Any parts in a modern car are subject to severe wear, and sometimes these elements can fail even before their resource. This fate also affects car headlights. In them, a reflector is considered a particularly delicate detail. If the damage level is insignificant, and the part only slightly faded or burned out, then it is possible to restore the headlight reflector with your own hands. This will not cause any particular difficulties.
Why rebuild?
When the reflectors are dim, this leads to a deterioration in the performance of automotive optics. Do not try to ignore this situation. Indeed, the visibility and safety of the driver of a car depends on the quality lighting of the roadway.
It is also impossible to find reflectors that are suitable for replacement. And new headlights are too expensive. Therefore, the best option is home restoration of the headlight reflector.
Types of reflectors
Car lights have a fairly simple design. So, this product consists of a lamp and a reflector. The first one cannot adequately illuminate a section of the road. For this, they use reflectors that help to create a luminous flux from the rays. For high performance optics, this part must be in good condition.
The design and capabilities of a particular optical model distinguish the following types of these parts:
- Parabolic.
- Bifocal.
- Confocious.
- Polyellipsoidal.
Causes of headlight reflector damage
Over time, the condition of the reflector coating may deteriorate, then restoration of the headlight reflector will be required.
The integrity and specularity of the coating may be impaired due to a number of reasons. Often this can be due to physical impact, with a violation of tightness, moisture. In addition, temperature differences can affect the quality of the optics.
Experts do not recommend the use of incandescent lamps with inappropriate power indicators. This can significantly disrupt the operation of optics. If the requirements are not met, the surface simply burns out, and then you need to restore the mirror coating of the headlight reflector.
Naturally, it is much easier to replace the part, however, you can find a suitable spare part only at car analysis. Recovery is the best solution to this issue. Using this process, you can achieve greater efficiency of the reflector and its resource.
Among the simplest, most effective and most popular solutions, you can apply the following actions:
- Restoring the coating of the headlight reflector using metallic tape.
- Use foil and epoxy glue.
- Application of the Oracal 325 or Oracal 351 mirror film.
- The use of chrome paint.
Method number 1
Before starting the recovery process itself, it is necessary to dismantle and disassemble the headlight completely. Then the structure must be warmed up so that the sealant loses all its properties and characteristics. Then all the elements of the headlight can be separated from each other. Reviews say: to warm up the optics, it is better to use an ordinary oven. And if there is a building hair dryer, you can use it. In the case of the oven, 30 minutes at a temperature of 75 degrees will be enough.
Next, the direct restoration of the headlight reflector begins.
All work will be done using metallized tape. Only this material is distinguished by all the necessary characteristics and perfectly sticks to the surface of the reflector.
First we measure, and then cut off the pieces necessary for work. You need to cut in a form that is most suitable for the reflector. Then the surface of the reflector must be degreased and then you can proceed to sticking the individual elements. Further, the corrugated part is best coated with chrome.
Method number 2
The restoration of the headlight reflector by this method will be carried out using metal foil and epoxy glue.
So, as a result, the product will have high strength, and the service life will also increase significantly. It is worth saying that this method has one significant minus - the glue dries for a very long time.
Initially, all dismantling and preparatory work is performed. Then a pattern of paper is made. After that, pieces of foil are cut off and glued to the products. That's all.
Method number 3
This recovery method uses mirror film. Motorists talk about the high efficiency and effectiveness of the method. For this method, any film is suitable. But the product from Orakal No. 351 and 352 copes best with this task.
This mirror film is made of polyester. This material also has all the necessary properties and has good reflectivity. In addition, these films are not subject to deformation and wear. In order to perform the restoration of the headlight reflector at home, it is necessary to dismantle, disassemble, clean and degrease the working surface of the reflector.
Then, using a tape, make a pattern. Based on the layout, a film is drawn and cut. The strips are glued using a building hair dryer. After gluing, the film must be smoothed. A building hair dryer can help. Corrugated parts can be painted with chrome from the spray can.
Restoring the headlight reflector with paint
Reviews say that this procedure will be effective only if the reflector is a little dull or cloudy. If the reflector is covered with cracks, the surface is oxidized or swollen, then using paints the problem cannot be solved.
First, thoroughly clean the inside of the reflector. Reviews say that for the effect you can use microfiber and white spirit or kerosene. It is very important to remember that it is unacceptable to use any other types of solvents or alcohol. This may adversely affect reflector performance.
So, then you need to heat the mirror to 40-50 degrees. This is done with a hairdryer, or the reflector is heated in a thermal cabinet. Next, spray Motip Clear Vanish over the entire surface. This is a special varnish. It is very important that the spraying process takes place in one go.
Next, it is necessary to withstand the reflector for about 2-3 minutes in air.
In this case, you need to constantly monitor the situation so that there are no drips. Then the reflector, covered with a layer of varnish, is again placed in the cabinet for several hours. It is necessary that the paint for the restoration of headlight reflectors is thoroughly dried. This will take no more than 5 hours. At the last stage, the headlamp is assembled. Motorists' reviews recommend using a new sealant for assembly, since the old one no longer has the necessary properties.
Professional headlight restoration
If none of the above methods helped, then you should contact the professionals. Today, many service stations are ready to offer the motorist this service. In the professional restoration of reflectors do not use film or paint. For this, restoration of the headlight reflector by vacuum spraying is used. This process requires the availability of certain equipment. Therefore, it is very difficult to carry out in a garage. Even if you can restore the mirror coating at home in this way, then it is ineffective.
Reviews say that galvanized chrome is ineffective because it is decorative.
Especially considering that the price of a headlight reflector is by no means small (5 thousand rubles), it is much more efficient to use one of the described methods.
In general, a serious investment of funds and efforts is not required to restore the state of reflectors. The main thing in this business is to acquire high-quality materials and fully follow the instructions provided. And then everything will surely work out.