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Posted: 5/8/2022 8:58:09 AM EDT
2002 (although I think I have better luck with parts if I call it a 2001.......manufactured 10/2001) Dodge Ram 2500 quad cab pickup. Truck came frum TX and the headlight lenses are beyond repair, buffing out. Do I need to puchase the entire assembly, or can I just replace the lenses?
If I need the entire assemblies, what would look decent on an old truck like this? Thanks for any help.  
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Posted: 5/8/2022 9:03:48 AM EDT
[#1]
You can get a whole new assembly for about $25 from RockAuto.
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Posted: 5/8/2022 9:06:24 AM EDT
[#2]
Sam’s club was doing repairs for $25 per light at one point
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Posted: 5/8/2022 9:08:53 AM EDT
[#3]
Whole housing from Rock Auto
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Posted: 5/8/2022 9:11:31 AM EDT
[#4]
thanks. I'll go check out rockauto. Forgot about them.
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Posted: 5/8/2022 9:34:15 AM EDT
[#5]
They don’t look beyond buffing out to me, but I’d second rock auto as a supplier.
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Posted: 5/8/2022 9:37:53 AM EDT
[#6]
buff em out
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Posted: 5/8/2022 10:11:52 AM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted: buff em out This. The yellowing is only the coating they put on the lens. |
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Posted: 5/8/2022 11:43:24 AM EDT
[#8]
Do some YouTube searches on using bug repellent with Deet to clean up the lenses.
I have done on a few cars, and it works pretty good for about six months or so. |
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Posted: 5/8/2022 12:25:45 PM EDT
[#9]
Man, just get new ones
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Posted: 5/8/2022 5:19:25 PM EDT
[#10]
I was going to go into a whole thing of polishing and clear coat and what not. Then I decided, let's look on rockauto. Its $25-40 for a headlight. Jesus. Just get 2 new ones.
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Posted: 5/8/2022 5:25:52 PM EDT
[#11]
Top gear has smoked lenses for $170.
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Posted: 5/8/2022 5:30:18 PM EDT
[#12]
The lenses on my wife's Volvo were crusty and yellow.
This kit took me about 45 minutes to do both lenses. They look brand new. I should have taken before and after pics. I was stunned by how great they look. You can find it for about $20 at Walmart. https://mothers.com/products/nulens-headlight-renewal-kit-with-powerball-4lights-07251 
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Posted: 5/8/2022 5:42:59 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Man, just get new ones |
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Posted: 5/8/2022 6:10:39 PM EDT
[#14]
As a second gen dodge owner myself. Just buy new ones. All the aftermarket ones I checked out seem to be junk. The headlights suck anyway on the second gets. Check out the retrofit source, and pick up a set of bulbs from them. Whatever flavor you like. They aren't cheap, but the are brighter with beater dispersion than the factory bulbs.
 Attached File |
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Posted: 5/9/2022 12:34:00 PM EDT
[#15]
Cerakote has a great kit. Easy to use
Eta. Its a few wipes, light wet sand, another finnish wipe and done. |
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Posted: 5/9/2022 2:37:00 PM EDT
[#16]
Long term - buy new lenses
Short term - rub out with McGuires Ultimate Compound (or toothpaste) and coat with a wax |
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Posted: 5/9/2022 2:44:52 PM EDT
[#17]
Don't buff. It won't last. The key is actually removing the haze. Wet sand with like 600, then 800, then 1000 grit until they are clear then hit them with a UV resistent clear coat out of a spray can.
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Posted: 5/10/2022 2:04:14 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: As a second gen dodge owner myself. Just buy new ones. All the aftermarket ones I checked out seem to be junk. The headlights suck anyway on the second gets. Check out the retrofit source, and pick up a set of bulbs from them. Whatever flavor you like. They aren't cheap, but the are brighter with beater dispersion than the factory bulbs. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/349755/20211102_180719_jpg-2376814.JPG +1 Don’t waste your time trying salvage them. Sport headlights with a conversion harness do make a big difference but I’m at the point I will probably do projector lens conversions because I’m tired of not being able to see worth a damn. < driven a 2nd Gen Dodge since 1996 |
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Posted: 5/13/2022 10:59:13 PM EDT
[#19]
Wet sanding is easy. The key part is clear coating the lens after its clear. The wipes in the kits don’t last. Clear coat, as in clear automotive paint.
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Posted: 5/13/2022 11:28:51 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Cerakote has a great kit. Easy to use Eta. Its a few wipes, light wet sand, another finnish wipe and done. This. $16.99. Worked great on my 05 'burb. Guy at car dealership told me vinegar rubbed in, then vigorous wiping with Deet bug spray works good. |
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Posted: 5/13/2022 11:54:49 PM EDT
[#21]
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Posted: 5/14/2022 12:11:20 AM EDT
[#22]
On a Second Gen, I would just replace.
The sun is horrible on plastic up here at high altitude. I've had really good luck with Mother's headlight restoration kits, and then coating with Mequire's UV clear coat headlight coating afterwards on modern plastic lenses. I get about two years out of a polish job when I use the UV spray now. |
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Posted: 5/14/2022 1:13:55 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Do some YouTube searches on using bug repellent with Deet to clean up the lenses. I have done on a few cars, and it works pretty good for about six months or so. Spray with clear coat after |
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Posted: 5/14/2022 1:21:45 AM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Cerakote has a great kit. Easy to use Eta. Its a few wipes, light wet sand, another finnish wipe and done. I bought this on Afcoms recommendation. Worked good. But in OPs case, new housing looks doable. |
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Posted: 5/14/2022 12:17:36 PM EDT
[#25]
Easy way and best long term, new housing. You could wet sand and clear coat them though. Did it on my Sierra and it turned out pretty well.
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Posted: 5/20/2022 8:46:50 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted: As a second gen dodge owner myself. Just buy new ones. All the aftermarket ones I checked out seem to be junk. The headlights suck anyway on the second gets. Check out the retrofit source, and pick up a set of bulbs from them. Whatever flavor you like. They aren't cheap, but the are brighter with beater dispersion than the factory bulbs. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/349755/20211102_180719_jpg-2376814.JPG Love the tag |
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Posted: 5/20/2022 9:59:36 PM EDT
[#27]
I used this last summer. They still look great.
 Attached File |
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Posted: 5/22/2022 10:18:39 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Cerakote has a great kit. Easy to use Eta. Its a few wipes, light wet sand, another finnish wipe and done. Yep, used a $12 kit off Amazon on my 2000 Ram. Took about 20 minutes per side and they look like new. |
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Posted: 5/24/2022 1:49:30 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Don't buff. It won't last. The key is actually removing the haze. Wet sand with like 600, then 800, then 1000 grit until they are clear then hit them with a UV resistent clear coat out of a spray can. This is what I do, and it usually gets me about 3 years. |
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Posted: 5/24/2022 11:15:40 PM EDT
[#30]
As I said earlier - stock fluted lens Dodge headlights suck when they are brand new, don’t waste your time & money trying to polish them because they will still suck.
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