I posted this on the temporary message board and I dont think it transferred over, so here it is again....

I took my S into the shop for its 45k checkup and when I went to pick it up my driver side headlight has about 8 or 9 cracks about an inch long each that are vertically lined up against each other near the top of the headlight. I talked to the owner and he said that there was no way that they did that damage. I'm unsure--we've been going to this mechanic for over 15 years, and he knows the family fairly well and is a pretty honest person. I know for a fact though that the cracks were not on the car prior to me taking the car in. So, has anyone heard of a defect in the headlight that would cause the cracks? I'm not sure what to think or do. Any advice is welcome. Thanks.

 

Any help anyone? Please........ BTW Honda sent me a recall notice to replace both my rear tail lights due to the fading issue that everyone has talked about in the past. Too bad it wasnt a recall on the headlights

 

Free advice?

Foot the headlight yourself. Leave the maniac out of the picture. Clear them through Rick

Yes. Get the tail light fade fixed.

 

Certainly sounds like "impact fractures" to me, but it could be heat related as well. That there are so few, and seemingly close together, I'd almost think someone has dropped something on that area of the headlamp. I've seen a buuuuuunch of headlamps over the last few years now. Only time I've actually seen damage/cracks across the top of one or both headlamps, however, were identified as having been due to "eyelids" or vinyl-tint applied to the front of the headlamps in question. Basically, trapping a little extra heat behind them, the clear plastic seems to develop fine fractures. But again, under the circumstances of these aftermarket applications, there were maaaany 1/2" or less fractures and they existed across the entire topline of the headlamps in question.

Good luck with the problem. If the mechanic has already "walked away" from responsibility...there's little likelihood that fighting him will do you any good. But that won't leave a nice feeling in your gut in the future. Sorry for your woes.

- Dave

 

Well if I wasnt in grad school I would probably foot the bill myself, but I cant just fork over $500+ for a new lamp. The thing that pisses me off is that he seems to not care now, even though he was supposed to call me back by now to let me know what he planned on doing. I'm going to call him monday and let him know how I feel and that 15 years of loyalty to his business is gone.

 

For what its worth...you can get a replacement headlamp from Hardtopguy.com for approximately $350.00 plus shipping. Not that its still not a lot of money, and you certainly didn't plan on the added expense. But perhaps if the mechanic is willing to meet you half way or something...a long-term relationship could be salvaged???

By the way...an alternative since the fractures are already there? You might just consider adding eyelids! It would more than likely cover the fractures (you know, "out of sight out of mind"). And as fractures, the probability of them allowing moisture leaks is rather small.