My headlights are awful

[island911]

Originally Posted by pmax

Already have the sandpaper.

Do I just need a rattle can clear coat ?

You want a UV blocking clear.

[pavulon]

My ‘08 outback has the same issue. I used a rubbing compound to remove 90+% of the haze but some is on the inside. The Sylvania bulbs last maybe 2 years but my car is a dedicated winter workhorse that spends most of its time sitting outside and driving in the dark. The bulbs are really easy to access from under hood and once in, you might need to adjust the aim downward a bit to avoid making enemies. I literally lol’d the first time I drove with them after haze removal…just wished they lasted longer.

[cabmandone]

https://www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/chart/

I personally run Fahren in three of my vehicles. The set in my F250 are two years old and run constantly due to DTRL. The brightness is almost ridiculous. Definitely aim your headlights if you go LED. I had to aim all 4 of the vehicles I have them in. I can literally light up a road sign in full sunlight. The rav4 has separate high/low bulbs. I put the LED's in just the low side which pretty much negated the need for high beams but my son wanted the high beam bulbs. The only ones I've had any issue with were the set in the Rav. I had to replace both low beam bulbs for some reason. They were covered under warranty.
I'll also mention that my son has the headlight lenses on the Rav smoked and they're still more than bright enough without running the high beams. I've also used the Katana brand in the Veloster that is no longer with us.

Vehicles are 2008 TaurusX, 2008 Rav4, 2012 Mazda3, 2012 F250 and 2010 Veloster. The only one that needed any modification was the veloster because it has some weird cap. The rest were plug and play.

Mazda3
https://www.amazon.com/Headlight-SEALIGHT-Design-Upgraded-Warranty/dp/B07HCZ7RZ6/ref=dp_prsubs_1?pd_rd_i=B07HCZ7RZ6&psc=1

Rav4
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NPMMNR3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by pmax

Already have the sandpaper.

Do I just need a rattle can clear coat ?

You need a two part clear coat to provide the UV protection as Island says.

I would call a paint jobber to see if you can get an aerosol can with the hardener inside that you release with a push button and shake then spray.

[cabmandone]

No spray needed. Just do the headlight polishing and then put on UV protectant vinyl. The plus to this is it can be peeled easily and replaced.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/1-Roll-Car-UV-Sunlight-Protection-Vinyl-Headlight-Wrap-Cover-Clear-Film-Sheet/426826973

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Help! 2010 Subaru Outback (wife) 2001 LandCruiser (mine). Both have anemic lights.

For the LC, go here: https://forum.ih8mud.com/

Sub forum for our model.

Good luck!

[mjohnson]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

...Don't go overboard and start blinding everyone on the road.

So YOU (well, that and my aging eyes) are why I hate night driving? (JK)

What's so sad is that even in modern cars, our 2013 Hyundai SF, the manual won't actually tell you how to adjust your headlights. They say "go to the dealer". We were blinding everyone with miss aimed ones from the factory until I went to the youtube/wikiverse and found it was a simple fix.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by cabmando

No spray needed. Just do the headlight polishing and then put on UV protectant vinyl.

Cool!

[tabs]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Help! 2010 Subaru Outback (wife) 2001 LandCruiser (mine). Both have anemic lights.

I see halogen high perf lights but supposedly they have a short lifespan? I see LEDs but they take modifications and may be poor quality?

Braintrust. What do you do? It is wet and dark here in Oregon. I need to see.

TIA!!

An I thought this Thread was gona be about HEADLIGHTS....ya know the Areola Alps, Jugs, Bazooka's..imagine my disappointment..

An as you get older gravity prevails..an what was once nice and perky now just hangs low sweet chariot....

[LWJ]

Thank you all!

Great info. Sorry that Tabs is disappointed.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by tabs

An I thought this Thread was gona be about HEADLIGHTS....ya know the Areola Alps, Jugs, Bazooka's..imagine my disappointment..

Sweater Puppies

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by mjohnson

So YOU (well, that and my aging eyes) are why I hate night driving? (JK)

I agree. It is annoying when some bozo has his super bright xenon bulbs aimed high and then when I flash my brights for just a split second to remind them that they forgot to put back the low beams, they put their high beams on! The WORST are the idiots with their jacked up Jeeps and Pickemup trucks. They raised the thing but didn't adjust the headlights due to the higher height. Durn southeners.

[Por_sha911]

Bob: has no one told you how to search for that stuff (which dominates 45% if the Internet followed closely behind by kitten videos and memes)?

[tabs]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Sweater Puppies

I am getting happy again...

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Bob: has no one told you how to search for that stuff (which dominates 45% if the Internet followed closely behind by kitten videos and memes)?

Well I did some searching and found that the Preval Sprayer may be a nice option for the OP if he wants to get clear coat in two separate containers and save some for another project. I have not seen evidence that 45% of the internet is made up of cloudy headlight remedy websites.

https://www.amazon.com/Preval-0225-2-Pack/dp/B00CW809ZO/ref=asc_df_B00CW809ZO/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=216800360809&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=813374430636630181&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9015531&hvtargid=pla-360306998558&psc=1

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Well I did some searching and found that the Preval Sprayer...

Oh, I meant your post saying you were looking for sweater puppies.

[hbueno]

A brighter bulb will not fix badly designed optics. Lens cloudiness can be addressed, but using a bulb that was not designed for a particular housing will annoy, or worse, blind other drivers.

[javadog]

^^^ That’s true, and a lot of the aftermarket light assemblies have crap optics because they have lousy reflector design. Sometimes you’re better off fixing the problems in a factory headlight, as opposed to replacing it with some crap made in China.

Put a relay and wiring kit on, upgrade the bulbs and make sure the lenses are clean and clear.

[flipper35]

Daniel Stern Lighting has some kits for you.

I did lights from the Retrofit Source in the old Durango. Huge difference.

[911boost]

When my daughter broke one of the corner marker lights on the '92 Mustang, I got a set of replacement "stock" lights from one of the Mustangs parts houses that had good reviews. They were crap, yellowed in about a year and as mentioned the reflectors were garbage. I put the stock headlights even though the glass is yellow, back in. Added some brighter bulbs and adjusted them and they work just fine.

Unless the aftermarket stuff is cheap / easy enough to replace often, I would not waste your time.