Haze on Headlight

2011 Nismo#91 · 06-19-2013, 11:19 AM

Hey guys,

I'm trying to find out who else has this issue and what if anything can be done about it without replacing the clear plastic from a new $500 headlight.

So story is this winter I first noticed a haze had formed over my driver side headlight, I do knot know exactly when it formed but I do not believe it was there last summer.

I though it was condensation and could easily be fixed. I'm no expert or headlights so I contacted ONEighty who did my headlight work in the on the best course of action no too long ago. Since I am not too far away we agreed to meet and look at it first hand. Result of that meeting was that this is not the first time it has happened or even the second recently. I was told it is not condensation but a chemical break down of the clear plastic on the inside.

Unfortunately since my headlights were done about 2 years ago it's not under warranty and even if it was within a year it's not something covered. The best solution was to open the rear cap for a few days so any harmful vapors could be vented to hopefully prevent more damage.

I keep my car in a garage under a cover most of the time and barely drive it ~10k miles in the 2 years I had it. I don't think its from environmental damage. Could this be something manufacture related?

I attached the best 3 pics I have of it at the moment I see if I can get my hands on a macro lens to get some clear hi-res close ups in a week or so.

fuct · 06-19-2013, 12:28 PM

mine are doing it too but i thought it was on the outside.... ill go look today. i figured i just needed to buff them with one of those headlight polishing kits.

kenchan · 06-19-2013, 12:33 PM

outgassing maybe? not sure.

have the lamp folks fix it for you.

one of the main reasons why i dont mess with my headlamps.

2011 Nismo#91 · 06-19-2013, 12:36 PM

The outside of the plastic feels completely smooth, not matted feeling.

Alstann · 06-19-2013, 01:31 PM

Main reason I tell people to WAX THEIR HEADLIGHTS!

This is gonna happen to all headlights. The UV protectant is probably very thin, and as a result, the plastic is starting to oxidize. Waxing headlights and your car is one of the best defenses you can do to keep the lights and paint looking fresh.

I've seen headlights oxidize from the inside first, or from the outside, but either way, it's no bueno.

The restore kits that just have you sand and buff it out are okay, but they completely strip the UV protectant off of the headlight. If you go that route, you need to finish the headlight with new protectant, or get a clear bra type film that has UV protectant inside of it. ^^

2011 Nismo#91 · 06-19-2013, 01:56 PM

If it is UV light I'm kinda shocked at the horrible quality of Nissan cars. 10K miles in 2 years of being almost all the time indoors under a cover and the exterior is falling apart. The 370 sounds like a Chevy Vega car from the 1970's which rusted apart in a few year.

gurneyeagle · 06-19-2013, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

outgassing maybe? not sure.

have the lamp folks fix it for you.

one of the main reasons why i dont mess with my headlamps.

If it's outgassing, then you can't blame Nissan.

I'm with mr. k here, I don't fool with the headlights.

USMCASA · 06-19-2013, 02:57 PM

you can wetsand these with 1500 grit sand paper and shoot them with a quality clear coat and you should never have this issue again. "polishing" kits never fix the issue, only delay it but yes plastic hazes up over time.

fuct · 06-19-2013, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCASA

you can wetsand these with 1500 grit sand paper and shoot them with a quality clear coat and you should never have this issue again. "polishing" kits never fix the issue, only delay it but yes plastic hazes up over time.

yea i didnt think the kits were very good. maybe i can hit it with my porter cable RO polisher... ill check around for the correct headlight glaze or polish.

Headlamp Restoration

simota1 · 06-19-2013, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCASA

you can wetsand these with 1500 grit sand paper and shoot them with a quality clear coat and you should never have this issue again. "polishing" kits never fix the issue, only delay it but yes plastic hazes up over time.

THIS.... ive cleared my headlights since i bought my z to prevent this from ever happening

i recommend PPG polyurethane high glamour clear

AMAZING stuff and it out lasts the competition

FancyPants · 06-19-2013, 05:23 PM

If this is on the inside, the only course of action is to remove the lens and polish away the coating. Yes, there is a coating on the inside of the lens as well. It is an extremely delicate coating. Just dusting it with a microfiber can damage/scratch it.

