How to restore your front signal lenses 89-91, maybe 86-88 too.
04-30-02, 06:21 PM
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How to restore your front signal lenses 89-91, maybe 86-88 too.
I was tired of looking at my supposedly clear front lenses (stock) on my '90. They are clear, but over the years looked yellow, because they are plastic. They also hd a buch of little nicks and scratches from rocks and stuff. I'm sure many of you have the same problem.
How to fix this: Sandpaper(s) + a Dremel ÒRotary!Ó tool with a buff pad. Yup, that's how I did it. Here's the steps.
1. Remove the front turn signal lenses.
2. Sand the entire surface with 200 grid sandpaper (remove all writing as well). --about 5 minutes of sanding.
NOTE: Sand until ALL the writing on the lense is not visible and more. This ensures that you have sanded enough to get all nicks and scratches out (It also helps for the buffing later on). I had initially started with a rougher sandpaper, but although it was faster to sand, it left too many deep scratches which only too longer to remove.
3. Switch to a lighter grid paper, I used 600 grid. (youÕll notice the lense getting clearer and the yellow virtually gone). About 10 minutes of sanding
4. Next I used a 1500 grid wet/dry sand paper. I put a few drops of water when sanding, but IÕm not sure if this is really necessary. About 5-10 minutes of sanding.
5. I used a Dremel with a buffer extention (its a small hand held) with the variable speed set at 6. DonÕt know how fast that it, but you donÕt what it that fast. Move it back and forth, evenly as to not rest on any one spot and accidentaaly burn your lense.
Note: I found this to work the best. I tried a six inch buffer, on a machine motor, but found that it was just to rough, or fast, and had to be extremely careful because it burned part of my lense. you can use a Dremel or any other hand held project varialbe high speed ÒrotaryÓ tool.
By this time your lenses should appear to be much clearer.
6. I put some glaze wax, let it sit a bit, and polished it with a clean try cloth. (I only used this because I saw it sitting on shlef nearby, and it wiork great. You cn use anyhing similar I assume).
7. Last, install, and smile. I have super bright white, lenses on mine, and they finally look white again.
ThatÕs it, too about an hour for everything. IÕll post a picture in a little while.
Jimmy D.
How to fix this: Sandpaper(s) + a Dremel ÒRotary!Ó tool with a buff pad. Yup, that's how I did it. Here's the steps.
1. Remove the front turn signal lenses.
2. Sand the entire surface with 200 grid sandpaper (remove all writing as well). --about 5 minutes of sanding.
NOTE: Sand until ALL the writing on the lense is not visible and more. This ensures that you have sanded enough to get all nicks and scratches out (It also helps for the buffing later on). I had initially started with a rougher sandpaper, but although it was faster to sand, it left too many deep scratches which only too longer to remove.
3. Switch to a lighter grid paper, I used 600 grid. (youÕll notice the lense getting clearer and the yellow virtually gone). About 10 minutes of sanding
4. Next I used a 1500 grid wet/dry sand paper. I put a few drops of water when sanding, but IÕm not sure if this is really necessary. About 5-10 minutes of sanding.
5. I used a Dremel with a buffer extention (its a small hand held) with the variable speed set at 6. DonÕt know how fast that it, but you donÕt what it that fast. Move it back and forth, evenly as to not rest on any one spot and accidentaaly burn your lense.
Note: I found this to work the best. I tried a six inch buffer, on a machine motor, but found that it was just to rough, or fast, and had to be extremely careful because it burned part of my lense. you can use a Dremel or any other hand held project varialbe high speed ÒrotaryÓ tool.
By this time your lenses should appear to be much clearer.
6. I put some glaze wax, let it sit a bit, and polished it with a clean try cloth. (I only used this because I saw it sitting on shlef nearby, and it wiork great. You cn use anyhing similar I assume).
7. Last, install, and smile. I have super bright white, lenses on mine, and they finally look white again.
ThatÕs it, too about an hour for everything. IÕll post a picture in a little while.
Jimmy D.
04-30-02, 06:43 PM
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Former Moderator. RIP Icemark.
That sounds like a little overkill.
You might have been able to get away with just using a nice rubbing compound followed by polishing compound, followed by a light cleaner/wax or plastic polish and received the same results.
Unless the lenses are very scratched to start with.
You might have been able to get away with just using a nice rubbing compound followed by polishing compound, followed by a light cleaner/wax or plastic polish and received the same results.
Unless the lenses are very scratched to start with.
04-30-02, 06:49 PM
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Here's the picture...
Originally posted by Icemark
That sounds like a little overkill.
You might have been able to get away with just using a nice rubbing compound followed by polishing compound, followed by a light cleaner/wax or plastic polish and received the same results.
Unless the lenses are very scratched to start with.
That sounds like a little overkill.
You might have been able to get away with just using a nice rubbing compound followed by polishing compound, followed by a light cleaner/wax or plastic polish and received the same results.
Unless the lenses are very scratched to start with.
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04-30-02, 07:00 PM
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Thanks this wil help me out a bunch. I just recently tried to just clean it up a bit but still looks like crap. Also last weekend i cleaned out my ftp lenses to. Not sure if you need to or not. But heres what I did.
1)Remove ftp lenses by placing the headlight in the up pos. and accessing the back two screws of the lenses.
2)Mine were full of condensation(sp) so I drilled three holes in the back of the of the lenses equally spaced apart (one in the middle etc....).
