Re: '89 200 headlight fogging

[WARATAP@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/21/98 11:59:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
jeff.maurer@infocus.com writes:

> A friend with an '89 200 asked me to post for him.  His headlight 
>  housings have fogged to the point that they look like DRL's.  Any
>  wisdom on what he can do to fix this?
>  
First, find out why.  Is/are there stone chip(s) in the lens (usually this is
the problem).  If not, check breather holes mounted towards rear of reflector.
There should be two (not sure where on the 200 lens.  Regardless, the
headlight(s) should be removed.  Locate the breather vents (small rectangular
L shaped rubber hoses are attached to them).  Remove the rubber caps and
inspect breather holes.  Often these holes have not been finished and are of
insufficient size to handle the high humidity/temperature deviations of late.
Using a small knife blade or X-acto knife, enlarge the openings.  Then remove
(if you haven't already) the light bulbs and use a hair dryer to remove the
condensation within.  There's a great spray on chandelier cleaning spray
(can't recall the name, that I first spray inside, then fill headlight unit
with water and rinse), prior to using the hair dryer.  Then reassemble.  If
there's a stone chip, then I'd suggest trying to find a new (used one).  Or
you can try what I did (very time consuming).  Since I hate the look of a
siliconed headlight chip repair, I CAREFULLY (many hours) separated the lens
from the reflector.  Careful - the plastic breaks easily!  They use a VERY
strong adhesive for bonding the glass to the reflector.  Then I took the
inside glass chip caused by the stone and glued it from the inside of the lens
using 5-minute clear epoxy.  Then reassemble to reflector housing using a
clear silicone sealer like for aquariums. Now you can mount it all back
together into the car.  And one more thing -- Invest in some 3 mil 3M clear
protective film (available at GRIOTS and other sources) so you won't have to
do it again!

HTH

-Ingo