Brake light melting

See post # 21229 et seq. at yahoo Prius-2G group.

 

For those of us who are monogomous and don't flirt with Yahoo could someone crosspost the above mention post #21229

 

It's just as well, as I offerred not the best msg #. Here is the sequence that seems relavent. Nothing new in topic has been posted since 25 Oct.

Message 21204

From: "leoj_ruhtra" <joel_REITZ@b...>
Date: Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:41 pm
Subject: Brake Light Deformation

Has anyone else noticed deformed brake lights?
I have seen at least 2 '04 Prius with this problem.
Toyota said they have not heard of this from anyone.

I suspect that nobody has noticed, yet.

Look at the black plastic frame behind the clear
lens for the brake lights. This frame is the
top set on each side in the back and contains 8 LEDs.
I would be interested to know how many people also have
this problem. Mine is deformed enough to obscure
several LEDs, a potential safety issue.
As I am in Portland Oregon, I would think this would be
a bigger problem in warmer climates. Mine deformed
on a 95 degree day.

See the photos posted on this group under:
photos/miscellaneus/brake light deformation

Joel

++++++++++++

Message 21208

From: "texasaltima" <texasaltima@y...>
Date: Sat Oct 23, 2004 3:05 pm
Subject: Re: Brake Light Deformation

This is definetly covered by your Toyota Warranty. I would love to
hear what your dealership has to say about it. I think we should
contact toyota and ask them about this problem, maybe even send them
some of your pictures. I am worried because I live in Texas and if
your deform in a 95 degree day, I wonder how mine could be affected.
I wonder what type of plastic they use for the black sections. I
wouldn't be surprise if the chrome reflectors actually are the ones
responsible for melting the plastic. I bet the light from the sun was
reflected into the plastic, raising its temperature to the melting
point.

+++++++++++++

Message 21277

From: "leoj_ruhtra" <joel_REITZ@b...>
Date: Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:00 am
Subject: Re: Brake Light Deformation

I am thinking that Toyota changed the plastic content.
My VIN is under 100000, delivered in October '04.
With the feedback, I will ask for a replacment.
I didn't want to do that if they had not fixed the
problem.

BTW, my car simply sat in my driveway facing north
and uphill for one day (I usually park it in the
opposite orientation). I have seen one other Prius
at the local grocery store with similar deformation,
so I know it is not an isolated case.

Joel

 

I just checked my today, and yep, they are melting and deforming. I'll wait for a while before seeing about getting them replaced under warranty; Toyota may change the type of plastic, and no sense getting them replaced twice.

Thanks,
Shawn

 

can someoen post a picture so i know what to look for? i looked at mine and didn't see anything out of the norm.

thanks,
-drew

 

Hmmm. Mine look fine. I had the youngest CHARTLet press the brakes for me to make sure I was looking in the right place (Probably not really smart as I have red light dancing in my eyes now...) Other than two vertical LEDs out (black) in each section, which seems normal as it is in the same place in each section, mine seem fine.

 

ACK!!! Just looked at mine they are melting too. Not so bad that I am going to do anything about it until something else comes up but definitely there.

Peart75:
No picture but the part that is melting is the black baffle that separates each of the individual 'cells' of the brake light. Should be about 1/8 of an inch thick from leading edge all the way back to the silver reflector with nice sharp right angles as well. Instead it is bubbling up in places. Actually, I would not have noticed it if there hadn't been posts here and then actually comparing the left and right sides. Obviously, they should be mirror images of each other but they weren't!

 

Is this a problem with the light housing itself or a switch that lies outside the light? I am considering ordering a "new" rear light from Europe so I can have a "rear" fog light. Now, I'm thinking twice about this. I don't want to install the new light and have it melt away. Anyone have any more specific info on this? Is related to the latest recall (the one that is so far only official in Japan? Thanks!

 

i believe that Toyota is getting ready to issue a recall on the stoplight problem. apparently it affects 550,000 vehicles so other makes and models are affected

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA\";p=\"53105)</div>

Nope: The brake lights in the vehicles, manufactured between January 1999 and August this year, could fail to work due to faulty switches

Must be the sw on the break pedal.

Taking car in Monday for other things.. hope they can do this update then..

 

Wow!

I guess until I take mine in next month for an oil change I'll try not to use the brakes.

I'll check mine tomorrow morning (when it's light out). If I can get another photo of it, I'll post it, too.

 

Maybe its my monitor not being bright enough and showing enough detail, but I fail to see a problem.

I checked mine, and as noted, only saw one vertical segment dark but symetrical to the other one.

Saw cyan squares after that!