I have spent a lot of time and money trying to find something to coat the outside of the headlight after the OEM coating fails from UV exposure and the best I have found is Opti-Coat Lens Coating.

It's only been just recently that I have had an issue with the inside coating (because I am very careful). This was not my fault but I recently had to remove that coating from a light. I don't yet know that coating's purpose or what adverse effects removing it may have since the light hasn't seen a lot of time on the car since I did this.

I polished off the coating and Opti-Coated the inside (and outside).

red2010z · 06-19-2013, 07:12 PM

Seeing this makes me worry about my headlights when I go to paint them. Boo to this!

06-19-2013, 01:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
Alstann Track Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: South Florida Posts: 882 Drives: 12 PW 370z 6MT Sport Rep Power: 15	Main reason I tell people to WAX THEIR HEADLIGHTS! This is gonna happen to all headlights. The UV protectant is probably very thin, and as a result, the plastic is starting to oxidize. Waxing headlights and your car is one of the best defenses you can do to keep the lights and paint looking fresh. I've seen headlights oxidize from the inside first, or from the outside, but either way, it's no bueno. The restore kits that just have you sand and buff it out are okay, but they completely strip the UV protectant off of the headlight. If you go that route, you need to finish the headlight with new protectant, or get a clear bra type film that has UV protectant inside of it. ^^ __________________ 2012 Pearl White 370Z GReddy Twin Turbo

06-19-2013, 01:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
2011 Nismo#91 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 2,400 Drives: slowly Rep Power: 40569	If it is UV light I'm kinda shocked at the horrible quality of Nissan cars. 10K miles in 2 years of being almost all the time indoors under a cover and the exterior is falling apart. The 370 sounds like a Chevy Vega car from the 1970's which rusted apart in a few year. Last edited by 2011 Nismo#91; 06-19-2013 at 01:59 PM.

06-19-2013, 07:12 PM	#12 (permalink)
red2010z Track Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Texas/North Carolina Age: 39 Posts: 587 Drives: '10 Red B/S/M Rep Power: 13	Seeing this makes me worry about my headlights when I go to paint them. Boo to this! __________________ AGENCY K&N SWIFT CSF EVO-R VOSSEN MICHELIN Z1 JVC ZENCLOSURE JLW3 JVC

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06-19-2013, 12:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
fuct A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sugar Land Posts: 3,692 Drives: 97' Ranger :) Rep Power: 24	mine are doing it too but i thought it was on the outside.... ill go look today. i figured i just needed to buff them with one of those headlight polishing kits.

06-19-2013, 12:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	outgassing maybe? not sure. have the lamp folks fix it for you. one of the main reasons why i dont mess with my headlamps.

06-19-2013, 12:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
2011 Nismo#91 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 2,400 Drives: slowly Rep Power: 40569	The outside of the plastic feels completely smooth, not matted feeling.

06-19-2013, 02:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
USMCASA A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NC Posts: 1,152 Drives: 09 370z CY M6 Rep Power: 17	you can wetsand these with 1500 grit sand paper and shoot them with a quality clear coat and you should never have this issue again. "polishing" kits never fix the issue, only delay it but yes plastic hazes up over time.

06-19-2013, 05:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
FancyPants Base Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: San Clemente, CA Posts: 59 Drives: '08 Blue E92 M3 Rep Power: 12	If this is on the inside, the only course of action is to remove the lens and polish away the coating. Yes, there is a coating on the inside of the lens as well. It is an extremely delicate coating. Just dusting it with a microfiber can damage/scratch it. I have spent a lot of time and money trying to find something to coat the outside of the headlight after the OEM coating fails from UV exposure and the best I have found is Opti-Coat Lens Coating. It's only been just recently that I have had an issue with the inside coating (because I am very careful). This was not my fault but I recently had to remove that coating from a light. I don't yet know that coating's purpose or what adverse effects removing it may have since the light hasn't seen a lot of time on the car since I did this. I polished off the coating and Opti-Coated the inside (and outside).