Need help removing Meguir's Keep Clean Headlight Coating?

[Sea Warrior]

I read the can's instructions carefully. It states to tape off all around the headlights. It also says that if overspray occurs, remove with isopropyl ( rubbing alcohol).

Fine.

It came down to a matter of believing if rubbing alcohol would remove the over spray or not ... Or very carefully apply the coating sprayed onto a microfiber cloth. So I chose the latter method.

 

The headlights turned out fine. 24 hours later I decided to apply the same way to the tail light area.

It was all done in the garage as the instructions recommend.

 

After about 2-1/2 hours when applying on the tail lights, the sun reached the vehicle. I noticed it showed (streaks) in some spots. So because it hadn't fully cured after 24 hours, I followed the mfg's instructions by applying rubbing alcohol with a microfiber across the entire tail light assy.

 

Holy ****  The entire tail light immediately became super cloudy !

How do you remove this stuff? 

I read a Meguir's rep response from another customer asking the same question and he said to use rubbing alcohol and which may require a lot of alcohol to remove it, but eventually it'll come off.

 

There is no way alcohol works.  

How do you get this stuff off ?

 

[Sea Warrior]

The alcohol applied after the sun had been hitting the tail lights for a couple hours was obviously a mistake

 

The coating has been on ~ 5 1/2 hours (as of this writing).   The can says it takes 24 hrs to fully cure

 

Is @bbf2530 familiar with this coating and how to remove the stuff before it becomes super difficult to remove? 

 

 

Edited August 18, 2022 by Sea Warrior

[bbf2530]

1 hour ago, Sea Warrior said:

I read the can's instructions carefully. It states to tape off all around the headlights. It also says that if overspray occurs, remove with isopropyl ( rubbing alcohol).

Fine.

It came down to a matter of believing if rubbing alcohol would remove the over spray or not ... Or very carefully apply the coating sprayed onto a microfiber cloth. So I chose the latter method.

 

The headlights turned out fine. 24 hours later I decided to apply the same way to the tail light area.

It was all done in the garage as the instructions recommend.

 

After about 2-1/2 hours when applying on the tail lights, the sun reached the vehicle. I noticed it showed (streaks) in some spots. So because it hadn't fully cured after 24 hours, I followed the mfg's instructions by applying rubbing alcohol with a microfiber across the entire tail light assy.

 

Holy ****  The entire tail light immediately became super cloudy !

How do you remove this stuff? 

I read a Meguir's rep response from another customer asking the same question and he said to use rubbing alcohol and which may require a lot of alcohol to remove it, but eventually it'll come off.

 

There is no way alcohol works.  

How do you get this stuff off ?

 

 

Hi Sea Warrior. Unfortunately I have not used and am not familiar with that particular Meguiar's product. I would recommend you call their Customer Service line and ask for suggestions on how to remedy this issue.

 

On a related note...While I don't have the "Meguiar's Keep Clean Headlight Coating" container in front of me, I believe it is possible they were referring to using rubbing alcohol to remove "overspray" from the painted surfaces of the vehicle, not to remove "overspray" on plastic headlight covers, taillights etc.

In other words, to remove product overspray from the paint surfaces of the hood, bumper cover etc.

 

And you are correct...In the future, I would advise never to apply any product on the vehicle paint/plastic etc., while the vehicle is in the sun or still warm/hot from being in the sunlight. Even if the product states it is safe to apply in direct sunlight, I always apply in the shade or while the sun is on the other side of the car, if shade is scarce in your area.

 

Keep us updated and good luck.

[Sea Warrior]

Thanks

 

I had thought I read on some other post that you had used this before. I obviously had mistaken you with someone else. Sorry

 

Edited August 18, 2022 by Sea Warrior

[Sea Warrior]

I found the thread where someone mentioned Meguir's Keep Clear Headlight Coating. It wasn't on lincolnmkzforum.com. I mistakenly confused this forum with LincolnForums.com, which I'm not a member.

It's a longshot that @enigma-2 who posted about the Meguirs product is also a member here too. But FWIW perhaps the member is a member  and could share how to remove the product off of the tail light

 

 

Edited August 19, 2022 by Sea Warrior

[bbf2530]

58 minutes ago, Sea Warrior said:

I found the thread where someone mentioned Meguir's Keep Clear Headlight Coating. It wasn't on lincolnmkzforum.com. I mistakenly confused this forum with LincolnForums.com, which I'm not a member.

It's a longshot that @enigma-2 who posted about the Meguirs product is also a member here too. But FWIW perhaps the member is a member  and could share how to remove the product off of the tail light

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Sea Warrior said:

Thanks

 

I had thought I read on some other post that you had used this before. I obviously had mistaken you with someone else. Sorry

 

 

Hi Sea Warrior. No problem at all. I have recommended some Meguiar's products that I use, mostly waxes and leather care products. But I've never used that headlight product.

 

Again, my opinion would be: Meguiar's are the experts and make the product, so if it were me, I would call Meguiar's and ask them what they recommend as the best way to remove the product.

 

Let us know how you make out and good luck.

[Sea Warrior]

14 hours ago, bbf2530 said:

 

 

 

Hi Sea Warrior. No problem at all. I have recommended some Meguiar's products that I use, mostly waxes and leather care products. But I've never used that headlight product.

 

Again, my opinion would be: Meguiar's are the experts and make the product, so if it were me, I would call Meguiar's and ask them what they recommend as the best way to remove the product.

 

Let us know how you make out and good luck.

Well, I contacted Meguir Support and explained what happened and that I needed to remove the coating from the taillights.

I was told that ISA was the only way.

I told the gentleman from Meguir that I had already used isopropyl alcohol without success. He then asked what percent of IPA solution I used. 

The gentleman said that 70% wasn't strong enough to do the job and that I needed to use 91%.IPA. He said it'll take patience to remove it but it will come off

 

I was able to remove most with the 91% solution. 

I was thinking all the while that I was probably also removing the factory coating as well. I'm sure that I more than likely did

 

IMO, the best analogy that I can think of to describe the difficulty level for removing it, think cyanoacrylate, aka crazy glue 

 

G17804 Keep Clear Headlight Coating may or may not protect the plastic from harmful UV rays. . .who knows.

If I had known what I know now, I would've put this stuff back down on the shelf and picked up a good protective UV wax.           

[Sea Warrior]

Incidentally since this topic has been about the tail lights including the right/ left turn signal lights, I never actually had a reason to inspect them so closely up until this incidence occurred.

 

The tail lights have always been a mystery. Every single time the vehicle is washed, some soap bubbles will collect at the bottom of the entire light assembly. 

 

Looking closely at the left turn signal up at the top, there are two 3/4" long slots can be seen exposed where the plastic lens doesn't cover these slots. The gap is approx just under 1/16". This has to be the area where water / soap easily enters inside the lens and settles at the bottom.

 

But the right turn signal and center tail light doesnt have the same exposed 1/16" gap and soap bubbles still collect inside at the bottom of the lens tail light assembly.

 

The gap at the top on the center tail light is so tight you can't see where  water could enter. I'm not a Ford design engineer, but to design slots that were to allow water to enter into these tiny gaps at the top for whatever reason seems like there's no other place for water to go but inside the plastic lens coverings. is this ....  I don't know, dumb?

 

Or perhaps I'm just the only one who had tail lights assembled this way at the factory

 

Edited August 19, 2022 by Sea Warrior
Clarification

[BJC52]

I use duragloss products on my car - there is a product they sell called "track claw" that I have used successfully and with a few applications to remove have from my nav screen, headlight covers, and windows and windshield 

 

If you are still having hazing issues, I'd recommend giving it a try