Do my foggy headlights need replaced or can they be restored?
December 2, 2021
Having maximum visibility in your vehicle is one of the most important steps to take in order to cut down on avoidable accidents. By making sure your headlight lenses are as clear as possible and your visibility is at 100% this will help you avoid any avoidable accidents. When determining what steps to take in order to restore your visibility back to 100% there are a few things to consider.
Oxidation
The hazy layer you see on your headlights, known as oxidation is caused by the polycarbonate lens of today’s headlights being exposed to air and UV. These lenses, when exposed to UV radiation created by the bulbs themselves, develop microscopic cracks that allow for air to get inside causing the haziness you see on the lenses of the headlights.
Road Damage
Everyday driving puts a lot of stress on the lenses of our headlights, even when driving on the best roads. As we drive, pebbles, stones, and sticks are constantly being kicked up by our tires into the lenses of our headlights. The debris our tires kick up causes little chips and scratches not easily seen and allows for things like water and air to settle on the surface.
Dirt, grime, and cleaning chemicals
After a car has been on the road for any period of time dirt will settle on the headlights, mix that with the chemicals we use to clean our cars or salt that’s used to melt snow off of the road and that creates a layer of film that makes it hard for light to penetrate and project onto the road.
Water vapor behind the lens
As mentioned before, the debris kicked up into the headlight causes little dents and scratches. This can allow for moisture to get behind the headlight and cause oxidation behind the lens making it much harder to access and clean. Or alternatively, the sealant that is used to seal your headlight housing from the factory could become dry and crack which could also allow moisture to enter the inside of the assembly.
Choosing restoration or replacement when it comes to restoring visibility?
The best way to restore the clarity of your headlights is something only you can choose. That being said, there are some instances where one might make more sense than the other.
Restoration
- When it comes to the most cost-effective way to restore clarity, that will almost always be to have the headlights restored. You can do this yourself by purchasing specialized sandpaper and a few other inexpensive products that can be bought at any automotive store, but be careful if you are choosing to do it yourself. If you were to make a mistake while attempting to clean and restore your own lenses, it may lead to damaging the headlight beyond repair. In most cases it’s worth the money to have any restoration handled by a professional to avoid any potential headaches as well as making sure you’re ending up with the best end result and a professional repair.
Replacement
- When it comes to replacement, it is always going to end up costing more money due to the fact a professional is going to have to replace the entire housing of the headlight. That being said, in cases where the oxidation of the headlight is behind the lens as opposed to on top of it, it may just prove to be less of a hassle to have it completely replaced instead of restored because of the effort it takes to get to the oxidation behind the lens. Replacement of a headlight may also result in having increased visibility for a longer period of time depending on what type of driving you do as you are getting a brand new headlight instead of one that has been restored.
Before choosing which route you want to go make sure to contact a local professional for their opinion to help you weigh all the options and decide which is best for you. Or if you are a well versed DIYer we would encourage you to give it a shot on your own! We hope this article helped you better understand what causes headlights to experience decreased visibility and what measures you can take to restore it and as always if you have any questions or if we can help you in any way feel free to contact us!
You can do so at 814-230-6991
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