 | Richard Smith has been in the Auto Body Industry for 26 years. He is ASE Certified Master Collision Tech, an I-Car Platinum Tech, and an I-Car Instructor. He and His wife own and operate Sharp's Auto Body & Collision Inc. located at 202 North Elm St. in Pittsburg, Kansas. He is a father of 5 children, Ex Military E-6 Staff SGT. and is active in his home Church. The one thing he enjoys doing is educating the public about the safety and proper repair of automobiles, no matter if it is a vehicle that has been in a collision, a small dent, or a complete restoration. The shop is always equipped with a skilled professional to handle your auto needs. |
Automotive Service & Repair
2010-11-01 13:31:00
Foggy headlights?
Question: My car headlights have a film on them that I can’t remove. After having “foggy headlights” for sometime, I finally realized that it wasn’t my bulbs and the problem was this film on the headlight itself. Can these be restored economically or should I buy all new headlights?
Answer: Vehicles made after 1989 have headlights which are made out of a polycarbonate plastic. Over time, the lenses can become damaged by flying debris, the sun’s rays and oxidation. This leaves a pitted surface and a “foggy” appearance when in use. While surface grime can be removed, the chemicals used to clean the lenses can cause further damage. Many people will try to change the type of bulb with a whiter version and find that it does not solve the problem. The damaged lens inhibits the ability of the light to properly reflect and be distributed. This leaves two options, replace or repair the headlights.
Replacing the headlights is the costlier of the two options. Most headlights cost between $100 to $450 a piece, depending on the model of the car. Generally, if one headlight is foggy they will both be foggy, so replacement costs can run quite high. Additionally, spending nearly $1,000 on an older model car may not be how you want to invest your money.
Restoration is another option. Professional restorations usually costs between $40 and $80 to repair a set of headlights. Most professional headlight restorations can improve the illumination to 90% or greater of original condition. This is significant when the National Highway Traffic Administration recommends that headlights should illuminate 150 feet or greater on low beams. This recommendation is being instituted as traffic safety law in most states.
