If your front head light and fog lights on your Mazda don’t look crystal clear anymore and look like they have been covered with wax paper, then it may be time to clean them. Front lights are crucial for safety; especially when driving at night. Thankfully, you can clean them on your own. It will help you keep them looking new (which is awesome if you want to trade your Mazda in at some point).
Do you want to learn how to clean your front lights? Check out the following tips to help you keep your fog lights and head lights looking like new.
Getting Started
When cleaning your front lights, the first thing you will want to do is to inspect them so that you know exactly which approach to take. If you notice that your headlights are a little hazy, you will want to inspect them in the daylight (both on and off) to figure out the extent of the damage. This will help you determine whether they need to be examined professionally or if your headlights need to be replaced. You will also be looking for major scratches or abrasions that could signal something more serious.
Wash your front lights with car soap
If your Mazda is plagued with the usual road grime and grit, this can make analysis quite difficult. Therefore, before you begin looking for issues; simply wash your front lights with car wash soap and warm water. After they have dried, you must look for any specific issues.
Are your front lights hazy?
Haziness occurs when the hard coat on your lights has worn off which allows the soft polycarbonate that is underneath to be exposed. If this is the issue, performing a quick clean will effectively slow down the degeneration of your headlights. However, it is important to note that a more comprehensive cleaning may be needed.
Yellow Front Lights?
Yellowing occurs when the hard coat begins to thin out and is losing adhesion to the polycarbonate lens. The UV wavelength spectrum creates a reaction in the carbonic chain which will allow for the absorption of blue light. The end result of this is a yellowish tint to your lights. If this is the case, you will need to perform a more comprehensive cleaning. This can be done with Rain-X or a polishing compound which will help clean your front lights and correct the damage that was caused.
Cracks and Peeling?
When the hard coat on your front lights begins to deteriorate, spotting will begin to occur in certain areas; like the corners or the upper region. In addition, it may look as if the hard coat is peeling or flaking off. This will eventually lead to deep cracks in the lens which means that your headlights/fog lights will need to be professionally resurfaced or replaced. In the meantime, you can clean them up as much as you can. Use the above method while you begin to price new lights.
Are your front lights made out of glass?
The front lights on the majority of vehicles are made out of plastic and will display the symptoms described above. However, glass headlights are found on older models which makes cleaning them more complicated. These types of lights should be examined by service professionals. Therefore, if your glass headlights are showing signs of wear, take them in and have them checked.
Are you in the Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and/or Norfolk area and want your front lights professionally cleaned? Stop by Cavalier Mazda today to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
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