Questions about Caravan/Voyager headlights

A customer of mine gave me a Grand Voyager, and the headlights were all
yellowed. I cleaned them and buffed them, but they never quite came back.
He offered to buy the van back from me, so I just gave it back to him.

A couple weeks ago, I had a trade in of another Grand Voyager, EXACLTY the
same as the other, excepth this is AWD. After looking it over, I
discovered it was hit; it has an aftermarket fender and a nice new
headlight on the driver's side.

The passenger's side is yellowed. I cleaned it, but didn't buff it, and
noticed there was something like a film clinging to the headlight. I got
out a razor and scraped it off. It appeared to be ClearCoat!!!

Now, does Chrysler coat these headlights with some kind of 'optical'
coating, and if so, how can it be replaced?

Also, how do I aim the headlights on these things? Both headlights are set
so an oncoming motorist gets an eyeful even at low beam. I noticed on the
driver's side what appears to be the adjuster to move it back and forth,
but can't find up/down. Any ideas?

After you scraped off the 'clear-coat' was the headlight lens usable again?

This is a big problem with the plastic headlight lens on Chrysler mini-vans.
My '98 GC has so little light output its pitiful. I contacted Chrysler who
said the only way to fix this is to replace the entire headlight assembly on
both sides.

Jon


"HachiRoku" > wrote in message
news:T3zod.5610$hJ6.1372@trndny01...
> A customer of mine gave me a Grand Voyager, and the headlights were all
> yellowed. I cleaned them and buffed them, but they never quite came back.
> He offered to buy the van back from me, so I just gave it back to him.
>
> A couple weeks ago, I had a trade in of another Grand Voyager, EXACLTY the
> same as the other, excepth this is AWD. After looking it over, I
> discovered it was hit; it has an aftermarket fender and a nice new
> headlight on the driver's side.
>
> The passenger's side is yellowed. I cleaned it, but didn't buff it, and
> noticed there was something like a film clinging to the headlight. I got
> out a razor and scraped it off. It appeared to be ClearCoat!!!
>
> Now, does Chrysler coat these headlights with some kind of 'optical'
> coating, and if so, how can it be replaced?
>
> Also, how do I aim the headlights on these things? Both headlights are set
> so an oncoming motorist gets an eyeful even at low beam. I noticed on the
> driver's side what appears to be the adjuster to move it back and forth,
> but can't find up/down. Any ideas?

After you scraped off the 'clear-coat' was the headlight lens usable again?

This is a big problem with the plastic headlight lens on Chrysler mini-vans.
My '98 GC has so little light output its pitiful. I contacted Chrysler who
said the only way to fix this is to replace the entire headlight assembly on
both sides.

Jon


"HachiRoku" > wrote in message
news:T3zod.5610$hJ6.1372@trndny01...
> A customer of mine gave me a Grand Voyager, and the headlights were all
> yellowed. I cleaned them and buffed them, but they never quite came back.
> He offered to buy the van back from me, so I just gave it back to him.
>
> A couple weeks ago, I had a trade in of another Grand Voyager, EXACLTY the
> same as the other, excepth this is AWD. After looking it over, I
> discovered it was hit; it has an aftermarket fender and a nice new
> headlight on the driver's side.
>
> The passenger's side is yellowed. I cleaned it, but didn't buff it, and
> noticed there was something like a film clinging to the headlight. I got
> out a razor and scraped it off. It appeared to be ClearCoat!!!
>
> Now, does Chrysler coat these headlights with some kind of 'optical'
> coating, and if so, how can it be replaced?
>
> Also, how do I aim the headlights on these things? Both headlights are set
> so an oncoming motorist gets an eyeful even at low beam. I noticed on the
> driver's side what appears to be the adjuster to move it back and forth,
> but can't find up/down. Any ideas?

"Zeppo" > wrote in message
...
| After you scraped off the 'clear-coat' was the headlight lens usable again?
|
| This is a big problem with the plastic headlight lens on Chrysler mini-vans.
| My '98 GC has so little light output its pitiful. I contacted Chrysler who
| said the only way to fix this is to replace the entire headlight assembly on
| both sides.
|
| Jon
|

My '97 Grand isn't too yellowed/hazy yet...but I need to polish them every 4-5
months or so to keep them in reasonable shape. The "clear coat" is starting to
chip off of the top edge/surface I've started to notice. Chrysler can do
better with their headlamp lenses, that's for sure!!!

