On my 2001 Stratus I have noticed that my headlights aren't crystal clear anymore. They aren't yellow but look a little hazy. Anyone else have this problem or know what to do to make them look clear again?

 

I had an argument with dealer who sold me my 01 R/T coupe over the same issue. He basically told me they'd clear up in the spring, so there's nothing to worry about. I knew he was lieing when I looked up the price to replace it myself... he just didn't want to eat the cost, I'm guessing.

 

does it appear to be on the inside, or outside? have you tried using a buffing or polishing compound?

 

if they are plastic headlights, I would recommend using some high grit sandpaper, like a 200 or even a 500. I bought 2 sheets of the stuff and just had at it. I took it straight out of my car, and ran water over it while sanding it. I was able to get rid of most of the clouding, but I just wasn't happy. I got curious to see what else might do it. Believe it or not, I used some Vim, the white liquid stuff for washing walls and bathrooms. It has a bit of grit in it, sorta like toothpaste. That did the trick and my headlights look damned near new. If that doesn't work for you, you could try to get a glass headlight instead of the plastic. Glass doesn't cloud over like plastic does.

 

I know that on mine it appears to be a matter of a bad seal where the clear and black are sealed together. Moisture seems to have gotten in there and it won't go away. Even after driving w/ lights on for five hours (christmas)... the dealer said that'd help to clear it up. Yes, rubbing compound and buffing have been tried.

 

if moisture has gotten in there and re-sealed itself, it'll be mighty difficult for it to get out of there on its own. You might have to take the sucker apart to get at it. The way that the Neon headlight is constructed is that it can be taken apart if you heat the headlight and you can pull it apart when the rubber melts. You'll just need to re-seal it with some silicon once you go to put it back together.

If the headlight is truly scratched, and you've tried buffing with no success, then you might have to buy a new set to rectify the problem. Glass is the way to go for the longest clarity, because they don't cloud like plastic ones do.

 

the stratus headlights are the same way...people have taken them apart by heating them first...

 

Don't take them apart or use sand paper. The yellowish haze is on the outside, its from the elements beating on the headlamp lenses. There is an optical polishing kit available at most major autoparts stores for polishing the headlampsback to clear condition.

 

In question of applying Vim, what did you use as an applicator? I'd like to try and recreate your 'experiment' to get the scratches off the outside so I can see if that helps... although I am certain that my problem is moisture.