Short version: Has anyone polished up or restored the double reflector inside the front fog? (meaning, the small rectangular metal rear-facing reflector, not the main plastic one?
Long story: I replaced all the lights on one side with a set from a salvage yard. They work and look about the same, except I noticed the fog on the side I replaced seemed brighter. I checked the lenses and the direction aim, swapped the bulbs… usual stuff. The more I looked at it closely, the more they seemed different. My remaining original fog light is dimmer.
I noticed that the fogs are a double-reflector type, and looking inside, the reflector on my original fog is sort-of matte grey, not really very shiny. Not corroded, maybe lightly oxidized, like an old nickel coin. The same part on the replacement fog light seems more reflector-like, silver and brighter. Not mirror-like but not as matte.
I also know that on some older cars, people do take them apart and shine those up a bit with generic metal polish. So, basically I am looking for someone who knows if this can be done, has it been done, with what, did it make any difference?
Are you referring to the glare guards? The metal box directly in front of the bulb? Those aren’t designed to reflect light back at the reflector, but to stop the direct light from the bulb shining in other drivers eyes. I’m thinking the problem lies more in the condition of the reflector in the original foglight. If it looks oxidized, that’s going to cause it to be less reflective. I wouldn’t try to restore the original reflective finish, I would just replace that light as well.
[QUOTE=rollinmyda;2279814]Are you referring to the glare guards? The metal box directly in front of the bulb? Those aren’t designed to reflect light back at the reflector, but to stop the direct light from the bulb shining in other drivers eyes. I’m thinking the problem lies more in the condition of the reflector in the original foglight. If it looks oxidized, that’s going to cause it to be less reflective. I wouldn’t try to restore the original reflective finish, I would just replace that light as well.[/QUOTE]Ah, thanks for the correction. I just assumed it was a double reflector, because that part has a small bowl-shape facing toward the bulb.
The actual reflector seems in good shape on both sides. Voltage is about the same, too. I think I will leave this for another time, there are plenty of things to do to get this car back in shape (chuckle). One of these days I will take those lights out, and clean and polish the lenses, maybe that will fix it. If not, as you said, they are pretty cheap, the whole assembly was under $100 from salvage.