Headlight lens cover replacement?
08-13-2010, 07:47 PM
#21
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St. Jude Donor '13
08-13-2010, 07:58 PM
#22
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I don't want to discourage anyone from trying to replace the lens themselves, cause it is definitely doable. But I also don't want to mislead anyone and make them think it is a piece of cake either.
Just getting the headlight in and out of the car is a big part of the task. I won't reveal all of the secrets of the process, but basically you have to cook your headlight in the oven to remove the old lens, and then get all the old glue out and then glue in the new one. The process of replacing the lens itself probably took me about 4 hours once I had the light out of the car. I did save about $200 by doing it myself, though I'm not sure if I did as good a job as if I had sent it to RL Sebring and let him do it for me. It's a bit of a learning process, and I suspect he has done enough of them that he has perfected the technique.
I also found it that it's really easy to break off various plastic tabs on the housing, and some of the hardware is put together with locktite and hard to remove. I had to heat the three small nuts on the back to get them off the screws, and that alone took me almost an hour.
Just getting the headlight in and out of the car is a big part of the task. I won't reveal all of the secrets of the process, but basically you have to cook your headlight in the oven to remove the old lens, and then get all the old glue out and then glue in the new one. The process of replacing the lens itself probably took me about 4 hours once I had the light out of the car. I did save about $200 by doing it myself, though I'm not sure if I did as good a job as if I had sent it to RL Sebring and let him do it for me. It's a bit of a learning process, and I suspect he has done enough of them that he has perfected the technique.
I also found it that it's really easy to break off various plastic tabs on the housing, and some of the hardware is put together with locktite and hard to remove. I had to heat the three small nuts on the back to get them off the screws, and that alone took me almost an hour.
10-17-2010, 01:09 PM
#24
Former Vendor
Call me, I will be glad to help you, we are a business and supporting vender...If we sell you something or do something for you as a service and its not right, we are liable!!!.. if an individual does it for you and somethng goes wrong you are screwed...
09-28-2016, 05:16 PM
#26
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St. Jude Donor '13
Member here RLSebring often sells them, but I think he and most others are out right now. Hoping that changes.
Try contacting him or Ecklers.
Try contacting him or Ecklers.
09-28-2016, 06:57 PM
#27
No lenses are available at this time, I don't think. Hopefully they'll be on the market again. It's ludicrous what the whole assembly goes for, especially considering the high failure rate and safety issues. Any other vehicle is a fraction of that cost. Somebody really needs to get their s@&t together on these things. Since GM is making this hard on C6 owners, maybe some after market company can manufacture the lenses and get them out to those of us that need them.
09-29-2016, 08:10 AM
#28
Race Director
If it were me and the lens got faded or small cracks....id probably at that point put tint on the lens...a light tint...looks awesome..then I'd shop junk yards for a replacement or go for two black ones...might as well get an upgrade while spending the coin.
I never liked the look of the c6 headlights....even when new.
Just a bad style bucket and bulbs in my opinion. Still I like the overall look....
Just not the headlights and bulb look. Too bad a blackout tint cracks the lenses ...it looks better when they are blacked out..
I never liked the look of the c6 headlights....even when new.
Just a bad style bucket and bulbs in my opinion. Still I like the overall look....
Just not the headlights and bulb look. Too bad a blackout tint cracks the lenses ...it looks better when they are blacked out..
Last edited by JerriVette; 09-29-2016 at 08:12 AM.
09-29-2016, 01:26 PM
#30
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St. Jude Donor '13
No lenses are available at this time, I don't think. Hopefully they'll be on the market again. It's ludicrous what the whole assembly goes for, especially considering the high failure rate and safety issues. Any other vehicle is a fraction of that cost. Somebody really needs to get their s@&t together on these things. Since GM is making this hard on C6 owners, maybe some after market company can manufacture the lenses and get them out to those of us that need them.
I recall some news stories from a few years ago about how a modern headlight assembly with HID typically costs about $1,000 per side, so the C6 is in the ballpark.
The big problem is the inability or difficulty to easily replace a lens instead of replacing the whole unit. Are other cars better or worse in that respect? I can't imagine there aren't a lot of people supplying lenses for high volume cars like Accords and Camrys, but the economics might not work for low volume cars like the C6.
EDIT:
We had the complete assemblies replaced on our 2009 about a month ago, total parts cost $1,950. I did that only because the car was taken apart and then a set of lenses I thought would be available, weren't. It was either buy the complete assemblies now or take an indefinite wait until lenses became available.
The new assemblies come complete with new bulbs, ballasts, etc; so I have presumably dodged the hassle and significant expense of replacing them later. The math shows that if you are going to keep the car a long time, the new assembly isn't as bad a deal as it first appears.
Last edited by Gearhead Jim; 09-29-2016 at 01:34 PM.
09-29-2016, 03:34 PM
#31
It's a hard pill to swallow and I may end up buying complete assembly's. I'd rather put that money somewhere else. It's a shame to spend that just because the lenses are bad. You'd think someone would engineer something better or use a plastic that'd last longer.
