Clay Bar and Zenki Headlights - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Maeda · 05-23-2003, 11:25 AM

Hey so I picked up a clay bar because I decided my car was TOO dirty. I clay bar-ed my car and its nice and all, and now the paint changes color on the sun like its supposed to, but I also found something neat...

If you use the bar on the yellow headlights it removes the crap! So now my headlights are almost perfectly clear!

I've tried
-toothpaste
-polish
-wax
-rubbing compound
-scratch x
-goof off

So far this has worked the best!

**mrmephistopheles** · 05-23-2003, 11:32 AM

pics?

Maeda · 05-23-2003, 11:52 AM

Pics will be included when somebody hops onto amazon and buys me a Sony Cybershot-U.

Pics of my rims, stripped interior, gauges, emanage, & turbo will also be included.

Until then, you'll just have to wait until I use up this camera and get it developed. =p

**mrmephistopheles** · 05-23-2003, 12:18 PM

boooooo
oh well. i'm glad your car looks better now!

Chernobyl · 05-23-2003, 12:21 PM

great tip, I'll try it out tomorrow! I'm always looking for something new to clean those lights with.

M.Piedlourde · 05-23-2003, 01:27 PM

Interesting.... I'll file that away in my brain under "Misc. useful knowledge about cars".

I've looked at several Zenki S14s, and I've noticed that the yellowing headlight problem is pretty common.

Maybe it's common in a lot of Nissans. My Sentra daily driver is starting to show the same symptoms. Of course, I don't really care how that car looks, so I'm not going to take the time to clean it up.

pruto · 05-23-2003, 04:36 PM

i tried it, don't see much of a difference. But it is definately smoother (touch).

of course, no matter what i do, my left headlight (brand new) will always be less yellow than my right one. So i should just stop trying, heh.

thelinja · 05-23-2003, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pruto
i tried it, don't see much of a difference. But it is definately smoother (touch).

of course, no matter what i do, my left headlight (brand new) will always be less yellow than my right one. So i should just stop trying, heh.

Yeah, my driver's side headlight is also brand new. I just tried using the clay bar on the pass. side and it looks the same, dull and yellow. I am willing to trade for a used driver's side headlight!

Maeda · 05-23-2003, 07:33 PM

I guess you guys have the yellow on the inside of the head light too =\

sorry it didnt work for you guys...

DJ Machine · 05-28-2003, 10:01 AM

Acetone made the headlights on my old T-bird crystal clear.

I used cotton pads to apply it and wipe the dirt off...be careful though, do it wrong and youll melt the plastic and get cotton stuck in it...maybe a cloth pad would be better...too late now (for me)

Acetone did the trick though

pruto · 05-28-2003, 11:59 AM

i've tried acetone, nope, i guess the yellow is in the inside as well

twitchy · 05-28-2003, 12:14 PM

if the yellow is on the inside of the bulb, remove it, spray it with Spray Nine, slosh around and whatnot, pour out, rince and repeat as needed

it works awesome for my friends, no scrubbing either

i think acetone isnt supposed to be used on plastic..

*CleanS14* · 05-28-2003, 04:06 PM

You guys with the yellow headlight problem might want to try Astro Shield. It worked for me although the yellow was only on the outside! Only thing is it costs $15 a bottle... damn too bad you guys aren't local or I'd just let you use some!

Astro Shield

gsracer · 05-29-2003, 08:27 AM

thelinja, i have a used driver side light i can trade.

thelinja · 05-29-2003, 08:49 AM

Already found one. Thanks though!

**Phlip** · 05-29-2003, 05:14 PM

I used acetone (fingernail polish remover) on mine, followed it with like 3 applications of polish and no less than 5 coats of wax behind it. worked like a charm, but you have to make sure you keep them waxed every once in a while, like when you detail your car (I do mine once a month) or it will go right back to yellow on you.

SilviaDriver · 05-29-2003, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by iEATrice
damn too bad you guys aren't local or I'd just let you use some!

im local.

SittinOnDubsWGW · 05-29-2003, 10:40 PM

I know that the 1st gen DSM's have this same problem, and wetsanding them works very well also... so you might be able to use the same technique on 240's.

I have pop-ups so i dont have that problem

*CleanS14* · 05-30-2003, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SilviaDriver
im local.

OK... let me know if you want to meet up. Just PM me. And sorry about the practice spot... I got too many PM's and won't reveal the spot since I need a place.

SittinOnDubs -- wetsanding does work, but don't forget to spray with a little clear coat after... will make it last longer... at least from my experiments!

