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restoring tail light condition

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Old Jan 24, 2022 | 11:08 PM
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Default restoring tail light condition

Anyone know a good way to restore tail lights? I left my original ones outside and are pretty dusty and the back of them looks slightly faded but not from sun damage.

-non of them are cracked and was in pretty good shape until now.

gracias
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Old Jan 24, 2022 | 11:16 PM
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Originally Posted by My Vette Life
Anyone know a good way to restore tail lights? I left my original ones outside and are pretty dusty and the back of them looks slightly faded but not from sun damage.

-non of them are cracked and was in pretty good shape until now.

gracias
plastic polish is gentle and will make them sparkle
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Old Jan 24, 2022 | 11:17 PM
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Go with some halos

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Old Jan 24, 2022 | 11:57 PM
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Treat them like headlights- wet sand 1500, compound, buff, uv spray seal
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Old Jan 25, 2022 | 12:03 AM
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Originally Posted by MrMcE
Treat them like headlights- wet sand 1500, compound, buff, uv spray seal
Originally Posted by vette4fl
plastic polish is gentle and will make them sparkle
Any idea for the black back? it says material ABS.

I never buffed these lights before but they always looked somewhat good.

Would it be a bad idea to submerge one of them in soapy water? one light is darker on the inside due to dust.,
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Old Jan 25, 2022 | 12:03 AM
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Originally Posted by jdmvette
Go with some halos
alre4ady got em but I want to keep the original and in good condition if possible. I forgot that I had left them outside .
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Old Jan 25, 2022 | 12:24 AM
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They're just plastic, getting water in there to clean out dust is fine. Tons of people have takeoffs laying around if you don't think they're worth the effort.
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Old Jan 25, 2022 | 07:31 AM
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Might be easier and perhaps even more cost effective to find a used set in like new condition.

Putting the stock housings in water won’t hurt them - they are just plastic.
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Old Jan 25, 2022 | 04:57 PM
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Use Maguire's Ultimate compound. It is meant for paint correction, but works GREAT on the tail lights.
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Old Jan 25, 2022 | 04:59 PM
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I have cleaned many plastic tailights by putting them in the dishwasher. I take them out before it goes into the "drying" setting just to make sure the don't get exposed to too much heat. Polish them with Meguires PlastX and they will look like new inside and out.
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Old Jan 25, 2022 | 09:24 PM
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Picking up PLastic X tomorrow. Thanks!
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Old Jan 26, 2022 | 12:34 AM
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How about to take off any sticky residue?
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Old Jan 26, 2022 | 02:18 AM
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Originally Posted by my vette life
how about to take off any sticky residue?
wd40
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Old Jan 26, 2022 | 05:05 AM
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Originally Posted by My Vette Life
How about to take off any sticky residue?
WD40 or Goof Off will remove most any residue. You have to be careful what you use on plastic or you can damage the plastic and it will turn brittle and/or white.
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Old Jan 26, 2022 | 12:38 PM
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Solvent will remove the sticky. Experiment first to make sure it doesn't react with the plastic. I've used solvent on all sorts of materials, doesn't seem to affect most plastics.
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Old Jan 26, 2022 | 09:13 PM
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Originally Posted by BobR24
WD40 or Goof Off will remove most any residue. You have to be careful what you use on plastic or you can damage the plastic and it will turn brittle and/or white.
WD-40 worked great! now Its greasy so will try some alcohol .
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Old Jan 26, 2022 | 09:37 PM
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Originally Posted by My Vette Life
WD-40 worked great! now Its greasy so will try some alcohol .
DO NOT use alcohol on plastic. It can turn it white and also make it very brittle. After you get it clean then put it in the dishwasher and remove before the heat from the drying cycle comes on and let air dry.
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Old Jan 26, 2022 | 10:16 PM
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Originally Posted by BobR24
DO NOT use alcohol on plastic. It can turn it white and also make it very brittle. After you get it clean then put it in the dishwasher and remove before the heat from the drying cycle comes on and let air dry.
interesting
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Old Jan 26, 2022 | 10:19 PM
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Originally Posted by BobR24
DO NOT use alcohol on plastic. It can turn it white and also make it very brittle. After you get it clean then put it in the dishwasher and remove before the heat from the drying cycle comes on and let air dry.
soapy water will do.
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Old Jan 26, 2022 | 11:06 PM
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Originally Posted by BobR24
DO NOT use alcohol on plastic. It can turn it white and also make it very brittle. After you get it clean then put it in the dishwasher and remove before the heat from the drying cycle comes on and let air dry.
But my budget gin comes in a clear plastic bottle and it does fine
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