based sealents ( I always recommend urethane based sealents ...silicone is evil ) will attack the plastic lens , also if the you didnt let the paint dry long enuff ( I recommend at least 3-4 days ) before u reassemble the headlights , the vapors of the paint trapped in the headlight housing will eventually chemically etch the inside of the lens . If the paint was fully cured before assembled it would not let of any gases that would etch .

 

They are stock but I have had them painted for almost a year now and the stuff is peeling off from the outside. It is just like they where cleared and the clear coat is peeling??? I will take pics tonight.

 

Damn , thats crazy ...I have yet to see a OEM lamp do that from the outside . IT is common in the aftermarket Ebay lights though .

 

Yea I know and it just started a week ago. And on both of them, it is at the top of the light.
I dunno, I will take pics tonight so you can see what I am talking about. I was thinking about sanding the top and painting eyelids on them to cover it up. On a side note though, do you think doing the eyelids black will look ok? Thanks for the help

 

my projectors did it.. i just scraped all the stuff off and they have been fine.. i am using hids.. and it just got too hot for the clear

 

What did you scrape it off with?

 

1500 grit sandpaper then a polishing compound.. look new again

 

Wouldn't that scratch them?

 

such a fine grit it doesnt

 

this is the **** u need....

autozone or adavanced auto parts pep boys etc....you cvan find this...

i forgot the exact name but its known as a headlight "restorer"
i had to use it for my sentra se-r awhile back...

its like a wax u use to buff that plastic looking stuff off...its good stuff. sorry i couldnt get ya the name but i do know exactly what your talkling about.

1500 is too rough....go a little softer..

someone on here is sellng there headlights for 80, they look nice...ima try and find that thread for ya

 

With the damage he has though , u cant simply buff that off . The stuff your speaking of will clear up lenses that have yellowed . If the plastic is starting to break down and u wish to repair it , it needs to be sanded down past the damage , then bring the finish back with a series of sandpaper grits from 400 to start up to 2000 as a finisher then polishing compound . Its really not to effective unless you use a rotary buffer , it would be test of patience to get the fine scratches left by the sandpaper out by hand .