Cerakote Headlight Restoration

[BigPapa]

JeepBuilder started a thread way back in August 2020 about a product he'd used to restore headlights and other lenses called Cerakote.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ight-restoration-using-a-cerakote-kit.269840/

I put it on my new Sport headlights in hopes of keeping them from oxidizing. I sold the truck last week, so I won't get to see how long it lasts. The headlights on my new-to-me Honda Accord were oxidized and cloudy, so I did the Cerakote Headlight Restore to them today and thought I'd share my results. We'll see how long it lasts on these. It's supposed to be a one time application.

The RH was worse than the LH. Prep and application are simple and straightforward. Took me @ 45 minutes to do both.

LH Before

LH Prepped

LH After

RH Before

RH Prepped

RH After

 

[Darkbloodmon]

Defiantly a before and after contrast. I'm trying something on my recently installed TYC housings, using a layered UV detailer on the lenses every seasonal wash to keep the surface shielded from oxidation. Hopefully i'll have something conclusive when I get around to getting a retrofit projector set built. The factory housings aimed and with the brightest tier halogens are still poor for visibility.

Is that accord an 06 by any chance? I had a nagging feeling in my gut but the housing was used from 03 to 07.

 

[BigPapa]

Yep, ‘06 EX. The lady who owned it has dementia and her children sold it so she wouldn’t drive. She bought it new and literally only drove to church, the grocery, and the beauty shop. It had 18,480 miles on it when my daughter bought it a year ago.

 

[Darkbloodmon]

Very nice!

Glad my intuition is still accurate.

 

[Larry Willard]

I did our '09 Hyundai Sonata a year ago and loved the results. Almost as good as new headlights, although I messed up and applied it too light along one edge. Beats whatever product I had tried years ago on our 2000 Elanta.

 

[BigPapa]

Did the wife’s ES350 today.

 

[BigPapa]

Did the Avalanche headlights this weekend.

 

[Matt42]

Two weeks ago, on a whim, I tried some old Turtle Wax white polishing compound on our 2001 PT Cruiser's headlights. I used a clean, pink shop towel and a spray bottle of soapy water to lubricate the compound and wash it down occasionally. The stuff really worked. It took about 20 minutes per headlight. This was not the first time that the haze had been polished out, though. It was last done in 2012.

As for my CTD, I bought a set of stick-on headlight covers from Geno's in 2003 or so. They were said to resist hazing, yellowing, and pitting. And they have worked really well.

 

[Rowdy Dalton]

I've buffed out several headlights, and within the year, they start to oxidize again. I've tried several different kits. Once the plastic starts to oxidize, even after it is fixed, it will re-haze again, quickly. I've heard the only way to fight this is to use a clearcoat spray on it, made for plastics.
My 2006 Dodge 2500 had been re-polished three times, before I gave up. The oxidation went too deep to polish out, and it still looked pretty yellowed.
I just purchased some aftermarket OEM style headlights. They look exactly like the original, fit perfect, look new, and they only cost $88 for the pair. That was a couple of years ago.

 

[BigPapa]

I've buffed out several headlights, and within the year, they start to oxidize again. I've tried several different kits.

I’ll wager you haven’t used the Cerakote.

 

[Rowdy Dalton]

I’ll wager you haven’t used the Cerakote.

No, I havent. The only Cerakote I was familiar with was what they used on coating guns. But, I am alway open to new products that have been proven to work.

 

[Rowdy Dalton]

I’ll wager you haven’t used the Cerakote.

In looking at the Cerakote product, it contains a "Clearcoat Wipe". So it should last. BTW, 3M sells the Clearcoat Wipes alone, for under $7. If you already have some wet/dry sandpaper, progress up to around 2500 grit, or so, purchase the clearcoat wipes, and save on the kit.

 

[BigPapa]

Whatever floats your boat. The kit is less than $18 and has gloves, the oxidation removing wipes, two grits of sandpaper and a sanding pad, and the CERAMIC coating. It’s not just a clear coat. I’ve done the headlights on seven vehicles with great results and none of them have oxidized or yellowed.

 

[JeepBuilder]

Well it is great to see you guys getting some good results out of the Cerakote kit. I have some interesting feedback though. Every single person I have done this for, they still look just great. My 02 Toyota Tundra and my late wifes 06 4runner have had some clouding come back. I sent pictures to the folks at Cerakote and they sent me new kits for free. The results are guaranteed and I can say they stand behind their product. I am thinking the day was pretty hot when I applied the final surface wipe and maybe I did not get it on thick enough. I still think this product is better than any other choices out there. The clouding is really minor and I still have not addressed it. I probably will this summer. Where I live is a tough environment. Heavy road salt and I live 7 miles up a very dusty road. Maybe that had something to do with it. I am not sure. Like I mentioned it is really minor. I was surprised to spot this thread. Thought I would add what I have seen on my rigs. I still highly recommend Cerakote to people with cloudy headlights. ...Al