If your car is showing some sun or weather damage, you may also notice that the headlights are foggy. If your headlights are scratched, dull, or hazed over, it can dim the light that comes from the front of your vehicle. Seeking headlight restoration from a professional company can provide you with better safety and aesthetics combined. Layton Carcare offers headlight restoration that will help extend the life of your existing headlights. Our team has researched and perfected this process to help drivers get the most out of their headlights while keeping them safe on the road.
What Causes Foggy Headlights?
Understanding what causes foggy headlights helps you to better understand the headlight restoration process. The key cause of foggy or hazy headlights is prolonged UV exposure. Sun exposure causes the top layer of plastic to wear, deteriorate, and become foggy, which is why it is often hard to restore headlights with cleaning tactics.
Other causes of foggy headlights include:
- Oxidation
- Bugs
- Road debris
- Water vapor
- Chemicals
- Paint splatters
Headlight Restoration From Layton Carcare
Our team at Layton Carcare sees multiple vehicles with damaged or hazy headlights. We know that it is one of the most common repairs needed for a car on the Utah roads. We take a unique approach to headlight restoration that will help improve the driving experience. Before starting the restoration process, we will look at where the haze is located on the headlight. If the haze is on the surface of the light (exterior) this is the process we will follow.
Sanding Down Foggy Headlights
When restoring headlights, the top layer of plastic needs to be removed in order to help the light from the interior bulb shine through. UV rays, snow melt, hail, or corrosive cleaners can damage this top layer of plastic. Sanding will remove this damage or any buildup on the headlight. Sanding is important in headlight restoration to buff out the damage, but it can also make headlights weaker.
Applying A Protective Coating
In order to protect your headlight from further damage, we apply a protective coating that strengthens the plastic of the headlight. Not only does this add an additional layer to the headlight, but this coating also cures best under UV light. As you drive your car and the headlight sits in the sun, the coating will further harden, making the headlight much more durable rather than susceptible to that UV haziness from before.
We have found that doing this extra step helps fewer car owners come back with headlight damage and avoid the need for replacement. While flying objects and weather can still impact the look of your headlights, repeated fogginess has not been a problem for our clients.
If the haze is on the inside of your headlight, you may need to have a resealing of your headlights. Moisture or pests may have gotten inside your headlight, causing that foggy look. It may be better to replace the headlights if this is the cause of your foggy headlights.
Are Foggy Headlights Dangerous?
When your headlights are foggy, there is less light that can pass through them, causing the path in front of you to appear darker. Foggy headlights can be dangerous if not addressed because they limit your depth perception while driving. Especially in conditions with low visibility (fog, snow, hail, etc.), hazy headlights could be the difference between seeing a car in front of you and causing an accident. While most foggy headlights don’t cause accidents, they can reduce the light coming from your vehicle, which could be seen as a hazard in some conditions to other drivers.
Car Services From Our Experts
Layton Carcare believes in excellence and skilled services for all car types. We know that our experience sets us apart from other auto body shops. We are happy that our clients continue to come back to us and trust us with their vehicles. With auto repair services, auto body customizations, and additional accessories, our shop is your one-stop shop for any needs you have. Classic cars, trucks, or commuter cars can be worked on by our technicians at Layton Carcare.
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