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Can headlight domes (not bulbs) be replaced?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by AJP, Oct 27, 2022.

  1. AJP

    AJP Member

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    My ‘07 Prius (which has seen 167,000 miles and just had a battery replaced) has really gotten those fogged-up looking headlights over the years. Can these assemblies be replaced? If so, how much labor is that going to be at a garage?
     
  2. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Yes, they can, if by the domes you mean the headlight housings. It doesn't take long if you've done it before, maybe half an hour. A bit longer if you need to figure it out.

    Have you thought about restoring them?
     
  3. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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  4. AJP

    AJP Member

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    What is the recommended way to restoring them? I’ve heard that most products don’t work long term.
     
  5. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    It depends on how bad they are. If they are really yellowed, you will need to sand the top layer off with varying grits of sandpaper (I prefer wet and dry) from 1500 to 3000. If not so bad, you might just be able to use some cutting compound applied with a machine buffer. This is then followed by machine polishing to restore the clarity of the lens. You can do it all by hand, you just expend more energy and it takes longer. There are plenty of YouTube videos, but watch out for the hack jobs (toothpaste, etc) – you can skip them. There is only one way to do the job and that is to do it properly.

    How long it lasts will depend on what UV protection top coat you apply. If you don't put any UV protection on top, you will need to polish them every 3-6 months with something like Turtle Wax headlight restorer to keep them clear.
     
  6. Another

    Another Senior Member

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    Try this first. Less than an hour’s labor and $14
    Amazon B01M75GUJB