"Zeppo" > wrote in message
...
| After you scraped off the 'clear-coat' was the headlight lens usable again?
|
| This is a big problem with the plastic headlight lens on Chrysler mini-vans.
| My '98 GC has so little light output its pitiful. I contacted Chrysler who
| said the only way to fix this is to replace the entire headlight assembly on
| both sides.
|
| Jon
|

My '97 Grand isn't too yellowed/hazy yet...but I need to polish them every 4-5
months or so to keep them in reasonable shape. The "clear coat" is starting to
chip off of the top edge/surface I've started to notice. Chrysler can do
better with their headlamp lenses, that's for sure!!!

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 15:38:49 -0500, Zeppo wrote:

> After you scraped off the 'clear-coat' was the headlight lens usable again?
>
> This is a big problem with the plastic headlight lens on Chrysler mini-vans.
> My '98 GC has so little light output its pitiful. I contacted Chrysler who
> said the only way to fix this is to replace the entire headlight assembly on
> both sides.
>
> Jon

Well, I buffed it and it is fairly clear. I also did this with the last
one I had that the coating was gone on both headlights and the light
output was acceptable. But I am afraid I am going to have to replace it.
Luckily I have a business contact that has three of these things, all I
have to do is go grab whatever I want.

>
>
> "HachiRoku" > wrote in message
> news:T3zod.5610$hJ6.1372@trndny01...
>> A customer of mine gave me a Grand Voyager, and the headlights were all
>> yellowed. I cleaned them and buffed them, but they never quite came back.
>> He offered to buy the van back from me, so I just gave it back to him.
>>
>> A couple weeks ago, I had a trade in of another Grand Voyager, EXACLTY the
>> same as the other, excepth this is AWD. After looking it over, I
>> discovered it was hit; it has an aftermarket fender and a nice new
>> headlight on the driver's side.
>>
>> The passenger's side is yellowed. I cleaned it, but didn't buff it, and
>> noticed there was something like a film clinging to the headlight. I got
>> out a razor and scraped it off. It appeared to be ClearCoat!!!
>>
>> Now, does Chrysler coat these headlights with some kind of 'optical'
>> coating, and if so, how can it be replaced?
>>
>> Also, how do I aim the headlights on these things? Both headlights are set
>> so an oncoming motorist gets an eyeful even at low beam. I noticed on the
>> driver's side what appears to be the adjuster to move it back and forth,
>> but can't find up/down. Any ideas?

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 15:38:49 -0500, Zeppo wrote:

> After you scraped off the 'clear-coat' was the headlight lens usable again?
>
> This is a big problem with the plastic headlight lens on Chrysler mini-vans.
> My '98 GC has so little light output its pitiful. I contacted Chrysler who
> said the only way to fix this is to replace the entire headlight assembly on
> both sides.
>
> Jon

Well, I buffed it and it is fairly clear. I also did this with the last
one I had that the coating was gone on both headlights and the light
output was acceptable. But I am afraid I am going to have to replace it.
Luckily I have a business contact that has three of these things, all I
have to do is go grab whatever I want.

>
>
> "HachiRoku" > wrote in message
> news:T3zod.5610$hJ6.1372@trndny01...
>> A customer of mine gave me a Grand Voyager, and the headlights were all
>> yellowed. I cleaned them and buffed them, but they never quite came back.
>> He offered to buy the van back from me, so I just gave it back to him.
>>
>> A couple weeks ago, I had a trade in of another Grand Voyager, EXACLTY the
>> same as the other, excepth this is AWD. After looking it over, I
>> discovered it was hit; it has an aftermarket fender and a nice new
>> headlight on the driver's side.
>>
>> The passenger's side is yellowed. I cleaned it, but didn't buff it, and
>> noticed there was something like a film clinging to the headlight. I got
>> out a razor and scraped it off. It appeared to be ClearCoat!!!
>>
>> Now, does Chrysler coat these headlights with some kind of 'optical'
>> coating, and if so, how can it be replaced?
>>
>> Also, how do I aim the headlights on these things? Both headlights are set
>> so an oncoming motorist gets an eyeful even at low beam. I noticed on the
>> driver's side what appears to be the adjuster to move it back and forth,
>> but can't find up/down. Any ideas?

Be thankful you have the lens. On many Chevy's the lens's are falling off.

