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
> >