The headlight covers on my 97 are dull, old, yellow, scratched. How do I get them to look clearer and newer or do I need to get new ones, and if so, where can I find them? IMO, they take away from the looks of the car the way they look now. Thanks!
Head light cover question
- Thread starter SHOLUV
- Start date
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wuzzzer
MN Moderator
I used a plastic polish in a yellow bottle that I got at Wal-Mart. Using two different rags and a lot of elbow grease and mine looked quite a bit better.
It will need to be redone every 6 months or so.
It will need to be redone every 6 months or so.
Ford headlights are by far the best. Then TYC. I've also had Eagle Eye and DEPO. Both of them are junk.
I got the Ford one and TYC one nearly at the same time in 2001. The TYC one is starting to yellow and the Ford one is still pretty clear though scratched and pitted. Tried some Blue Magic plastic polish and it worked OK but they said to use some of their Blue Magic metal polish first and I would agree.
There are two different headlights too. '96 - June '98 and then those after then. The early ones have a silver interior and the later ones are black inside.
www.1aauto.com has a good deal but do not buy any unless you know the manufacturer of the lamp. Insist on TYC who is a Japanese OEM supplier if not going with OEM.
I got the Ford one and TYC one nearly at the same time in 2001. The TYC one is starting to yellow and the Ford one is still pretty clear though scratched and pitted. Tried some Blue Magic plastic polish and it worked OK but they said to use some of their Blue Magic metal polish first and I would agree.
There are two different headlights too. '96 - June '98 and then those after then. The early ones have a silver interior and the later ones are black inside.
www.1aauto.com has a good deal but do not buy any unless you know the manufacturer of the lamp. Insist on TYC who is a Japanese OEM supplier if not going with OEM.
Other things to beware of with the headlights.
When removing them there is a small metal piece that holds the black gasket around the headlight and it is at the bottom center of the headlight. When pulling the headlight out be sure to lift up slightly so it will not scratch the bumper paint.
Also on the OEM Ford ones the single tab that bolts down to the inner radiator support, and is pointing to wards the other headlight, will break off easily and gets worse with time. Do not over tighten. The TYC one has not done this but three out of three Ford ones have on my car.
When removing them there is a small metal piece that holds the black gasket around the headlight and it is at the bottom center of the headlight. When pulling the headlight out be sure to lift up slightly so it will not scratch the bumper paint.
Also on the OEM Ford ones the single tab that bolts down to the inner radiator support, and is pointing to wards the other headlight, will break off easily and gets worse with time. Do not over tighten. The TYC one has not done this but three out of three Ford ones have on my car.
Headlights?
I used 3M "Finish Restorer" on mine, and it removed everything but some of the small pits caused by rocks, etc... Also available at WalMart (in a smaller black bottle) and you can use it on the rest of the car, too... Worked way better than the KIT stuff- at least for me...
This is before:
This is after: (pics after one 30 second application- I ended up doing three)
I used 3M "Finish Restorer" on mine, and it removed everything but some of the small pits caused by rocks, etc... Also available at WalMart (in a smaller black bottle) and you can use it on the rest of the car, too... Worked way better than the KIT stuff- at least for me...
This is before:
This is after: (pics after one 30 second application- I ended up doing three)
Last edited:
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