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Headlight covers already developing haze

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by PriusRos, Apr 23, 2016.

  1. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    I've had my Blizzard Pearl 2016 for about 5 weeks and about 2500 miles. Today I took it through the automatic carwash and while I was wiping it off afterwards I found I couldn't get the headlight covers completely clean. It looked like there was a drop of moisture on the inside and also the beginnings of the micro-scratches/haze I had on the inside of my 2010 Prius after 5 years or so.

    Is this normal??
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no, get it back to the dealer while it's still under warranty. all the best!(y)
     
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  3. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Automatic car wash :eek:
     
  4. JohnF

    JohnF Active Member

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    If you were to have the front end of the car filmed, you could have them film the headlights, and this would prevent abrasion from dulling the covers. I suppose if you went to a filming shop and asked, they might be willing to do just the headlights.

    I had the front end done on my Gen 4, plus the headlights, side view mirrors, and all four doorsills. Not cheap but excellent protection from all the sand and gravel flying around, especially during the winter months in our part of the country.

    In the winter I use a carwash because I live in a condo and they put away the garden hoses to keep them from freezing. One of those compromises of living in a condo. Lately I've been going to a "touchless" carwash but it doesn't seem to do a very good job.
     
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  5. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Active Member

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    Moisture on the inside, not normal...yes, I'd agree to get that warrantied ASAP.

    What I have found on other makes/models of cars with plastic h/l lenses is that McGuiars (sp) makes a plastic cleaner and a plastic polish.
    As preventative maintenance these products keep these plastic lens looking new.

    If the lens yellows or hazes over on the outside, then one needs to use one of those h/l restoration kits.
    Many success stories I have heard about, yet I have no personal experience with those products to comment further.

    FWIW I recall reading in the owners manual Toyota recommends NOT TO wax these components.

    Good luck.
     
  6. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    I would get it to the dealer and have them inspected. Way too soon for something like this to be happening. I have had my 2015 since August and my headlights have never fogged up and still look brand spanking new!
     
  7. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    Thanks everyone. It might have been the lighting because I don't really see the hazing today, although it looks like there are a couple of tiny little chips or abrasions. I'm going to wait a little while and see what happens - it'll still be under warranty for a while!
     
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  8. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Well, now you tell us... after you've already scared the pants off everybody... :ROFLMAO:


     
  9. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    I bet I got you all out there checking your headlights! Seriously though, I am still seeing something, like little chips.... and it's much too soon for that.
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I miss the days of $20 sealed beams.

    Capture.JPG
     
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  11. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    I guess we might have to consider getting that "film" stuff applied to the lights and front end.
    The new Prius is lower in the front? More prone to chips? I don't know.
     
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  12. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    sealed beam.jpg These 8" babies were £1.50(GBP) in the uk during the 70s
     
    #12 kithmo, Apr 25, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2016
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  13. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    Okay, I'm not imagining things. Today I took my car back to the dealer (to sort out the registration which I hadn't received and to change the backup beep to a single beep) and had them look at the headlights. When you look with the headlights on, there is definitely a haze. But in addition to the haze, there are also what looks like hairline scratches. A guy first cleaned off the headlights with degreasing cleaner, then tried polishing them with a rotary polisher. Still the haze and fine lines. Then the mechanic who fixed my backup beeper said that the haze is normal and showed me another car. When you turn on the headlights, there is a haze around the center of the light. However, when I pointed out the scratches, he just said that it's road debris causing the little scratches. I think they seem to be on the inside, but he said he couldn't tell whether they were on the inside or the outside. It seems that if they are on the inside, that' just isn't normal. But even if they are on the outside, it seems awfully soon to be seeing scratches. I do drive a lot, but it's on the highway, not on unpaved gravel roads.

    My sales rep suggested I wait until I bring it in for my 5000-mile service (I am already at over 3000 miles in 6 weeks) and have them look at it again.

    Please take a look at your headlights during daylight with auto headlights on. Do you see a haze? Do you have anything that looks like hairline scratches that can't be rubbed off?
     
  14. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    I'm at 2,000 miles. I do not see any scratches, or unusual hazing on the inside or outside of the lens.

    I would be very hesitant to allow someone to use a rotary polisher on the new headlight lens. It believe it may remove whatever factory finish that Toyota puts on the plastic lens. Likewise, that's why the owners manual recommends to not use car wax on the lens. (I already did one time.)

    Have you considered getting a "clear bra" film applied to the front of your car? And the headlights?
     
  15. vince22

    vince22 Active Member

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    No haze here but after driven 5K, already have a few tiny chips on it, I will installing 3M scotchgard film today right after watching YouTube guide, it might be tough though due to curvature corners.
     
  16. Frederickdawg

    Frederickdawg Active Member

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    It's not haze as in sun damage haze, although looks it. It's right on the area of the headlight projector. Clearly visible when headlight ON or off using a flashlight.
    My wife's brand new CX 5 with factory xenon headlights showed the same and the new gen 4 Prius headlights also
    exhibit some fogginess.

    I basically want through the same emotional crap with previous CX 5, at 44k miles the fogginess was still present and had not increased. That's also in Florida sunshine. UV damage would start to normally show on the top flat areas of headlight.


    LG-H901 ?
     
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  17. Frederickdawg

    Frederickdawg Active Member

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    I'll take a picture...

    LG-H901 ?
     
  18. Frederickdawg

    Frederickdawg Active Member

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    Like I mentioned to me this is gasses that were passed when headlight was manufactured. Previous vehicle was same.

    Prius gen 4 headlights. 2 weeks old vehicle uploadfromtaptalk1462159422671.jpg uploadfromtaptalk1462159430287.jpg uploadfromtaptalk1462159436495.jpg uploadfromtaptalk1462159444856.jpg uploadfromtaptalk1462159465770.jpg uploadfromtaptalk1462159474579.jpg uploadfromtaptalk1462159481782.jpg

    Also moisture on the inside, did you see water droplets inside or where they water droplets that had left a stain but already dried ?

    All normal. Also even with my high grade microfiber , if I rub hard which I just did, I put on some micro scratches ,just as I would if I rubbed hard with the micro fiber on the clear coat. Pressure causes scratches as does contaminant if not fully cleaned and wiping. But even if fully cleaned rub hard and you will see scratches on headlight plastic lense appear . I just did and stopped.

    LG-H901 ?
     
    #18 Frederickdawg, May 1, 2016
    Last edited: May 1, 2016
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  19. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Great photos. Thank you.
     
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  20. vince22

    vince22 Active Member

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    thanks for photos Fred, yes definitely not haze imho, I just finished installing 3M scotchgard film with my headlights, it should add some protections from haze and rock chips, considering the headlight assembly cost $1,200 each.