3)Took my air compressor and removed the little black elbow thing what was supposed to help keep the water out. Then just stuck the nozzle of the air comp hose connection in one of the holes I drilled and dried them out.
4)I stuck a small screw in the hole that had the black rubber thing on it and sealed up the holes I drilled, and presto clearer ftp lenses.
Now both can look a lot cleaner.
kleach
1)Remove ftp lenses by placing the headlight in the up pos. and accessing the back two screws of the lenses.
2)Mine were full of condensation(sp) so I drilled three holes in the back of the of the lenses equally spaced apart (one in the middle etc....).
3)Took my air compressor and removed the little black elbow thing what was supposed to help keep the water out. Then just stuck the nozzle of the air comp hose connection in one of the holes I drilled and dried them out.
4)I stuck a small screw in the hole that had the black rubber thing on it and sealed up the holes I drilled, and presto clearer ftp lenses.
Now both can look a lot cleaner.
kleach
04-30-02, 07:05 PM
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Yo,
Nah Felix, my car's signal are already cherry. Remember, I got the car with only 38K miles on it. I use the Novus #2 Polish "Fine Scratch Remover" and it works fine with the light oxidation on the lenses. I also used it out back. I love that stuff.
The end result looks great with all that sanding and stuff! Good work!
KS
1989 GTUs "Say No to Yellowed Plastic."
Nah Felix, my car's signal are already cherry. Remember, I got the car with only 38K miles on it. I use the Novus #2 Polish "Fine Scratch Remover" and it works fine with the light oxidation on the lenses. I also used it out back. I love that stuff.
The end result looks great with all that sanding and stuff! Good work!
KS
1989 GTUs "Say No to Yellowed Plastic."
04-30-02, 08:09 PM
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Originally posted by vaughnc
...now what about the FTP lenses ????
...now what about the FTP lenses ????
04-30-02, 08:16 PM
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I did the wet sand, polishing compound, wax to my FTP lenses and they look brand new. There is some kind of clear coat on them, but the wet sanding will remove it if you sand long enough or at least smooth the chipping down.
For those of you who think it is ****.....it only takes a few minutes and makes a hell of a difference. They look brand new after doing this.
I guess my yellowed turn signal lenses are next!
For those of you who think it is ****.....it only takes a few minutes and makes a hell of a difference. They look brand new after doing this.
I guess my yellowed turn signal lenses are next!
04-30-02, 09:34 PM
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Right on "91 vert".
Oh, The lenses are actually $16.70 each from Mazda (a few cents less from Mazdatrix), and the rubber gasket, which you'll also want to get, is $10.00. I guess if you don't have the tools to do this readily available, then it may not be worth doing. On the other hand, if your at home, have nothing to do, and have the stuff why not.
This only took me about an hour and was free. Had I bought it from Mazda, it would have cost me a minimum $34.40 (for only the lenses), AND it would have taken me close to an 1 1/2 hours just to go to the Mazda Dealer (or Mazdatrix) to buy the lenses. And once there, I probably would have bought something else... (even more $$ spent). And, I didn't even have to take a shower to do this. OK, getting a bit crazy here...
But fortunately I live near Mazda dealers, and Mazdatrix. But there are people who don't and would have to wait weeks to get a new lense. Even if I did get new lenses.. I'd still end up with and old pair anyway. I'm just sharing my ideas, and it WAS worth it for me. Bottom line, I'm Happy. EVERYBODY!!! CLEAN YOUR LENSES!!!
Oh, The lenses are actually $16.70 each from Mazda (a few cents less from Mazdatrix), and the rubber gasket, which you'll also want to get, is $10.00. I guess if you don't have the tools to do this readily available, then it may not be worth doing. On the other hand, if your at home, have nothing to do, and have the stuff why not.
This only took me about an hour and was free. Had I bought it from Mazda, it would have cost me a minimum $34.40 (for only the lenses), AND it would have taken me close to an 1 1/2 hours just to go to the Mazda Dealer (or Mazdatrix) to buy the lenses. And once there, I probably would have bought something else... (even more $$ spent). And, I didn't even have to take a shower to do this. OK, getting a bit crazy here...
But fortunately I live near Mazda dealers, and Mazdatrix. But there are people who don't and would have to wait weeks to get a new lense. Even if I did get new lenses.. I'd still end up with and old pair anyway. I'm just sharing my ideas, and it WAS worth it for me. Bottom line, I'm Happy. EVERYBODY!!! CLEAN YOUR LENSES!!!
04-30-02, 10:02 PM
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Here's the picture...
Originally posted by Icemark
That sounds like a little overkill.
You might have been able to get away with just using a nice rubbing compound followed by polishing compound, followed by a light cleaner/wax or plastic polish and received the same results.
Unless the lenses are very scratched to start with.
That sounds like a little overkill.
You might have been able to get away with just using a nice rubbing compound followed by polishing compound, followed by a light cleaner/wax or plastic polish and received the same results.
Unless the lenses are very scratched to start with.
05-25-02, 01:29 PM
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Wow, the difference in those lenses is awesome. I don't find it **** in the least...if I had my FC I'd go outside right now and do the same thing.
Very nice job, and a good how-to writeup as well.
Very nice job, and a good how-to writeup as well.
05-25-02, 01:31 PM
#22
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??? don't know but if you follow lbjimmy instrustions u will have so good looking signal lights i did it and saved my self about $30 and they look brand new now
