My DSOM

A Buddy of mine just purchased a 2009 base C6 w/Z51pkg.
He has the clear bra on all the necessary areas, including the headlamps.
He asked me if I knew why the headlamp lens (both) has spiderweb like cracks on the lens. It's under the clear bra material.
I had no answer, however, I know that someone here can offer one!
Thanks in advance.

ricknyc23

It's called crazing. There is plenty of theories why it happens. I'm sure some will chime in what they think the causes are.

Gearhead Jim

Some people say that the clear bra will trap heat and deteriorate the plastic, others say it won't.

Sometimes, using glass cleaners with the wrong ingrediants can damage the plastic. I prefer to wash and then use GM Glass Cleaner, white foamy stuff in a spray can. Recommended for plastic and works very well.

UV exposure (sunlight) can be a factor.

And sometimes, despite everyone's best efforts, it just happens.

The lenses are not designed to be replaced, GM wants you to spend ~$900/side for a complete headlight assembly. CF member RLSebring can replace the lenses for a lot less, there may be others who can do the same.

C6RaceCar

It happens because of the clear bra material being installed on there and the inside of the lense getting heated up from being insulated with the clear material on there. You are never supposed to install the clear material over the hid headlights. Never. The installer should have known that. And it's his fault the lense had that happen. The installer I use that has been installing clear film on cars for 12 years about had a fit when I asked for it to be installed on my 07. He showed me a photo album with pics of various cars that had the film installed on hid lenses and what the insulating effect of the material does to the lense when the heat has no where to go. Most of the time it cooks the clear material and it needs to be replaced. But on the newer cars with the thinner clear lenses you get the cracking or crazing. That's an expensive lesson. Doh.

beaversstonehaven

Expensive lesson indeed! I would remove the clear material. I think that was the cause but I am no expert on this subject.

Gearhead Jim

I understand the theory, but...

I wouldn't put any kind of clear film on my own headlights, but I know a bunch of people who have put it on theirs and no problems after 5+ years. And several who never used the clear film but developed crazing.

Actually, I know more people who didn't use the film and have crazing, than those who did use it and now have crazing.

It seems to be kind of a mystery. But again, I would not use it myself.

Knob Jockey

All very plausible explanations.

I had both of my accident-damaged lenses replaced by RLSebring for one third the cost of OEM replacements.

However, removing/replacing the headlights can be a bit daunting.

I used a UV protectant (Rejex) on mine, hopefully they will remain in pristine condition.

icyteddy

This is the thread I started when my GS had stress cracks. Thankfully it was covered by the factory warranty.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...om-inside.html

Wayne O

FWIW....I used to tape the front of my car at the track to help protect the paint and lamp lenses. I used black PVC tape on the paint and blue painters tape on the lamp lenses. One weekend I forgot the painters tape so I used the black PVC tape on the headlight lenses. After a weekend in the Arizona sun the plastic under the black tape suffered spiderweb cracking. I never had a problem with the blue tape but the black tape simply absorbed too much heat and baked the plastic lenses.

gbgary

this is my experience also.

AmmoVet

I got the clear bra on my headlites and it has been on since 2006. No problems that I'm aware of and I wash the car weekly in the summer and about once a month in the winter so I would see something. It is a daily driver so it does see the sun lite, rain, etc. 53k miles of smiles.


It's now Oct 14 and about 66K miles and smiles, still no problem.

RLSebring

Thank goodness someone here has GM OEM replacement lens available as a DIY and replacement service.

ProfessorDeath

Are we talking about just little hairline fractures? I just always chalked it up to expansion and compression of the plastic due to temperature. My daily beater with HID has the cracks. My Vette fortunately does not.

redzone

There was a guy a few years back on here that installs shields for a living who said it was caused by installers cleaning the lenses with alcohol before covering the headlights. He said he'd done hundreds of lights over the years with zero issues. I have no idea if it's the truth,just throwing out a random memory I've held on to.

NormWild

Mine were crazed when I bought it, no film on the headlamps. Its most likely a function of some bad polymers like the targa tops. Shame something like that is not covered for the life of the vehicle, not exactly a wearable item.

carpe dm

Stone impact...

Texas_Venom

Completely false. Sorry but this is simply not true. I have seen Corvettes, 350Zs, and 370Zs on the lot, brand new, with crazed lenses. I have also installed HUNDREDS of headlight kits (well over 150+ on Corvettes alone) and NEVER had a single set of lenses craze. The film is 6 hundreths of an inch thick... that does not trap heat. Period.

What I beleive it to be is a chemical reaction of alchohol based cleaners and the polycarbonate lenses. Alchohol can break down plastic... and thats what the lenses are. Either way the three models of cars are the only ones I have ever seen craze... so must be poor quality. But its not paint protection film causing it.

Tusierra6

Just and FYI:
I went out of town in my 2005 coupe base corvettes and the temp dropped to near freezing. When I returned home I had the car wash (by hand) and noticed the crazing afterwards. Before reading these threads I thought it was the sudden change in temperature. Now I wonder if it happened because of alcohol in a cleaner. If it was the cleaner it happened immediately or within about 1 hour.

RLSebring

I sell about 50% of my lens to Texas. The climate is brutal. Once the lens condition, seen or unseen, reaches a certain point it doesn't take much to finish them off. I have received many lights and owner comments that the lights crazed like crazy during and right after a cold/cool wash or rinse with the headlights on or in the hot sun.

But rest assured there really isn't a definitive answer or reason for the lights to craze like they do at the various ages/mileage/exposure/garage queen/ etc...

RLSebring