[Vwdiesel] [VW-TDI] Re: 2001 Golf headlight/blinker Qs

Fri Apr 17 00:11:05 PDT 2009

I've done just this Val, and was quite successful for a while at least. I
stepped up from 300wet to start and finished with a wetsanding of 2000 grit
on my air random orbit sander... the finish was great once buffed with
rouge. Just be careful to not hold it in one spot, and you're good, slow
removal is better, and keeps the surface curvature consistent, which you
want. Keep at it with each grit until it is uniform, then wash off all grit
left so you don't scratch the surface with grit from the last paper.  
 I sprayed clear lacquer on it to finish.  It originally had a hardcoat as a
scratch prevention measure, much like eyeglass lenses, but the polycarb
itself is too soft to keep the hardcoat from breaking on impact of small
particles- too much flex.  The clear lacquer worked pretty well, but I
wasn't going to try regular urethane clearcoat without a test run.  I have a
dead headlight from the 05 passat I intend to squirt with urethane clear to
test.  The lacquer seemed to yellow from UV after time.
-james

> -----Original Message-----
> From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com]
> On Behalf Of Val Christian
> Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 1:36 PM
> To: VW-TDI at yahoogroups.com; vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] [VW-TDI] Re: 2001 Golf headlight/blinker Qs
> 
> The VW headlights are a polycarbonate thermoplastic.
> 
> Polycarbonates have high impact resistance, but low scratch resistance.
> Small particles, including road dust, continously erode the surface,
> once
> a thin, hard coating erodes off.  In some applications, a coextrusion
> is
> done for better weathering.
> 
> Road salt is not a chemical cause of clouding, but may be a mechanical
> cause.  More specifically, the slurry of salt, sand, road spray with
> suspended dirt, and so on, contribute to the surface erosion of the
> headlights.
> 
> Items from CDs and DVDs to the canopy of the F-22 (largest production
> extrusion
> of polycarbonate to date) are made from polycarbonates.  Unfortunately,
> since the coatings help the material maintain it's optical properties,
> and since they are worn off my road debris blasted against the VW
> lights,
> cleaning up the surface will only be temporary.
> 
> [Note that toothpaste (a clay slurry) can be used as an abrasive to
> clean CDs and DVDs.  The flat clay discs act as knives, or a nano
> plane of sorts, leveling the surface.]
> 
> I have not tried the various methods yet, but i will probably try
> progressive
> wet sanding, followed by buffing.  Then I will likely use RVR, which is
> a Rain-X like porduct made for polycarbonate aircraft windshields.
> If Rain-X doesn't fog the surface, you could try Rain-X as well.  I
> would
> recoat in a couple of months.
> 
> Wax may work.  UV blocking polymer coatings would work better, from the
> standpoint of weakening the surface of the polycarbonate.
> 
> Both ethonal and isopropyl alcohol are considered safe with
> polycarbonate
> plastics, however methanol is no.  Methonal or methyl alcohol are
> common
> in windshield washer formulations (blue juice).  So avoiding
> application
> of blue juice to your headlights may help increase their life by some
> small hard-to-measure amount.
> 
> A paint protective polymer coating may work, but I have not researched
> this.  I'm thinking of the "polyglycoat" wax substitutes.
> 
> Finally, rather than applying polymer coatings, one could apply a
> sacrificial
> contact adhesive material, which provides UV protection as well as
> abrasion resistance.  Since it's sacrificial, when it gets damaged or
> worn, it can be removed, and replaced.  Xpel is one such product.
> 
> In my case, I'll likely abrade the glass clear, and provide a polymer
> coating
> such as RVR.
> 
> 
> Your mileage and clarity may vary.
> 
> 
> 
> >
> >
> > I have a 2003 TDI, Florida car now in SC.
> > Headlights got fogged bad by mid 2007. I guess is the extreme
> sun/rain combination here in the south, defenately no salt
> >
> > After months of debating what to do, I found this product:
> > HeadLight Restorer/Defogger by CrystalView www.myheadlight.com
> >
> > Very easy to use and 100% restoration back to showroom quality on
> both my headlights [Believe me, I was ready to by me a new set of 2
> headlight assembly for about $280.00 a piece, drive about 60k miles a
> yr, 40% at night]
> >
> > How much I paid for this? 29.95 plus SC 7%tax at Advanced Autoparts.
> I believe you can get the product from the website and pay s&h ontop of
> the 29.95 price.
> > Just follow the instructions; a bit of water, a bit sanding, a bit of
> polishing and a sealant application and you are done!!
> >
> > All you need is provided in the bag, they also have a video you can
> watch were they show you "how to" do it...all in all about 20mins work
> per headlight.
> > Note- I had to put some painter's blue tape around the metal
> surrounding the headlights in order not to "scracth" it with the bit of
> sanding involved
> >
> > 2003 TDI 262K miles and still running very strong!
> > dont forget to change your full synthetic oil...OFTEN
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In VW-TDI at yahoogroups.com, "Rolf" <rbp at ...> wrote:
> > >
> > > hey gang
> > >
> > > 2001 Golf TDi
> > >
> > > 2 Qs:
> > >
> > > - how do I remove pass side headlight assembly?
> > > cover is all clouded and needs to be cleaned
> > > anyone know a DIY anywhere?
> > >
> > > - I have a blinker that works intermittently
> > > sometimes it blinks normally
> > > other times solid on
> > > this applies both left and right and to hazards
> > > what could cause relay to work part-time?
> > >
> > > thanks!
> > >
> > > Rolf in MA
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> > <*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
> >     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VW-TDI/
> >
> > <*> Your email settings:
> >     Individual Email | Traditional
> >
> > <*> To change settings online go to:
> >     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VW-TDI/join
> >     (Yahoo! ID required)
> >
> > <*> To change settings via email:
> >     mailto:VW-TDI-digest at yahoogroups.com
> >     mailto:VW-TDI-fullfeatured at yahoogroups.com
> >
> > <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> >     VW-TDI-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com
> >
> > <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> >     http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Vwdiesel mailing list
> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel