You will find that many cars today will have bulbs that are going to be covered with a polycarbonate lens. This is a durable plastic material that will last longer than regular glass in the conditions. If you have this part of the headlight cracked or broken, it can be a pretty penny to get it replaced.
However, there are a few ways that you can smooth out the crack and fix the headlight. Let us talk about a few things you can do to fix your cracked and/or broken headlight.
The first thing you are going to want to do is to make sure the lens is clean. The foot is especially important. You can use any type of cleaning agent designed for vehicles. If you leave dirt on your headlight, the gravel and dirt can scratch the lens.
You will want to make sure to wax the area around your headlight as well. This will ensure that nothing falls onto your headlight. Be sure not to get any wax on your headlight. You want to avoid wax on the lens.
You want to make sure that the area around your headlight is protected. If you have specific features such as chrome trim, remove this. You will remove anything around the headlight before starting your job.
You will then grab a tape that is good with cars. Blue painting tape is good and works with the paint on cars. Make sure you are taping the headlight area off from the rest of the vehicle. You want to make sure the tape is going to peel easily and not damage the paint on your vehicle.
You are going to begin wet sanding. This is where there will be several different sandpapers used. You will have exceptionally fine course papers. It is important that you remember that when sandpaper is picked the higher the number, the finer the paper.
You will use water because it slides over the headlight easier. Make sure that when you are sanding you are going from one side to the other. You will do this to the entire lens.
You will want to find exceptionally fine sandpaper. You will want about 3,000. However, you must work your way up to that point. When you are sanding, make sure that when you switch grits, you are working at a right angle from where you left off. Make sure that you are using the right amount of water when doing this process.
You will now want to make sure that the headlight is polished. It is best to use a microfiber cloth for this. The shine will be back in your lights and large and deep scratches will be gone. You will want to wax the lens as well to help protect it from future cracks or scratches.
For those cracks that are bad or areas that are larger and broken, you can use clear silicone. This will help seal the crack and area. You will then follow the wet sanding process and everything after. Make sure that you are always wiping away excess silicone.
You should make sure that this sets for at least eight hours. However, the longer it sits, the better.
We are going to take a look at some questions that are asked about headlights. These are some of the most frequent questions that revolve around headlights and broken items. Let us look into some questions that you may have.
If your headlight is badly broken or cracked, you may have to simply get a new one, however, how much is that? Headlights can be anywhere from one hundred dollars and up. It all depends on what vehicle you have.
Not to mention, it may be difficult to find a complete headlight for some vehicles. If you are looking for a complete headlight, it is best to visit a mechanic near you. They are going to have the best idea on where to get a headlight for the best price.
Many people have had issues where their headlight is broken. However, can you drive with it that way? Yes, you can drive while a headlight is broken as long as the light works. However, if there is a crack in the headlight, you will want to fix it as soon as possible to avoid moisture getting into the module.
While you can drive with a broken headlight, it is still best that you fix the problem. It is not something that you want to have an issue with later on down the road.
It is also important that if your headlight works at night, it may not be as bright as it once was. Plus, if there is a crack, the light may go out of the unit differently. This could cause you to gain attention from authorities.
However, if you get pulled over for your broken headlight, they will advise you to fix it. They will give you a time frame to fix it as well.
It is advised that you do not drive a vehicle with a broken or cracked headlight at night because the light is going out of the unit improperly. This means that it could be shining people and blinding them, or they cannot see you.
If you find condensation in your headlight and you can see it from the front, there is a crack somewhere. The moisture is finding its way into the unit. This means that you should look and ensure that there are no cracks. Take the time to carefully look over your headlight unit. Find the crack and use the above methods to help fix it.
Some companies will offer services to help with the condensation in your headlight. However, you will need to do research to find companies in your area that help you fix condensation in your headlights.
If you have a vehicle that needs lights, you likely want to know how often you will have to replace them. While you are messing with your headlights, it is important to know that the life of the bulb is going to vary. It will depend on how often you use the vehicle and what bulb you use. Each bulb on the vehicle is different and will last differently than other bulbs.
If you are already messing with your headlights, you might be asking if you should upgrade your bulbs. If you have lights that are dull, you may decide that a different bulb is the best thing you can do. This will help you see better at night.
Plus, you are already over there, why not fix it. When you fix the whole unit, it will feel like brand new lights were installed on the vehicle.
If your headlight goes out, you do not have to change the entire casing. If it is the bulb that is the problem, simply replace the bulb. You will know that the casing is the problem if the bulb is new, and it does not work. The casing is the wiring that harnesses the bulb. If this is not properly installed or is broken, your lights may not work properly.
If you take care of your vehicle and are a careful driver, you generally do not have to worry about a cracked headlight. However, accidents happen. All you can do is make sure that you are taking care of your vehicle properly when things happen. Taking the time to properly fix your headlight is going to save you a lot of money.
Having a headlight that is cracked is a nuisance and you should be able to fix it yourself, however, you do not always have the means. This is when you should take it in. Always make sure your headlights are working properly so that you can use your vehicle when you need it.
While most of the time, they are not cracked terribly, they are going to be annoying. You will notice that the lighting is going to be different at night and this could be annoying. That is why you should fix it as soon as possible.
Your vehicle is important, and you have worked hard for what you have. Nothing is worse than having a cracked or broken headlight. We have gone over how you can fix that in a few simple steps.
We have also presented a couple of commonly asked questions that are related to the headlight. Thank you for taking the time to read this article and we hope that you found it helpful.
