Date:         Tue, 3 Mar 1998 12:56:51 -0800
Reply-To:     Chris Pittack <chrisp@MOSAIX.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Pittack <chrisp@MOSAIX.COM>
Subject:      Re: cleaning hedlamps
Comments: To: David Katsuki <katsuki@BBN.COM>, Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain

Here's my tale regarding this situation.  I've been cleaning my Jetta
headlights with rubbing alcohol for years with no ill effects.  The only
problem was that you had to wait a couple of hours for the alcohol to
dry.  This weekend I decided to try the dishwasher method...and it
ruined my lights, cleaned the reflective coating right off.  The price
of my "experiment" $210 each at the local FLAPS or just try finding a
set of lights in good condition at a junkyard!

Wishing you a different result....

Chris P.
Seattle, WA
'89 Diesel Jetta "Jake"
'87 GL Wasserboxer "Rosa"
'82 Diesel Vanagon "Billie-Rae"


> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Katsuki [SMTP:katsuki@BBN.COM]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 1998 12:12 PM
> To:   Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
> Subject:      Re: cleaning hedlamps
>
> Why doesn't the dishwasher detergent attack the aluminized coating on
> the
> mirror???   The detergent I use always attacks any aluminum in the
> dishwasher.
>
> Dave
>
> At 12:07 AM 2/26/98 -0800, Austin wrote:
> >At 10:24 PM 2/25/98 EST, you wrote:
> >>How about trying some pure alcohol (like that "dry gas" stuff) in
> the
> lens to
> >>absorb and evaporate the water (alcohol loves to do that).
> >
> >DON'T use alcohol, MEK, acetone, 'weird' soaps, etc - they'll attack
> the
> >reflector coating on the back surface. Put 'em in a dishwasher, lamp
> hole
> >down, use the forced drying option if your washer has it, & use
> liquid
> >dishwashing soap (Cascade, etc.).
> >
> >Austin
> >