Grand Cherokee Headlight hazing/cloudy/foggy

Tradarcher

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Creedmoor, NC
Already polished them once. Would like to replace them but with so many out there I want to get good ones. Anybody successfully rectified the situation by purchasing replacements?
 
That's a tough one. I've never owned a Jeep product, but most aftermarket replacements are fairly similar across the board as the same few companies make replacements for most makes/models. The collision repair brands are very hit or miss, and are very known for problems with lens crazing. Most of what I've seen is related to strange surface crazing that looks like chicken feet. The wife's car has a set of those right now, the right side is perfect and the left is crazed pretty badly (same brand, same replacement time). Whatever you get, make sure you do a lot of research on it. The best way to go is OEM replacements through OEM parts channels, which is usually guaranteed performance but ridiculous cost. The other good option would be a used set of OEM from a garage kept car (assuming it's more than a few years old).

There may be a source for OEM-manufactured units sold as aftermarket, which does actually exist for some makes/models.

For something like my mini-fleet of Subarus, I can choose from $500/each OEM units, or aftermarket units that may last 6 months before crazing or having other problems, or finding someone with a good condition used set. I've got a 50% failure rate on the aftermarket units after a year so far.
 
Shameless plug, I have a professional 3M kit and I polish headlights for $40/pair. I always recommend putting some wax on the headlights about every 6 months (you do wax your car twice a year, right? :D ) after polishing, and it will last a lot longer. I have had people not wax them, some still look good after 4-5 years, others start to yellow after a year or two.

As far as cheap aftermarket replacements go, I've had the best luck with TYC brand lights. They seem to be the best quality and not yellow as quickly as others I've seen.
 
I have used the TYC brand for my ZJ and also a set in my 2nd gen cummins. They have been good fit and durability for a fair price. Got both sets off of amazon for the free prime shipping.
 
The WJ we had could not be polished out. They off-gassed from the inside, so I replaced them. Don't remember where I ordered the replacements.
 
Rockauto carries CAPA certified headlamp assemblies.
 
Rockauto carries CAPA certified headlamp assemblies.

I have had good luck with rockauto headlignts on several vehicles and they were cheap too!

They also usually have a discount code on their vendor page on Pirate,
 
I have had good luck with rockauto headlignts on several vehicles and they were cheap too!

They also usually have a discount code on their vendor page on Pirate,

There's usually a discount code on their vendor post on NC4x4. :beer:

Price difference between NSF and CAPA is about $40. Think NSF is trustworthy?

I don't know anything about NSF. I just know that I had the option to buy a CAPA certified housing when I replaced the ones on the Dodge, but I cheaped out and bought the non-certified to save about $100 on the pair. The ones I got aren't bad, but they're obviously not as clear/even as the OEMs were. In retrospect, I would have paid an extra $100 if it would have meant a better quality reflector.

For tail lamps, corner markers, etc, I just buy whatever is cheapest. No complaints on any of those.
 
All I can add here is that I hate plastic head light lenses. I wish glass were possible.


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