21 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHYellowing / Fogging Up Headlamps
Leading reported evidence
Replace alone and needed
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
And btw, i was told replacement lenses were much more than $300 -- told me lenses couldnt be replaced alone and needed to replace housing.
Leading evidence: 'Replace alone and needed' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'temperature changes is sucking moisutre past fouled seals' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace alone and needed' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The damage is definitely on the outside of the lens, and it appears a harsh cleaner was used on your car that ate away at the protective coat of the lens.
temperature changes is sucking moisutre past fouled seals
Suggestion or failed attempt
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0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
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Read evidence and context
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Suspected cause
Probably the temperature changes is sucking moisutre past fouled seals.
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Suggestion
And btw, i was told replacement lenses were much more than $300 -- told me lenses couldnt be replaced alone and needed to replace housing.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Suggestion
You can use a hair dryer for semi warming or possibly find a light shade that would allow the unit to rest on top to keep it warm.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The damage is definitely on the outside of the lens, and it appears a harsh cleaner was used on your car that ate away at the protective coat of the lens.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
21 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Generation: 20261026T142254Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hey all. I've got a 2002 996 and I started noticing that there was some either some condensation or oxidation going on inside the headlamp. The car wasn't in any accidents and the headlamps are OEM. I'm guessing this is a problem for many 996 owners, but I couldn't find any threads discussing the problem. I've got the Litronic xenon headlamps. Not sure if this would also apply to other non-xenon ones.
I looked at replacement headlamps, but at around $300/each, I was wondering if there was an easier, cheaper way at solving this problem.
Any help or tips from you all would be very much appreciated.
Pics attached.
Thanks all in advance.
I've never seen a headlight look that dull, unless it was a very old car. Your night vision must be comprimised as well. I have a 99 w/out litronics and mine are very clear. Is your condensation or clouding on the inside? Lots of headlight cleaning and ploishing products avail. with a special attatchment for your drill, but for the ouside of the headlight lens. Could you be having a heat issue on the inside causing your problem?
Yeah, I have never seen 996 headlights that hazed up/dull.
A few folks on Renntech.org have polished (using polishing cloths and different fine grit grades of sand paper) to revitalize the headlights to as new condition.
Was you car garaged? Is it currently kept in a garage?
Here's the link: (you need to become a member, it's free):
http://www.renntech.org/forums/index...ic-headlights/
Wow they really are bad. I have a *little* bit of yellowing in the area where the vertical grooves are on my passenger side light but that's it.
Has your car been out in the sun a lot?
The damage is definitely on the outside of the lens, and it appears a harsh cleaner was used on your car that ate away at the protective coat of the lens.
You'll need to polish the lens back into shape. Before that you may need to wetsand with automotive grit paper (2000 should do) and follow up with a compound or specific product like PlastX.
I'd do this before any extended night driving. I'd also wash your car thoroughly to remove whatever caused this before it damages your paint or trim.
Is it always like this, or only after a rain or wash, or when the car cools down after being wet (ie moisture on the inside of the lens)? Does the condensation go away briefly when the lamp heats up for an extended period? Or is it all from scratched/hazed plastic?
I have never used these guys but there are a bunch of them around LA. Google headlight restoration services.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb...714473450.html
If the problem is on the outside you can polish them as others have mentioned, or if your not the DIY type you can try a service like "Dr. Headlight" .
http://drheadlight.com/default.htm
Had the exact same problem, just not as bad. 03 Cab that's usually parked outside. I tried a polishing system i found online and it took some of the problem away but still looked like crap. My local body shop polished them up for me using some commercial polishing compound. Came back looking like new and didnt cost much. I think it's the UV reacting with the plastic. And btw, i was told replacement lenses were much more than $300 -- told me lenses couldnt be replaced alone and needed to replace housing.
bring them in the house. Go get some toothpaste with bakeing soda.. Sit and watch the next game and just polish the heck out of them with the toothpaste... You will be amazed... Trust me.
EDIT
oh never mind I see it is on the inside.. Well that sucks
Alright you say its inside. You have to extract the headligh units. Take the units to a dry area inside and remove the rear cover and bulbs. I believe both bulbs per unit are the same. Then its just have the case open to dry. There is supposed to be a sealing compound of non hardening goop between the bulb skirt and case. There should also be a rubber seal between the back lid of the unit and the unit body. I think its not there or screwed up letting moisture in.
The front trunk area will warm up pretty good with the radiators there. Probably the temperature changes is sucking moisutre past fouled seals.
You can use a hair dryer for semi warming or possibly find a light shade that would allow the unit to rest on top to keep it warm. Just not a lamp shade thats going to melt ot burn the unit.
Thanks all for the recommendations. I've been extremely busy so I'm finally getting back to checking this thread out.
At this point in time, I'm not sure if it is the outside or inside. The car wasn't in any accidents so I'm guessing polishing it off will probably do the trick.
I'm going to go with the PlastX recommendation from Tim. I'm sure all the recommendations are very good.
Now that I look back at the pictures I took, it looks like the coverage on the headlamp is pretty evenly distributed across the entire surface. Will keep my fingers crossed and let you all know how this weekend project goes.
Thanks again Rennlisters!
I have seen many fogged up plastic headlights, but its very strange to see this much yellowing
on a fairly new car. How is the condition of your paint?
GL
When I wax I wax everything but the tires. I prefer water spots on wax to on glass or plastics. It would be nice if the plastics manufacturers are using weren't so lousy at handling UV and such. Good luck fixing it and keeping a good protection of UV blocking wax on them.
Reporting back. Bought a Rain X headlight restoration kit for $15 at Pep Boys and went to work. The kit did a good job and took off all the yellow, but I had to buy some more abrasive sandpaper 800 grit to get the remainder of the stuff off. It was clearly on the outside.
Long story short, I did an okay job, but I'm probably going to get a professional to work it over again to bring it back to 100%. The Rain X kit did a good job. The Turtle Wax kit was $10 and the Meguiars kit was $25. I'm sure they are all fairly comparable.
Thanks again all for the help. Headlamps are no longer yellow!
It's easy to remove the healight unit so you can do it in your lap. Hex tool with swivel handle should be in the tool kit. Pop the first plug of both sides of the front trunk carpet. Pull it to the side a little and remove the longest rubber plug on each side. Insert tool and rotate to release the headlight unit.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
