Foggy / Dirty Projector Lens

[SubSonic]

Now that I've gotten the LEDs sorted out for the H11 low beam projectors. I've discovered a new issue. My passenger projector lens has a few spots/smudges on it and my driver's side is almost completely fogged over. Almost like a bulb smoked and left a film, but it also appears to be on the outside of the lens as well (still inside the housing).

I bought it new with 7 miles about a month and a half ago and took what I assume were the original bulbs out myself and replaced them with LEDs (twice--because of the interference issue). What would cause this--or is this a defect? Because there's no way to get to the inside/outside of the lens without disassembling the housing.

The foggy one actually makes the light stand out from the non-foggy one when they are turned on. Looking at the front of the car it's obvious something is up.

I've attached the pictures of the clear side (right) that has a few spots and the foggy side (left/driver) that's hazed over.

 

[Mad Maxx]

Haze from the glue fumes when the housing was assembled.

 

[SubSonic]

Haze from the glue fumes when the housing was assembled.

Yeah, that’s probably the most likely explanation. Do yours show any signs of this? Think it’s worth bringing up or am I just being OCD? Thanks for the insight.

 

[dbbd1]

I would bring it up. It's a noticeable difference.

 

[CMoore711]

If a dealer decides to fix it, I bet they will replace the entire headlight housing. In that case, depending on your dealer I would inform them of your LED bulbs so that they don’t mess anything up.

 

[SubSonic]

If a dealer decides to fix it, I bet they will replace the entire headlight housing. In that case, depending on your dealer I would inform them of your LED bulbs so that they don’t mess anything up.

Yeah, I’d probably even put the halogens back in before bringing it up because there’s always the chance they’d try to blame it on the bulbs—as stupid as that may be. I don’t want to deal with that.

 

[dbbd1]

Yeah, I’d probably even put the halogens back in before bringing it up because there’s always the chance they’d try to blame it on the bulbs—as stupid as that may be. I don’t want to deal with that.

Double ditto

If a dealer decides to fix it, I bet they will replace the entire headlight housing. In that case, depending on your dealer I would inform them of your LED bulbs so that they don’t mess anything up.

Ditto

 

[SnowDrifter]

Was this a retrofit? Cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) likes to fume. Fun fact: You can use it to lift fingerprints

If it's factory, I'd start looking for a leak or any other means of intrusion. It's also possible that there was a bulb failure at some point that the resultant discharge coated the lens.

 

[SubSonic]

Was this a retrofit? Cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) likes to fume. Fun fact: You can use it to lift fingerprints

If it's factory, I'd start looking for a leak or any other means of intrusion. It's also possible that there was a bulb failure at some point that the resultant discharge coated the lens.

Nope, not a retrofit. Truck is brand new—less than 2 months of driving, had 7 miles on the clock when I took delivery.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Nope, not a retrofit. Truck is brand new—less than 2 months of driving, had 7 miles on the clock when I took delivery.

Just bring it back to the dealer and let them replace it.

 

[SubSonic]

Just an update, brought it to the dealer--they are replacing the headlights. They had to order the parts, so they are keeping it overnight. Hopefully I will have it back sometime tomorrow. A little annoying because they had no loaners, so I have to catch rides to and from work.

But hopefully night visibility will be increased, because that was something that I found really disappointing coming off a 2014 Camaro SS/RS with the stock HID projectors. We have a 2018 Mazda 3 with halogen projectors that blew these halogen projectors out of the water. It would be awesome if it was just a bad set.

 

[CMoore711]

Good to hear they’re replacing them for you.

I bet you’d get better light output and depth from your low beam projectors with an HID kit over the LED’s. Even though LED bulbs can be bright, they don’t have as much throw or distance that they are able to project their light. Unless it’s a headlight housing/projector specifically designed for LED.

 

[SubSonic]

Well it's half done--they were able to source the driver's light locally and got it installed. But the passenger side is coming in from Michigan--which is a little amusing because they assemble these trucks up the street. So I've got it back until the second light comes in.

Thing is, they didn't bother aiming the new light so it's pointed way down. Any one know how to do height adjustment on the 15-18 lights? I found the screw for the L and R adjustment, but can't seem to find the height adjustment.

Good to hear they’re replacing them for you.

I bet you’d get better light output and depth from your low beam projectors with an HID kit over the LED’s. Even though LED bulbs can be bright, they don’t have as much throw or distance that they are able to project their light. Unless it’s a headlight housing/projector specifically designed for LED.

Definitely considered it. I've done plenty of HIDs and BiXenon projector retros in other vehicles--but don't want to tear up the housing for a full retro until out of warranty. Do these halogen projectors hold up OK to HIDs in the long term--I know some vehicle have issues with heat and the reflector bowl.

 

[dbbd1]

I think that the "L" is for lower and the "R" is for raise. There is no left-right adjustment that I know of.

 

[dbbd1]

Well it's half done--they were able to source the driver's light locally and got it installed. But the passenger side is coming in from Michigan--which is a little amusing because they assemble these trucks up the street. So I've got it back until the second light comes in.

That's great! That means that they have another chance to break more clips holding your front bumper on...


(Hopefully not, though)

 

[SubSonic]

I think that the "L" is for lower and the "R" is for raise. There is no left-right adjustment that I know of.

Well I'll be damned--guess I'm not smart enough for this truck.

That's great! That means that they have another chance to break more clips holding your front bumper on...


(Hopefully not, though)

You're not wrong... I have plenty of experience with dealer induced damage.

On a side note--the new light has a little bit of smudging on the projector lense--but it's still better than either of the originals. Seems like they have a bit of a QC issue. Once they get the other one replaced I'm calling it good enough because chances are the replacements could be worse.