Ask Pete

[#1]

As complicated as today’s cars have become, many people shy away for doing any maintenance at all on their vehicles—even simple jobs—for fear of creating a bigger (and more expensive) problem than already exists. But the truth is, there is still a place in the garage for the do-it-yourselfer on certain projects. This is one of them.

In past blogs I’ve written about my family’s 1996 Toyota Camry, which has well over 100,000 miles and is in queue for the last college-bound student in the household. (C’mon now, what college kid wouldn’t want to be seen in a car nearly as old as she is?)

In doing my usual maintenance check-ups on this car, I noticed the headlamp lenses were pretty fogged up. I figured this relatively new driver needs every advantage she can get as it relates to seeing and being seen at night. So I set out to get one of those DIY kits.

I found a variety of them in pretty much every auto parts store near my house, and even came across one at my local Harbor Freight store. They all seem to work off of the same principle, with some kits more elaborate than others. I settled on one of the, ahem, “thrifty” versions and was pleasantly surprised. The instructions were pretty straightforward, the kit provided plenty of supplies to get the job done, and the results were impressive.  

Like most situations when you are modifying a product’s finish, you start by cleaning the lenses with soap and water. Then you protect the surrounding areas with masking tape (provided), followed by a four-step process of buffing the lenses. This is done with three different grits of pads: 500, 800 and 3,000 grit. The final stage of buffing is done with a polishing compound and pad, which gives the lenses a like-new finish and makes the front of the car look like it went through an age rejuvenation process.

The kit I purchased came with everything I needed to do the job (as do most), and I used a cordless drill. The instructions warn you about using too high speed of a drill, as it could overheat the plastic lens. My cordless seemed to work just fine, and I would caution others against using an electric drill unless it is adjustable or variable speed.

From start to finish, my total time on the job—including the crucial step of getting myself a cup of coffee—was about 30 minutes. I figured I saved more than $50 by doing it myself, so if you’re a little handy and want to save a few bucks, this process isn’t as tough as you might think…and the results are “clearly” rewarding.

[#2]

Pete, is there a DIY product that you recommend for removing scratches?

Thanks!

[#3]

I'm assuming you mean scratches in painted services? If so, I have used a product called NuFinish that was great at removing light scratches if the scratch is through the clear coat past the color and into the primer it's too deep and will need yo be professionally refinished.

[#4]

Pete what thrifty kit  did you use to clean the headlamp lenses.

[#5]

I do not have the old packaging any longer but I recall the kit was purchased through Harbour Freight. I don't think we gave $20 for it.