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Flawed Headlight Cover
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2006
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Flawed Headlight Cover
My 05 corvette has a badly flawed headlight on the driver side (passenger side just fine). It never goes away. I have been trying to get GM to replace it for the past two years but they refuse. GM said they all look this way. I don’t understand that comment as my passenger side headlight cover is fine. A $55,000 car and I can even get a clean headlight cover. It looks like a chemical spill or fog and spider veins on the inside surface of the cover. Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone else have a solution for me other than replace the entire assembly for $1,000 (GM said this was the only solution) – can it be taken off and cleaned? I have been really dissatisfied with the Quality Control on this car!! The corvette is a nice sports car. Too bad GM built it as the Quality Control is just not there. I have pictures to show how really bad this is.
Zone rep and dealer both saw the car and are of no help since it did not affect the actual function of the headlight - They too think they should look this way. Even wrote the President of Chevrolete North American Parts and Service and sent pictures and they say the car should look this way too. Do you agree. I think the headlights are the face of the car and mine appears to have a cataract!
Zone rep and dealer both saw the car and are of no help since it did not affect the actual function of the headlight - They too think they should look this way. Even wrote the President of Chevrolete North American Parts and Service and sent pictures and they say the car should look this way too. Do you agree. I think the headlights are the face of the car and mine appears to have a cataract!
Last edited by g_vett; Feb 15, 2007 at 07:27 PM. Reason: Adding pictures
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Joined: Jun 2005
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My 05 corvette has a badly flawed headlight on the driver side. I have been trying to get GM to replace it for the past two years but they refuse. GM said they all look this way. I don’t understand that comment as my passenger side headlight cover is fine. A $55,000 car and I can even get a clean headlight cover. It looks like a fog and spider veins on the inside surface of the cover. Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone else have a solution for me other than replace the entire assembly for $1,000 (GM said this was the only solution) – can it be taken off and cleaned? I have been really dissatisfied with the Quality Control on this car!! The corvette is a nice sports car. Too bad GM built it as the Quality Control is just not there. I have pictures to show how really bad this is - would love to share them - how do I post them here?
SMM
Last edited by SliverMeMembers; Feb 14, 2007 at 02:22 PM. Reason: Clarification.
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These two threads should help you:
How to Sign Up for a Photobucket Account - Tutorial
and
How to Use Photobucket and Post Photos here - Tutorial
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
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My 05 corvette has a badly flawed headlight on the driver side. I have been trying to get GM to replace it for the past two years but they refuse. GM said they all look this way. I don’t understand that comment as my passenger side headlight cover is fine. A $55,000 car and I can even get a clean headlight cover. It looks like a fog and spider veins on the inside surface of the cover. Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone else have a solution for me other than replace the entire assembly for $1,000 (GM said this was the only solution) – can it be taken off and cleaned? I have been really dissatisfied with the Quality Control on this car!! The corvette is a nice sports car. Too bad GM built it as the Quality Control is just not there. I have pictures to show how really bad this is - would love to share them - how do I post them here?
This is not a job for the faint of heart, screw it up and you're out a $840 headlight assembly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,611
Likes: 5
From: Thousand Oaks California
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,611
Likes: 5
From: Thousand Oaks California
g_vett,
At one time, did you have a protective film installed on the headlamp lens or have you applied any chemicals to the lens?
Or, maybe the following wil help:
The headlamps feature a clear polycarbonate lenses. The light fog or cloudiness is caused by out gassing and is a normal characteristic of the vehicle. The headlamps are also vented, thus some condensation/moisture may be seen when humidity is high or there is a change in temperature. The moisture should burn off after one hour of headlamps being turned on.
At one time, did you have a protective film installed on the headlamp lens or have you applied any chemicals to the lens?
Or, maybe the following wil help:
The headlamps feature a clear polycarbonate lenses. The light fog or cloudiness is caused by out gassing and is a normal characteristic of the vehicle. The headlamps are also vented, thus some condensation/moisture may be seen when humidity is high or there is a change in temperature. The moisture should burn off after one hour of headlamps being turned on.
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From: Saratoga Springs New York
Remove headlight assembly from car, pop in a 325 degree oven for 20 minutes, carefully pry off transparent cover. The heat softens the glue so it'll come apart easily. Now go to your favorite motorcycle shop and get some visor polish. Polish out the flaws in the transparent cover. Now glue it back together and reinstall in the car.
This is not a job for the faint of heart, screw it up and you're out a $840 headlight assembly.
This is not a job for the faint of heart, screw it up and you're out a $840 headlight assembly.
Good luck!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2006
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I've tried it. Your right it's not for the faint of heart. I decided to experiment since mine was broken anyway....I had a tough time and ended up damaging the cover. The glue softened in some areas and not in others and look carefully because the clear cover is also held on to the base with fasteners ( I think on the bottom but check carefully). Chevy really should pick that up under warrantee. Looks like moisture got in. I think I read in the manual somewhere they talk about the possibility of lamp cover fogging on damp days but with the heat of the lamps its temporary. But it looks like in your case it's bad!
Good luck!
Good luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,154
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From: Las Vegas NV
Somebody PM this guy with some contact information to get this fixed.
Good luck.
Moderator
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From: DFW Area TX
Did the Zone Rep actually see the headlight? I can't believe that anyone in their right mind would claim that is normal. Make the Zone Rep and Dealer meet you with your car at the dealer. Make them show you every other Corvette they have and defy them to find even 1 other headlight like yours. They won't be able to. It is not normal. This should back them into a corner where they will have to admit that it is not normal and they need to replace it.
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If it's supposed to look like that as a "normal" condition, then I would imagine the other side of your car has a matching "normal" light. If they both have the identical look, then it is normal. Do they match? If not, I think they're trying to blow smoke up your donkey.
Elmer
Elmer
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My 05 corvette has a badly flawed headlight on the driver side. It never goes away. I have been trying to get GM to replace it for the past two years but they refuse. GM said they all look this way. I don’t understand that comment as my passenger side headlight cover is fine. A $55,000 car and I can even get a clean headlight cover. It looks like a chemical spill or fog and spider veins on the inside surface of the cover. Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone else have a solution for me other than replace the entire assembly for $1,000 (GM said this was the only solution) – can it be taken off and cleaned? I have been really dissatisfied with the Quality Control on this car!! The corvette is a nice sports car. Too bad GM built it as the Quality Control is just not there. I have pictures to show how really bad this is.
Zone rep and dealer of no help - They too think they should look this way. Even wrote the President of Chevrolete North American Parts and Service and they say the car should look this way too. Do you agree. I think the headlights are the face of the car and mine appears to have a cataract!
Zone rep and dealer of no help - They too think they should look this way. Even wrote the President of Chevrolete North American Parts and Service and they say the car should look this way too. Do you agree. I think the headlights are the face of the car and mine appears to have a cataract!
I know you said this is only 1 headlamp, they won't concede the other headlight looks different? BTW, did it look like that when you took possession of the car, or did it happened after?
If you decide to take shopdog's advice and try the whole oven thing, let me know. I have read about that procedure several times, but there's a few questions about the procedure, such as:
- when the headlight comes apart, what happens to the sealing material?
- it is simple RTV silcone? Does it stick on the cover, does it stick to the headlight housing, does it come lose from both pieces, or does it tend tear apart?
- if it does tear apart, what do you use to reseal the headlight assembly?
Seems like a lot people have referred to this "325 degree oven" procedure, but I don't know how many of them have actually tried it, or whether it's just been something perpetuated over time. I'd rather not try something like that w/o experience or detailed instructions.
Good luck... I'm still looking for someone with experience to do this as well.
SMM