09-29-2016, 03:39 PM
#32
Melting Slicks
I'm sorry if this has been beaten to death, but is there anything I can do to possibly delay or prevent the headlight lens from fading and/or turning yellow? I am planning on getting mine detailed in the next month. Should I make sure he does not buff the headlights so the coating isn't removed? Mine look great right now, but coming outside to yellow/faded headlights it is probably my biggest worry. I see SO many cars with this problem down here in Florida. 
09-29-2016, 03:53 PM
#33
Mine aren't faded or yellow. They've got small hairline cracks throughout. I'm not sure what causes that or how to prevent it. I tried to restore them with sanding polishing, but no luck. Seems the cracking is to deep.
09-29-2016, 05:23 PM
#34
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St. Jude Donor '13
The small cracks are called "crazing". Occasionally, someone says he polished or sanded them out, but usually they are like mrk1957 said- they are "in" the plastic instead of "on" the plastic, and thus too deep to remove. The same thing can happen to the transparent top.
Sometimes it just happens, and no one can explain why, but here are some of the reasons put forth:
1. Heat buildup inside the headlights, perhaps caused by having a rag or bra on the headlights while they are on. Clear film protectors are sometimes blamed, but not proven.
2. Chemical exposure, especially to ordinary glass cleaners. Use only cleaners recommended for plastic, GM Glass Cleaner (white foamy stuff in a spray can) is good.
3. Pressure or impacts, though that would normally only effect one area of the lens.
4. UV from sunlight, though that more often causes clouding or yellowing.
Since the "abuse' that caused the crazing may have occurred months or years before the problem showed up and may have been done by a shop or previous owner, it becomes especially hard to figure out.
Sometimes it just happens, and no one can explain why, but here are some of the reasons put forth:
1. Heat buildup inside the headlights, perhaps caused by having a rag or bra on the headlights while they are on. Clear film protectors are sometimes blamed, but not proven.
2. Chemical exposure, especially to ordinary glass cleaners. Use only cleaners recommended for plastic, GM Glass Cleaner (white foamy stuff in a spray can) is good.
3. Pressure or impacts, though that would normally only effect one area of the lens.
4. UV from sunlight, though that more often causes clouding or yellowing.
Since the "abuse' that caused the crazing may have occurred months or years before the problem showed up and may have been done by a shop or previous owner, it becomes especially hard to figure out.
10-06-2016, 12:07 PM
#35
Though it'd be nice if there was a HID high-beam option, by this stage of the game.
05-10-2017, 08:40 PM
#36
Intermediate
Possible
The small cracks are called "crazing". Occasionally, someone says he polished or sanded them out, but usually they are like mrk1957 said- they are "in" the plastic instead of "on" the plastic, and thus too deep to remove. The same thing can happen to the transparent top.
Sometimes it just happens, and no one can explain why, but here are some of the reasons put forth:
1. Heat buildup inside the headlights, perhaps caused by having a rag or bra on the headlights while they are on. Clear film protectors are sometimes blamed, but not proven.
2. Chemical exposure, especially to ordinary glass cleaners. Use only cleaners recommended for plastic, GM Glass Cleaner (white foamy stuff in a spray can) is good.
3. Pressure or impacts, though that would normally only effect one area of the lens.
4. UV from sunlight, though that more often causes clouding or yellowing.
Since the "abuse' that caused the crazing may have occurred months or years before the problem showed up and may have been done by a shop or previous owner, it becomes especially hard to figure out.
Sometimes it just happens, and no one can explain why, but here are some of the reasons put forth:
1. Heat buildup inside the headlights, perhaps caused by having a rag or bra on the headlights while they are on. Clear film protectors are sometimes blamed, but not proven.
2. Chemical exposure, especially to ordinary glass cleaners. Use only cleaners recommended for plastic, GM Glass Cleaner (white foamy stuff in a spray can) is good.
3. Pressure or impacts, though that would normally only effect one area of the lens.
4. UV from sunlight, though that more often causes clouding or yellowing.
Since the "abuse' that caused the crazing may have occurred months or years before the problem showed up and may have been done by a shop or previous owner, it becomes especially hard to figure out.
Some of that heat is coming from that running light inside on all the time. It can be turned off which is I do now, after replacing my lens the first time
Last edited by Harleyryder02; 05-10-2017 at 08:41 PM.
05-10-2017, 08:46 PM
#37
Intermediate
looking
I am looking for someone to glue in my lens.
I was able to find a set of lights and was able to get the old lenses off,
I hear there is a special glue needed and the rubber gaskets ( I don't have these)
I'd rather have someone that knows what they are doing glue them all back together
I was able to find a set of lights and was able to get the old lenses off,
I hear there is a special glue needed and the rubber gaskets ( I don't have these)
I'd rather have someone that knows what they are doing glue them all back together
05-10-2017, 09:24 PM
#38
Race Director
Pro Mechanic
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2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
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I am looking for someone to glue in my lens.
I was able to find a set of lights and was able to get the old lenses off,
I hear there is a special glue needed and the rubber gaskets ( I don't have these)
I'd rather have someone that knows what they are doing glue them all back together
I was able to find a set of lights and was able to get the old lenses off,
I hear there is a special glue needed and the rubber gaskets ( I don't have these)
I'd rather have someone that knows what they are doing glue them all back together
05-10-2017, 09:27 PM
#39
Intermediate
