headlight lens problems

i have an 09 trd and the lens on my headlights is starting to crack. its not that bad....ok it kind of is just because it bothers me. the cracks are vertical and there is about 12-15 of them across the middle. i will try to get some pics up soon but i was wondering if any one has had this problem.

im not sure what is causing it but i recently put some HID headlights and i was wondering if it could be because they are too hot. i have the 8k heads that i bought them from friend who had them on his 04 then put them in his 2010 after selling his 01 and had them for 2 years in his 2010 with no problems. ive searched on the forum to see if anyone with HID's has had this problem but couldnt find anything.

i also did a black headlight mod a few months ago and there is no leaks or anything but i was thinking that maybe baking the headlights might have damaged them by weakening the plastic?

if its not those two things maybe it could be heat damage from sunlight?

any input is helpful. thanks in advance

 

I have the same problem with my OEM headlights as well. I haven't modified my headlights in any way and my 2010 spends about 90% of the time parked under the car port. I only have 26k miles on it and was really disappointed to see two vertical cracks about 6 inches long in the middle of both headlights. I'm planning on a retro fit so I already have a brand new set of BHLM headlights I bought on eBay. Hopefully the lens doesn't crack on these.

 

Do either of you run your headlights sitting still? As in parking lots, or warming it up in the morning? Im pretty convinced its from the heat they give off. Especially if your not moving to help them cool. Maybe try taking this into consideration on your next headlights and it may just solve this issue.

 

I don't have HIDs, but I run my all the time sitting or moving. If the trucks running, they're on. Not saying that is not the problem; however, I wonder if they changed the materials in later years.

 

hey I have the same problem on my 08. I don't have hid's and I only run the lights at night. don't know what it could be.

 

Hmmh yeah I was thinking it was heat cracks myself..My 08' had the cracks when I bought it at 90k right smack in the center. Im pretty cautious about lights left running especially having film on my fogs. I've been keeping an eye out on my new 13' and hopefully no cracking

 

Thanks for the input guys, I don't really run my headlights unless it's dark or foggy so idk what's going on, Ive heard of people that have gotten new lenses off eBay from companies who break the back of the housing doing retro fitting, I may look into that, then again I read that on the internet so it could be false info

 

Maybe hard to tell with this pic but it looks like a bunch of scratches

 

take the truck over to your dealer. let them give you some bullshit story. then demand replacements. they replaced mine as a good will jesture costing me $10.70.

 

I have a 2010 and the daytime running lights were melting the acrylic in front of them and the housing was cracking as well. I took it to Toyota and they ended up replacing both headlights for free! They said it was under a Factory Service Bulletin. Might be worth a shot to take it in?

 

Yes, there was an issue with the daytime running lights (melting, actually) but since you modded them, hoping they will still warranty it...but you may be past the 3/36. Unless you bought an extended.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/243643-09-melting-dtrl-lens-recall-petition-urgent.html

 

This...
im thinking they will tell you its your fault when they see you have modded them... something like well you baked them in the oven and made the integrity of the part go down blah blah blah...

 

Intersting..Yeah I didnt realize you had the bhlm done..Those are pretty excessive..more like stress cracks from pulling them apart. Have you ever had film on the also? Like headlight covers..

 

If you go to the dealership, they are probably going to tell you that they aren't going to cover anything since you took the headlight apart. If you got the headlights with the BHLM already from the dealership then it probably would be covered. It should have nothing to do with your HID's. It does look like stress cracks from when you pulled the light apart.

 

At 30k mi. I just had to replace both the OEM rear tail lights on an '09. They self-destructed with hundreds of large and small cracks and pieces started coming off. The truck is garaged. No, it was not due to vandalism, shopping carts, stone pits or backing into anything. I just want to know why?

 

Pictures would be great?

 

Did you put anything on them? I know rain-X will cause the plastic to crack like that. I made the mistake of putting it on my motorcycle visor and it did the same thing.

 

^^ Yea, I think you got something. started with 303 Aerospace Protectant about a year ago. Do you have any links about the RainX?

Sorry, no pictures. I salvaged some smaller pieces and wiring but the lenses are now gone.

 

From their website-