-Jay

TK · 06-01-2003, 07:56 PM

i noticed that on a lot of 240s as well. what i've used in the past was Never Dull and it works fairly well if your headlights are not in real bad shape. you can buy a tin at pep boys for $4 and it has a bunch of swabs you just apply and wipe off

05-23-2003, 11:25 AM	#1
Maeda Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Camp Snake Bite, CA RIP Posts: 2,356 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Maeda Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Clay Bar and Zenki Headlights Hey so I picked up a clay bar because I decided my car was TOO dirty. I clay bar-ed my car and its nice and all, and now the paint changes color on the sun like its supposed to, but I also found something neat... If you use the bar on the yellow headlights it removes the crap! So now my headlights are almost perfectly clear! I've tried -toothpaste -polish -wax -rubbing compound -scratch x -goof off So far this has worked the best! __________________

05-23-2003, 11:52 AM	#3
Maeda Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Camp Snake Bite, CA RIP Posts: 2,356 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Maeda Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I spent all my money on parts, and I dont have enough for a camera! Pics will be included when somebody hops onto amazon and buys me a Sony Cybershot-U. Pics of my rims, stripped interior, gauges, emanage, & turbo will also be included. Until then, you'll just have to wait until I use up this camera and get it developed. =p __________________

05-23-2003, 04:36 PM	#7
pruto Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles Age: 43 Posts: 982 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	i tried it, don't see much of a difference. But it is definately smoother (touch). of course, no matter what i do, my left headlight (brand new) will always be less yellow than my right one. So i should just stop trying, heh. __________________ Paul Black and Red

05-23-2003, 07:33 PM	#9
Maeda Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Camp Snake Bite, CA RIP Posts: 2,356 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Maeda Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I guess you guys have the yellow on the inside of the head light too =\ sorry it didnt work for you guys... __________________

05-28-2003, 10:01 AM	#10
DJ Machine Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 549 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Acetone made the headlights on my old T-bird crystal clear. I used cotton pads to apply it and wipe the dirt off...be careful though, do it wrong and youll melt the plastic and get cotton stuck in it...maybe a cloth pad would be better...too late now (for me) Acetone did the trick though __________________

05-23-2003, 11:32 AM	#2
mrmephistopheles Magnanimous Justice Distribution Service Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: BFE Age: 23 Posts: 14,372 Trader Rating: (9) Rides Gallery: mrmephistopheles Feedback Score: 9 reviews	pics?

05-23-2003, 12:18 PM	#4
mrmephistopheles Magnanimous Justice Distribution Service Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: BFE Age: 23 Posts: 14,372 Trader Rating: (9) Rides Gallery: mrmephistopheles Feedback Score: 9 reviews	boooooo oh well. i'm glad your car looks better now!

05-23-2003, 12:21 PM	#5
Chernobyl Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Denver, CO Age: 42 Posts: 1,563 Trader Rating: (6) Feedback Score: 6 reviews	great tip, I'll try it out tomorrow! I'm always looking for something new to clean those lights with.

05-23-2003, 01:27 PM	#6
M.Piedlourde Zilvia Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: We can't stay here! This is bat country! Age: 50 Posts: 244 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Interesting.... I'll file that away in my brain under "Misc. useful knowledge about cars". I've looked at several Zenki S14s, and I've noticed that the yellowing headlight problem is pretty common. Maybe it's common in a lot of Nissans. My Sentra daily driver is starting to show the same symptoms. Of course, I don't really care how that car looks, so I'm not going to take the time to clean it up.

05-28-2003, 11:59 AM	#11
pruto Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles Age: 43 Posts: 982 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	i've tried acetone, nope, i guess the yellow is in the inside as well __________________ Paul Black and Red

05-28-2003, 12:14 PM	#12
twitchy Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ontario Posts: 1,579 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	if the yellow is on the inside of the bulb, remove it, spray it with Spray Nine, slosh around and whatnot, pour out, rince and repeat as needed it works awesome for my friends, no scrubbing either i think acetone isnt supposed to be used on plastic.. __________________ Who the hell needs a sig anyhow

05-28-2003, 04:06 PM	#13
CleanS14 it's NOT a show car!! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,967 Trader Rating: (7) Rides Gallery: CleanS14 Feedback Score: 7 reviews	You guys with the yellow headlight problem might want to try Astro Shield. It worked for me although the yellow was only on the outside! Only thing is it costs $15 a bottle... damn too bad you guys aren't local or I'd just let you use some! Astro Shield __________________ NAKAMA \| ROOTS RUN DEEP

05-29-2003, 08:27 AM	#14
gsracer Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami Age: 41 Posts: 1,590 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	thelinja, i have a used driver side light i can trade.

05-29-2003, 08:49 AM	#15
thelinja Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,466 Trader Rating: (3) Rides Gallery: thelinja Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Already found one. Thanks though!

05-29-2003, 05:14 PM	#16
Phlip Yes, I look like that Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In my supervillain's lair Posts: 27,980 Trader Rating: (19) Rides Gallery: Phlip Feedback Score: 19 reviews	I used acetone (fingernail polish remover) on mine, followed it with like 3 applications of polish and no less than 5 coats of wax behind it. worked like a charm, but you have to make sure you keep them waxed every once in a while, like when you detail your car (I do mine once a month) or it will go right back to yellow on you. __________________ Weirdo And I write too!

05-29-2003, 10:40 PM	#18
SittinOnDubsWGW Zilvia Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: AZ Posts: 199 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I know that the 1st gen DSM's have this same problem, and wetsanding them works very well also... so you might be able to use the same technique on 240's. I have pop-ups so i dont have that problem

06-01-2003, 07:56 PM	#20
TK Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: socal Age: 44 Posts: 304 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i noticed that on a lot of 240s as well. what i've used in the past was Never Dull and it works fairly well if your headlights are not in real bad shape. you can buy a tin at pep boys for $4 and it has a bunch of swabs you just apply and wipe off