Headlights burning and cracking clam?

1241 Views 11 Replies 11 Participants Last post by shadowhusky, Apr 6, 2009

madden

Discussion Starter · Apr 5, 2009

Hey everyone,
I just bought a 05 krypton elise and am having a small problem
My roomate also owns an 05 and is not having any of the same issues and told me to post up here for help. I took off my headlight covers and saw cracks ans burnt peeling paint underneath :crazyeyes
The car has HIDs on it, but I didnt think that could cause it. Here are a few pictures, any idea what is going on???

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kabob

· #2 · Apr 5, 2009

Holy crap! Do you have the ignitor and ballast mounted near where the damage is? And how could it not be your HID install causing the damage, guy? Occam's razor.

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Westrock

· #3 · Apr 5, 2009

There was an issue with the 05's to where the sun light would be amplified through the convex lens on the top light. As shown by your second image where the sticker on the body is being magnified. However the actual light housing would have to have taken damage as well. There was a recall done on the 05's to have a little ring installed around that lens to catch the light.

What does the light housing look like?

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VisualEchos

· #4 · Apr 5, 2009

Headlamp assembly burn is on the inside of the assembly itself, looks like scratches, and will be located on the outside edges.

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ChrisB

· #5 · Apr 5, 2009

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but that looks more like damage from force than heat. To get that kind of damage from heat, I would think the housing itself would be severely damaged.

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Green Ghost

· #6 · Apr 5, 2009

Looks to me (also) like it took a hit or something. Looks like cracking.

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bueno

· #7 · Apr 5, 2009

Westrock said:
There was an issue with the 05's to where the sun light would be amplified through the convex lens on the top light. As shown by your second image where the sticker on the body is being magnified. However the actual light housing would have to have taken damage as well. There was a recall done on the 05's to have a little ring installed around that lens to catch the light.

What does the light housing look like?

The lack of embelisher rings which was the fix for the scratches on the housing would not cause what the OP's photos show. My guess is someone did work back there and damaged/scratched the area.

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SirLotus

· #8 · Apr 5, 2009

That does not look like heat related damage. Looks like physical damage from possibly installing the HID's, etc.

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Rainier

· #9 · Apr 5, 2009

(Let me start by stating that I don't know what I'm talking about!)

If excessive heat is building up, could it cause glue to soften, causing the seperation
seen in the clam?

In any case, if you just bought it from a dealer take it back to them to see
what they say about it and make sure its repaired by someone who knows
fiberglass.

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madden

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 5, 2009

it does look like impact damage in the pics. like someone said It may be from the HID ignitor, I'd try moving them

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Bane

· #11 · Apr 5, 2009

Is there damage anywhere else on the clam? Underneath? A slight bump in the front?

As others said... that looks like a fracture and not damage caused by heat.

There is no way to damage that area by installing HIDs unless you really don't know what you're doing.

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shadowhusky

· #12 · Apr 6, 2009

The paint looks like it was stressed from an impact. The pattern it is chipped in looks like the side of the car was hit. It does not look like it would be caused from the HID's.

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