so my gf just got a 2001 V6 mustang convertable a couple days ago and theres some cosmetic problems. the headlights have like a foggy film on the outside like most older headlights do. the mirrors and some other black trim have some wax on it and its white. is there any way to fix this w/o buying new parts? shes only a Sr in HS and just has a part time job so the cheaper the better. ive see a detailer i used to work w/ wetsand and buff headlights and made em look 10x better but idk how long itll last. i also saw some meguiars stuff on TV but my gfs dad said that stuff doesnt last. and ideas on the trim or the headlights is appreciated. thanks

 

Mothers Back to Black works pretty decent. I used it on my valance and flares. Meguiars makes a 2 step kit or something for the headlights.

 

for the wax on the black trim mothers back to black usually works and as for the headlights they sell a cleaner for them never used it though

 

the headlight discoloring is from oxidation.. the same type of oxidation that builds up on chrome.. a good quality chrome polish usually works to remove the haze on the lights.. theres an artical about it on The Ranger Station in the Tech Library..

good luck

 

thanks. i have the back to black and i like it. i thought it just made the black more black from oxidation but not permanately. more like a treatment to cover it up instead of remove the wax. ill have to try that meguiars.

 

Some ideas for getting the wax off the black plastic...
> scrub with a toothbrush using dish soap in hot water, or simple green (or other degreaser), or peanut butter. Yes I've heard many swear by the peanut butter. Something about the oils in the pb that get at the wax. Haven't tried it myself though.
> pencil eraser, either regular pink or soft white draftsman's type will rub off the wax

Lots more info in this recent thread... https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...y-fenders.html

For your headlights try Meguire's plastic cleaner, then plastic polish on a Mother's powerball.

 

bought some megs plastix and tried it. didnt work cuz the lights are REALLY bad. theyre pretty pitted. that stuff took the top layer off and made it look a little better but the lights are beyond repair. looked on ebay and found some for around 80 shipped. havnt tried to get wax off yet. wouldnt supprise me on the peanut butter. thanks guys

 

Get the meguires headlight restoration kit. Its different from plastix.

 

I have good luck using 1000, then 1500, then 2000 and wet sanding the headlights. Follw that up with some plastic polish. It is not a quick process and requires some eldow grease but the results are worth it and cheaper then new lenes.

 

x2

 

rubbing compound with a buffer

 

i looked in the plastix box and the megs restoration kit and the only difference was that the kit had a buffer for a drill. my gfs dad said hes used it and it worked great, but the next time it rained it hazed up again.

 

i'll ask my dad what he uses to get wax off plastic, whatever he uses, it works great

 

you said "your gf just got a 2001 V6 Mustang"......glad I read it all....I thought you were talking about what your "grand-father" bought......sorry about that, LOL

edit: just thought of something....he would be a "senior" too, right?

 

My moms Taurus had foggy headlights and we used some of that plastic X and a buffer and it worked great... I used the wetsand thing when I worked at a dealer and it worked very well. it held up about a year if done correctly.. By held up I mean the clear would start to come off... But if you use some high quality clear spray can stuff It might last longer

 

About the headlights. I work as a Tire lube tech at wal-mart. We have a kit used to fix headlights. It cost $40+tax well at my wal-mart it does. Anyhow it is amazing! I have seen lenses that you could not see through become clear as crystal no joke! I am not sure about oxidation but I do know that a lot of the haze is caused by dust and road junk hitting them. the kit we use sands and polishes then clear coats the lenses. Just something to think about..I am doing it to my truck when I get tags for it now that it is able to stop again!

 

If you want to ave some money on the headlights just smear some tooth paste on them. all you need after that is a clean rag and a lot of elbow grease but you'll end up with the same results as the expensive kits that you would have to go and buy

 

3M has this product for polishing headlights that works very well.

Restoring a Headlight with the 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System. Video instructions and product recommendations. 3M: US

See the video. Cheers

 

after you get them clear again wax the headlights that will help them protect them

 

i work at a dealer and we use a buffer and rubbing compound then wax the headlights and it works great also for wax on black trim we use a really mild solvent called prosol and a soft brush...you have to scrub with the brush for a while but it comes out great

 

One of those headlight refinishing kits should work well. After you use it it's a good idea to spray some clear coat on it to help keep it from coming back...

 

Get a headlight restoration kit, they will run you about 50 bucks and come with all the product and hardware needed. You'll usually get a 3 step kit and it should come with a drill adapter and a couple different cutting pads.

As far as the wax on the trim pieces, just get a general exterior cleaner like Simple Green. But make sure you spray it onto your applicator pad or clothe then rub out the wax because it will take off the wax on your paint if some over spray gets on it.

If you plan on waxing your car again make sure you mask all the trim pieces and also you could use a product to protect the plastic pieces from the sun and will prevent them from turning brown or fading, I recommend 303 because it works very well, is cheap and doesn't leave an oily and shiny finish,

 

Headlight restoration kits are not a permanent solution. The hazing will come back eventually anyway. If it gets real bad you may just want to get new headlights.

 

Mr Clean Magic Eraser will REMOVE wax from trim, but don't hit the paint!

 

I got a kit from Harbor Freight that worked very well for me and it was less than $15 but it is a one time use kit. Maybe that will help you. Also, if you have Spike TV, there are some shows on there that have alot of good tips also on Saturday mornings; Horsepower TV, Extreme 4x4, Trucks, and I forget the name of the other one. You can also check out Stacy David's Gears show on Speed Channel but I don't know the day or time it comes on, I just record all the shows on my DVR and watch them at my leisure.