Alright so a couple days ago I decided to paint the inside of my 03 headlights. Everything came out GREAT. I even let the paint dry and waited a full 2.5 days to put the lights back together.

HOWEVER, I definitely got some yellow fog on only the left headlight now; which I can only guess is from paint fumes. What I'm guessing is that I may have baked the light too long when putting it back together...probably heating up the paint in the process. The other headlight looks fine.

Did a search, ton of stuff on painting the housing but nothing really on a good procedure to correct the inside of the lens hit by fumes. Can I 2000 grit and compound the inside of the lens? Then put a new UV protective coating on the inside?

Before anyone says it, I am going to get 06 lights, but not in the very near future. And the yellowing is killing me when I look at it. So any advice would be appreciated I want to do this asap so I even have a chance of fixing it.

 

some pictures would help

 

here are some pics. Sorry for the sunlight, but it shows how the car's left headlight (viewer's right) doesnt let sunlight pass through as much because of the yellow.







So, anyone? Is this alright to wetsand and compound and put lens sealer on if I open the lights back up? It's on the inside of the lens.

 

The inside of headlight lenses are very delicate so sandpaper and compound will ruin it even more. You're pretty much ****ed.

The most I would do is try soap and water but that's about it.

 

are you sure you cleaned it out after you baked them? when i clean them off after i open them up, there is yellow residue on the lens

 

i'd just save money for a set of +06 lights.
If paint fumes are sticking to the inside of the lens, you're pretty much f****d. And like mentioned before, inside lenses are very delicate, therefore sanding it and putting compound will most likely make it worse. I recently swapped the original lenses with Ebay DEPO headlight lenses, and it's the best solution when you want to make your set look brand new.

 

You can buy a pair of '06 headlights for $708 shipped at autolights4u.. Complete with HID bulb & ballast & 1 yr. warranty.
You have to disconnect the blue wire from the headlight harness otherwise the '06 headlight blinker signal will permantly stay on when driving.

 

Thanks for all the responses guys. Yea, definitely knew that I might be out of luck, but I figured I mind as well try something lol. I'll try the soap and water since the general consensus is that sandpaper and compound will just make it worse.

If that doesnt work, hyuk did you just purchase an entire DEPO headlight assembly? Then swapped the lenses? I was under the impression that lenses by themselves are not sold anywhere.

 

yes, you gotta buy the whole headlight, bake em, swap parts!

 

The inside of the headlight is reacting to the paint fumes .. You did not let them cure long enough before you sealed your lights .

 

Also do not try to sand the inside of the headlight . There is a thin film and that is what's reacting to the fumes .. Sometimes you get webbing that looks like shattered glass and hazing or cloudy lights like you have ..