1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Clearcoating headlights

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by AK18, Sep 4, 2016.

  1. SB6

    SB6 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2019
    314
    69
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Wait is that "more than" as in "close to," or as in "much more than"? If the former, where do I find these $20 assemblies?
     
    RMB, Mendel Leisk and Raytheeagle like this.
  2. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Much more than;).

    I was making the cost justification point that for $20 ($10 a kit) and about 2 hours of my time I can have the housings “good enough” on our 2010 Prius. Definitely better than a lot of the cars that pass me on the freeway. New ones are much more (I think upwards of $200):eek:.

    Could I argue my time is worth more than the $400 I would spend on new housings as time is the one resource that is finite? Sure. But I also want to retire early and right now I can afford an hour or two every other year to clean the lenses:).

    Good luck and keep us posted (y).
     
    RMB likes this.
  3. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2013
    1,476
    1,551
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    200$ for a pair isn’t too bad. I don’t think it’ll ever go down less than that unless it’s a 20 year old car.
     
  4. RMB

    RMB Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2016
    406
    642
    0
    Location:
    Oakland, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    While we are at this topic, my understanding is headlight surface has a layer of clear coat just like the painted surface of a car. Can we use good quality wax as "preventative maintenance:whistle:" on headlights just as we wash and wax to keep the car paint shiny? $20 wax to keep the whole car shiny (including headlight surface) is even better than $10 kit and 2 hours of muscle every 2 years LOL

    My 2014 will be 5 years old next month and started having cataracts on the driver side last year, right side is still pretty clean and clear, so anything to keep it looking and working at its best would be great!
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Not sure why, but there's this on page 406 of Owner's Manual:

    upload_2019-2-12_11-47-41.png

    Maybe concerns about abrasives??
     
    RMB likes this.
  6. SB6

    SB6 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2019
    314
    69
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Regarding the point about wax, maybe something to do with wax possibly reflecting/refracting the light? I wouldn't really think that'd be an issue though
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Still, when I see the word "damage" I figure better safe than sorry. IIRC people here have waxed, no problems. Maybe if they're already hazed it's worth trying.
     
    SB6 likes this.
  8. SB6

    SB6 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2019
    314
    69
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Ah yeah, my brain kinda glossed over the "damaged" part... But yeah I agree, if your headlights are already hazy, I don't see how applying wax after restoring can hurt
     
  9. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Some do a spray clear coat as an attempt to seal the treatment ;).

    Another thing to try (y).
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  10. Absalom

    Absalom Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2018
    42
    42
    0
    Location:
    Denver
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I tried Rustoleum 2x clear in the past on headlights. Lasted about 11 months before I was back to square one. Certainly wasn't worth all the prep.

    This time, I did 1000, 1400, 2000, PlastX, and then 2 coats of FinalKare 1000P. I'll report back if it outlasts the Rustoleum. Certainly was tons easier though!
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Which method was easier?
     
  12. Absalom

    Absalom Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2018
    42
    42
    0
    Location:
    Denver
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Oh definitely the FinalKare. No regard for overspray, application technique, etc.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  13. 04priusnow

    04priusnow Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2013
    345
    200
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I used the Meguiar's restore kit. Came with UV resistant clear coat and compound with pads. worked great. It's been about a year and still looks good.


    PH-1 ?
     
    RMB and Mendel Leisk like this.
  14. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    3M makes a head light cleaner and polish. Works great, I just do it every few washes by hand and the lights look new.
     
  15. Lightning Racer

    Lightning Racer Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2015
    239
    320
    1
    Location:
    Anchorage, Alaska
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Don't do the clear coat paint method. I tried the Rustoleum 2x, probably following a ChrisFix video. Unless you are well practiced painting with spray cans, you will probably get large drips in the clear coat. That happened to me on both sides, even with some practice between sides, hoping to do it better on the second side. Sanding the drips and clear coat off after that took three times longer than the initial sanding prep, so it was a huge waste of time. Add to that, reports from here and Scotty Kilmer, that Rustoleum 2x doesn't last a year, and that's something I'm never doing again. I recommend any of the commercial restore kits. I used the Sylvania kit, and it worked fine. Still looked perfectly clear after 3 years, though with a mostly garaged car.
     
    #35 Lightning Racer, Mar 3, 2019
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2019
    Raytheeagle likes this.