Hazy Headlight
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 1
From: Brockville, ON
Hazy Headlight
I have one H5 headlight that is nice and clear, but the other one is kind of hazy.
Removed them both today and pulled the lamp out of the hazy one.
The top edge of the plastic piece that holds the lamp was slightly melted and I figure that as a result some humidity has snuck into this headlight.
Has anyone been successful at cleaning one of these H5 lenses out?
I also notice that there is a piece attached to the bottom rear of the light that is described in the Bently book as a a humidity absorber.
Is this something that should be changed at some point?
Do these lose their ability to absorb moisture over time?
Regards
Removed them both today and pulled the lamp out of the hazy one.
The top edge of the plastic piece that holds the lamp was slightly melted and I figure that as a result some humidity has snuck into this headlight.
Has anyone been successful at cleaning one of these H5 lenses out?
I also notice that there is a piece attached to the bottom rear of the light that is described in the Bently book as a a humidity absorber.
Is this something that should be changed at some point?
Do these lose their ability to absorb moisture over time?
Regards
Last edited by irobertson; Apr 10, 2010 at 09:11 PM. Reason: Oops, H5, not H4.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 169
Likes: 3
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Hey Ian - there was an article in a recent Excellence that described a cheap and easy process using milk...I'll dig out the issue tomorrow to get you the details.
Though if you're looking for an easy upgrade, I'm sure folks will be chiming in about H4's
Cheers,
Dave
Though if you're looking for an easy upgrade, I'm sure folks will be chiming in about H4's
Cheers,
Dave
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 127
Likes: 5
From: South Dakota
One of the ways to clean the haze off have been putting isopropyl alcohol in the light with rice and swish it around. I used a metal coat hanger with windex and a paper towel. If you use a hanger be careful not to scratch the reflector. Just keep the end of the hanger covered by the paper towel. Worked well for me.
I do think that the humidity absorber should be changed but they are expensive little things. I have a set of Euro H4's that will go in this spring as they are so much better.
I do think that the humidity absorber should be changed but they are expensive little things. I have a set of Euro H4's that will go in this spring as they are so much better.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,510
Likes: 1,642
From: Cambridge Ontario Canada
Actually i think the article was called " got milk " ? and refered to milky looking headlights . I don't think they actually used milk to fix it . i think they used alcohol as mentioned above.
7th Gear
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
For whatever its worth, here's what I did.
Alcohol works well. Remove the humidity absorbers first. I took one of those green kitchen scouring pads and cut a 1 inch square off. I filled the headlight just enough to cover the inside of the lens. I then stuffed the piece of scouring pad into the headlight and worked it around with a thin wood dowel. I did that for a few minutes and then let everything sit for about 20 minutes. Went back and repeated the scouring.
After that I emptied the headlight out and let it dry (I helped it with compressed air). Went back an hour or so later to see if I missed any spots - I did. I added a little more alcohol and a new scouring pad and cleaned up those spots. Let it dry and it looks like new.
I replaced the old blubs with Sylvania Silver Stars - between cleaning the two lenses and the new bulbs, my lights are noticeably brighter.
Alcohol works well. Remove the humidity absorbers first. I took one of those green kitchen scouring pads and cut a 1 inch square off. I filled the headlight just enough to cover the inside of the lens. I then stuffed the piece of scouring pad into the headlight and worked it around with a thin wood dowel. I did that for a few minutes and then let everything sit for about 20 minutes. Went back and repeated the scouring.
After that I emptied the headlight out and let it dry (I helped it with compressed air). Went back an hour or so later to see if I missed any spots - I did. I added a little more alcohol and a new scouring pad and cleaned up those spots. Let it dry and it looks like new.
I replaced the old blubs with Sylvania Silver Stars - between cleaning the two lenses and the new bulbs, my lights are noticeably brighter.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 25
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I just did this DIY this past weekend. Alcohol not milk. Big improvement. But I don't think I got it all out or gave it enough time to dry as the passenger side light is still foggy. Will the alcohol just evaporate or do I have to take it out again?
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 169
Likes: 3
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Of course that's right...good thing I wasn't trying to actually clean some lights that night!!
Good luck with the isopropyl, but in case you want to try the milk, be sure to let us know how it works out
Cheers,
Dave
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,198
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From: Brockville, ON
Update - I screwed up my headlight.
I tried the rice and alcohol but the rice didn't cause enough friction to get anything clean.
Then I tried the alcohol with a chunk of magic eraser on the end of a plastic stick.
Still nothing.
So I took a sponge with the green abrasive pad on one side, and tried that abrasive side out.
Don't ever do this!!
I was very quickly able to clean the reflective coating right off the inside of my reflector with this.
Well, crap....... Guess I'll be thinking about that H4 upgrade.
I tried the rice and alcohol but the rice didn't cause enough friction to get anything clean.
Then I tried the alcohol with a chunk of magic eraser on the end of a plastic stick.
Still nothing.
So I took a sponge with the green abrasive pad on one side, and tried that abrasive side out.
Don't ever do this!!
I was very quickly able to clean the reflective coating right off the inside of my reflector with this.
Well, crap....... Guess I'll be thinking about that H4 upgrade.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,510
Likes: 1,642
From: Cambridge Ontario Canada
drink milk , use alcohol to fix lights .. NOT the other way around ...
