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Headlights Melted - 2010 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Urbo100, Feb 8, 2016.

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  1. Urbo100

    Urbo100 New Member

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    Both of the outside clear poly carbonate headlight surrounds have melted sections in front of the high and low beams. I will post some photos soon.

    The story is that I had my Prius at the Toyota dealer for some work and noticed yesterday these white blobs on my lights. At first I thought it was vandalism while at the dealers. Looked like someone had put glue or epoxy on them.

    I was sure they weren't there before so I confronted the dealer and he showed me the vehicle inspection form where they had marked my headlights as being damaged when I brought the car in....Funny they didn't mention it during the service... Unfortunately I can't prove that. From now on I will take photos of any car I leave in for a service! (lesson learnt the hard way!). Anyhow enough ranting!

    Has anyone had this experience or heard of it happening? The bulbs are standard.
    How long would the lights have had to have been on for this to happen? I'm thinking the car would have to be stationary with no air flow to cool them down.

    I am going to approach Toyota about this because in Australia Consumer law there is a clause that any product must have a "reasonable life". I think that six years is not a reasonable life for a headlight.

    Thanks Ian
     
    #1 Urbo100, Feb 8, 2016
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I've never heard of this happening before, especially with standard headlights/bulbs. The car must've not only had the lights on, but left running as well. Otherwise, the small 12v auxiliary battery would've died quite soon.

    Additionally, were the headlight covers very dirty? I'm thinking that a lot of dirt coating the plastic would have given the light something to focus on and absorb more heat than an optically clear cover.
     
    #2 xliderider, Feb 8, 2016
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2016
  3. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I hope I am not being too over-cautious, kind of a concern as there has been a few rare instances of fires around the headlamps area but no proof of headlamp issue to my knowledge
     
    #3 wjtracy, Feb 8, 2016
  4. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    The only times headlamp housings melt typically, is when the halogen bulbs aren't mounted properly, at an angle. This results in excessive heat where the bulb is closest to the plastic in the back of the headlight housing, not the front, clear covers. The bulb mounting area can melt as well.
     
    #4 xliderider, Feb 8, 2016
  5. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Found some hits on Google: suggested cause is placing cloth over light while on

     
    #5 wjtracy, Feb 8, 2016
  6. Urbo100

    Urbo100 New Member

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    Hmm... I have seen a post which mentions the covers mechanics use when working on a vehicle. Perhaps the lights were on when the vehicle was being worked on...
    I so wish I had taken photos beforehand but the dealer isn't going to admit liability on this because I can't prove it happened there. Grrrrr!
     
    #6 Urbo100, Feb 9, 2016
  7. Urbo100

    Urbo100 New Member

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    They had a little bit of oxidisation on the top (around the parking globe) but were clear where they melted.
     
    #7 Urbo100, Feb 9, 2016
  8. Urbo100

    Urbo100 New Member

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    Some Photos IMG_0726[1].JPG IMG_0727[1].JPG
     
    #8 Urbo100, Feb 9, 2016
  9. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Wow, that's pretty bad. Supposedly, those headlight covers are replaceable. Finding the parts might be a challenge though.
     
    #9 xliderider, Feb 9, 2016
  10. Urbo100

    Urbo100 New Member

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    Yes it is bad and from what I am learning its the dealers fault so a letter to Toyota Australia is on its way soon.
    You have to replace the whole headlight assembly at $450 AU per light...
    Will keep this up to date on progress with Toyota....
     
    #10 Urbo100, Feb 9, 2016
  11. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Ouch!
    One would think mechanics have to be careful to prevent that these days. If the lights are covered and then go on for any reason, this is possible result.
     
    #11 wjtracy, Feb 9, 2016
  12. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    wow, they screw it up big time ＆ don't even mention it too you/
    you have all the reason to be VERY upset/

    BION
    StarCaller
     
    #12 StarCaller, Feb 9, 2016
  13. Urbo100

    Urbo100 New Member

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    #13 Urbo100, Feb 15, 2016
  14. Urbo100

    Urbo100 New Member

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    Toyota have finally given me an answer and guess what, they came down on the dealers side! So much for looking after the customer.
    If you have your Prius serviced in Sydney Australia do not take it to Bill Buckle at Mona Vale!
    I am going to have to do this the hard way now, which is to go to Dept of Fair Trading to see if they can help.
    Feel like I've been pushed around by the Big Guy in the playground.
     
    #14 Urbo100, Apr 19, 2016
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  15. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    it'll cost toyota MAYBE 500 bucks to fix that & score points all over, but after reading this, I'm not sure if my next car will be a toyota////
     
    #15 StarCaller, Apr 19, 2016
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Good luck with this; they've treated you badly, for sure!
     
    #16 Mendel Leisk, Apr 19, 2016
  17. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    what did you have done -- would they had needed to cover the front end (lights) .. That is really strange
     
    #17 yeldogt, Apr 19, 2016
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    ^ It's the custom at some shops, there's actually a product made, specifically for draping over fenders, just to protect from scratching.

    (Obviously backfired here.)
     
    #18 Mendel Leisk, Apr 19, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2016
  19. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    That product is called fender covers. We should try it and see if it'll do the same to our cars lol jp. :)
     
    #19 NutzAboutBolts, Apr 19, 2016
  20. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    This is an old post , and regrettably Urbo from down under has apparently removed his distinctive self-portrait icon. Guess with the Gen4, we need to avoid this due to the cost. Hopefully harder to make this happen.
     
    #20 wjtracy, Apr 19, 2016
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