KS

"Zeppo" > wrote in message
...
> After you scraped off the 'clear-coat' was the headlight lens usable
> again?
>
> This is a big problem with the plastic headlight lens on Chrysler
> mini-vans.
> My '98 GC has so little light output its pitiful. I contacted Chrysler who
> said the only way to fix this is to replace the entire headlight assembly
> on
> both sides.
>
> Jon
>
>
> "HachiRoku" > wrote in message
> news:T3zod.5610$hJ6.1372@trndny01...
>> A customer of mine gave me a Grand Voyager, and the headlights were all
>> yellowed. I cleaned them and buffed them, but they never quite came back.
>> He offered to buy the van back from me, so I just gave it back to him.
>>
>> A couple weeks ago, I had a trade in of another Grand Voyager, EXACLTY
>> the
>> same as the other, excepth this is AWD. After looking it over, I
>> discovered it was hit; it has an aftermarket fender and a nice new
>> headlight on the driver's side.
>>
>> The passenger's side is yellowed. I cleaned it, but didn't buff it, and
>> noticed there was something like a film clinging to the headlight. I got
>> out a razor and scraped it off. It appeared to be ClearCoat!!!
>>
>> Now, does Chrysler coat these headlights with some kind of 'optical'
>> coating, and if so, how can it be replaced?
>>
>> Also, how do I aim the headlights on these things? Both headlights are
>> set
>> so an oncoming motorist gets an eyeful even at low beam. I noticed on the
>> driver's side what appears to be the adjuster to move it back and forth,
>> but can't find up/down. Any ideas?
>
>

Be thankful you have the lens. On many Chevy's the lens's are falling off.

KS

"Zeppo" > wrote in message
...
> After you scraped off the 'clear-coat' was the headlight lens usable
> again?
>
> This is a big problem with the plastic headlight lens on Chrysler
> mini-vans.
> My '98 GC has so little light output its pitiful. I contacted Chrysler who
> said the only way to fix this is to replace the entire headlight assembly
> on
> both sides.
>
> Jon
>
>
> "HachiRoku" > wrote in message
> news:T3zod.5610$hJ6.1372@trndny01...
>> A customer of mine gave me a Grand Voyager, and the headlights were all
>> yellowed. I cleaned them and buffed them, but they never quite came back.
>> He offered to buy the van back from me, so I just gave it back to him.
>>
>> A couple weeks ago, I had a trade in of another Grand Voyager, EXACLTY
>> the
>> same as the other, excepth this is AWD. After looking it over, I
>> discovered it was hit; it has an aftermarket fender and a nice new
>> headlight on the driver's side.
>>
>> The passenger's side is yellowed. I cleaned it, but didn't buff it, and
>> noticed there was something like a film clinging to the headlight. I got
>> out a razor and scraped it off. It appeared to be ClearCoat!!!
>>
>> Now, does Chrysler coat these headlights with some kind of 'optical'
>> coating, and if so, how can it be replaced?
>>
>> Also, how do I aim the headlights on these things? Both headlights are
>> set
>> so an oncoming motorist gets an eyeful even at low beam. I noticed on the
>> driver's side what appears to be the adjuster to move it back and forth,
>> but can't find up/down. Any ideas?
>
>

My 92 Caravan is pretty pitiful too...I think on high-beam it might be
getting close to the brightness and distance of the low-beams on my Isuzu
Trooper... :-) It gets driven mainly around town where it's light and
usually during the day (it's the daily driver, not the weekend warrior).
Surprisingly, it passes inspection, so I just keep driving it as-is. :-) I
may have to try this polish trick to see if it helps though - what do you
guys use to shine them up?

Wesley


"James C. Reeves" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Zeppo" > wrote in message
> ...
> | After you scraped off the 'clear-coat' was the headlight lens usable
again?
> |
> | This is a big problem with the plastic headlight lens on Chrysler
mini-vans.
> | My '98 GC has so little light output its pitiful. I contacted Chrysler
who
> | said the only way to fix this is to replace the entire headlight
assembly on
> | both sides.
> |
> | Jon
> |
>
> My '97 Grand isn't too yellowed/hazy yet...but I need to polish them every
4-5
> months or so to keep them in reasonable shape. The "clear coat" is
starting to
> chip off of the top edge/surface I've started to notice. Chrysler can do
> better with their headlamp lenses, that's for sure!!!
>
>