Moisture in headlight lens
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Greensburg PA
Moisture in headlight lens
I noticed that moisture has entered and dried in the headlight lens' leaving a discoloration on the lens. I first noticed the moisture as a fog when I left the warm garage and drove on a colder morning. Are the lens supposed to be sealed? Can the lens be removed for cleaning?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Greensburg PA
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Greensburg PA
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Greensburg PA
Finally got a reply from the dealer. There is a GM bulletin on this. The headlights are vented and they say it is "normal" for condensation to form and to drive with the headlights on for a while when starting out. There is no way to clean the condensation marks onside the lens. If this is normal I wonder if it was in the design specs? This is also a problem with the C6.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,052
Likes: 253
after warranty expires
Finally got a reply from the dealer. There is a GM bulletin on this. The headlights are vented and they say it is "normal" for condensation to form and to drive with the headlights on for a while when starting out. There is no way to clean the condensation marks onside the lens. If this is normal I wonder if it was in the design specs? This is also a problem with the C6.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Greensburg PA
Thanks
I'll return to the dealer to request a replacement again. Did your dealer give any advice as to preventing a recurrence?
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Statesville North Carolina
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 108
Likes: 2
From: TN/VA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 825
Likes: 99
Let me preface this by saying i have not replaced bulbs in my C7 or C6 but isnt there a hole behind the lense enclosure where you insert new bulbs? On my other vehicles this how they are designed. If so then atmosphere would enter the enclosure and depending on the ambient temp and humidity condensation would form. Therefore, I think they have to be vented.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Greensburg PA
My dealer said there was a C7 bulletin. I've see many C6 and C7 cars with this same problem. The resolution to me was that the district manager gave me an extended 5 year warranty in case the residue inside the lens got worse and it needed to be replaced. Evidently a Chevy representative monitors this forum as he contacted me and offered to get involved to have the car evaluated at another dealer. When I told my dealer that they contacted the district manager.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 379
Likes: 248
From: Stafford VA
My car has done this from Day one... It all depends on the environment... I have been driving in some significant weather changes and when coming in from very cold to a nice warm garage this occasionally has happened... and no residual affects...
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 14
From: Baltimore Md.
When I picked up my new 2015 Z51, there was something inside both lights that looked like something had dried inside. Anyway, they replaced both lights and couple months later I found dried water marks inside and they replaced them again. Of course, they said I was too picky but I didn't care and they said that they get paid big bucks to do warranty work, so it doesn't matter what they replace. But they had to take pics and send them off to get approved. It comes down to poor quality or poor workmanship.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 366
Likes: 47
From: Walnut CA
bulb replacement
I have had both headlight bulbs replaced at its not cheap...the dealer must remove the bumper to access the headlamp..its not just a bulb replace. ($595 each time)
let alone the water drops inside...living with it. My car was past the warranty period.
let alone the water drops inside...living with it. My car was past the warranty period.
Let me preface this by saying i have not replaced bulbs in my C7 or C6 but isnt there a hole behind the lense enclosure where you insert new bulbs? On my other vehicles this how they are designed. If so then atmosphere would enter the enclosure and depending on the ambient temp and humidity condensation would form. Therefore, I think they have to be vented.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 707
Likes: 55
Is there any way to get into the headlight assembly without removing the bumper?
I fixed a moisture issue in another car of mine by zip tying a bag of silica gel inside the headlight assembly (away from direct contact with any hot bulbs). Worked a charm and I haven't had any moisture in the headlight for about a year now.
I fixed a moisture issue in another car of mine by zip tying a bag of silica gel inside the headlight assembly (away from direct contact with any hot bulbs). Worked a charm and I haven't had any moisture in the headlight for about a year now.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 108
Likes: 2
From: TN/VA
My dealer said there was a C7 bulletin. I've see many C6 and C7 cars with this same problem. The resolution to me was that the district manager gave me an extended 5 year warranty in case the residue inside the lens got worse and it needed to be replaced. Evidently a Chevy representative monitors this forum as he contacted me and offered to get involved to have the car evaluated at another dealer. When I told my dealer that they contacted the district manager.