headlight plastic shows "stress cracks"
07-22-2003, 11:31 AM
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headlight plastic shows "stress cracks"
my headlights both have about 30-40 small hairline cracks about 1/2" long. They are all orented the same direction. It looks like the type of cracks you get when you bend a piece of plexiglass... small white hairline cracks.
Dealer says Nissan may not warranty because he says it mey be due to my 3M protective film on the plastic headlamps.
Somewhere I thought I heard of another Z owner who had the same cracks and did NOT have 3M clear bra film on them.
I HIGHLY doubt the 3M fil is causing the cracks.... so many other cars have the film and do not have cracks
sorry no pics yet... I'll try to get some
who else has these???
Dealer says Nissan may not warranty because he says it mey be due to my 3M protective film on the plastic headlamps.
Somewhere I thought I heard of another Z owner who had the same cracks and did NOT have 3M clear bra film on them.
I HIGHLY doubt the 3M fil is causing the cracks.... so many other cars have the film and do not have cracks
sorry no pics yet... I'll try to get some
who else has these???
07-22-2003, 12:27 PM
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I have them also, and no film whatsoever on them so that is not it.
They are mostly on the lower inside corner and the are not on the surface and on both lights.
They are mostly on the lower inside corner and the are not on the surface and on both lights.
07-22-2003, 04:37 PM
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I had the cracks on both headlights. I and several other people watched the lights crack. I was traveling and went to the first dealer right after it happened. This dealer said they would replace them if they had the parts, which they did not.
Three days later I went to the dealer in the town I was visiting. They ordered new headlghts (got them in 2 days) and replaced them without question. The next day, the dealer had another Z come in with the same problem (first two he had seen). So, he did some research. The service manager told there are some "technical notes" out regarding the cracking. He said they "think" that petroluem based cleaners are casuing the headlights to crack. He emphasized that they "think" this is the cause. He said that technical notes are sometimes available on issues they are studying, but do not have enough information on to publish a technical bulletin.
How much of this is correct? I don't know. All I know is that a dealer 4 hours from my home replaced the lights without hesitiation. While they were at it, the fixed my window grease streaks. I have been waiting for over two months for my local dealer to get the parts to fix the window grease streaks.
Sorry for the long post....
Three days later I went to the dealer in the town I was visiting. They ordered new headlghts (got them in 2 days) and replaced them without question. The next day, the dealer had another Z come in with the same problem (first two he had seen). So, he did some research. The service manager told there are some "technical notes" out regarding the cracking. He said they "think" that petroluem based cleaners are casuing the headlights to crack. He emphasized that they "think" this is the cause. He said that technical notes are sometimes available on issues they are studying, but do not have enough information on to publish a technical bulletin.
How much of this is correct? I don't know. All I know is that a dealer 4 hours from my home replaced the lights without hesitiation. While they were at it, the fixed my window grease streaks. I have been waiting for over two months for my local dealer to get the parts to fix the window grease streaks.
Sorry for the long post....
07-23-2003, 11:01 AM
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Originally posted by N74DV
Westpak.....have you gone to the dealer??
my dealer says now way will they replace them because they were caused by the bra.
that's total BS
Westpak.....have you gone to the dealer??
my dealer says now way will they replace them because they were caused by the bra.
that's total BS
07-23-2003, 11:28 AM
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Cracks
DJ, I have a friend w/a Redline that we go on runs w/often. Last Saturday we went to Lakeside-Pinetop to the Navaho Festival and he showed me his headlights. He had just removed the clear bra a week ago and only one of the headlight lenses was scratched. BUT, it was horrendous IMHO. It looked like someone had taken a rattail file to it, yet, the other lens was clear. I'm going to get a pic of it and post to see if this is similiar to what you experienced.
My clear bra has been on since November and I have over 32,000 miles on it and no symptoms of any cracking. Are these cracks appearing in/because of the removal process?
Regards, Jim
My clear bra has been on since November and I have over 32,000 miles on it and no symptoms of any cracking. Are these cracks appearing in/because of the removal process?
Regards, Jim
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07-23-2003, 11:35 AM
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Re: Cracks
DJ, I just spoke to my friend and he has/had no 3M on the headlights (I do) so that takes that hypothesis (3M removal process at fault)
out of the question. I'm posting pix this afternoon. Regards, Jim
out of the question. I'm posting pix this afternoon. Regards, Jim
Originally posted by JimH
DJ, I have a friend w/a Redline that we go on runs w/often. Last Saturday we went to Lakeside-Pinetop to the Navaho Festival and he showed me his headlights. He had just removed the clear bra a week ago and only one of the headlight lenses was scratched. BUT, it was horrendous IMHO. It looked like someone had taken a rattail file to it, yet, the other lens was clear. I'm going to get a pic of it and post to see if this is similiar to what you experienced.
My clear bra has been on since November and I have over 32,000 miles on it and no symptoms of any cracking. Are these cracks appearing in/because of the removal process?
Regards, Jim
DJ, I have a friend w/a Redline that we go on runs w/often. Last Saturday we went to Lakeside-Pinetop to the Navaho Festival and he showed me his headlights. He had just removed the clear bra a week ago and only one of the headlight lenses was scratched. BUT, it was horrendous IMHO. It looked like someone had taken a rattail file to it, yet, the other lens was clear. I'm going to get a pic of it and post to see if this is similiar to what you experienced.
My clear bra has been on since November and I have over 32,000 miles on it and no symptoms of any cracking. Are these cracks appearing in/because of the removal process?
Regards, Jim
07-23-2003, 11:43 AM
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hi Jim,
no these are not appearing because of removal process... they are in the headlight plastic underneath the clear bra material. They started to appear in the last month or so.
They look exactly like what happens when you flex a piece od plexiglass too much... small white cracks.
no these are not appearing because of removal process... they are in the headlight plastic underneath the clear bra material. They started to appear in the last month or so.
They look exactly like what happens when you flex a piece od plexiglass too much... small white cracks.
07-23-2003, 02:45 PM
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DJ, Do yours look like this?
He never had 3M material on his and it is only one light that looks like this. His is going into West Valley Nissan tomorrow for repair. I'll let you know what they say re: warranty coverage. 
Regards, Jim
Regards, Jim
Originally posted by N74DV
hi Jim,
no these are not appearing because of removal process... they are in the headlight plastic underneath the clear bra material. They started to appear in the last month or so.
They look exactly like what happens when you flex a piece od plexiglass too much... small white cracks.
hi Jim,
no these are not appearing because of removal process... they are in the headlight plastic underneath the clear bra material. They started to appear in the last month or so.
They look exactly like what happens when you flex a piece od plexiglass too much... small white cracks.
07-23-2003, 03:51 PM
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pictures
these are large pictures so you can see the cracks...
I'm furious with the way Earnhardt Nissan is handling this. The tech told me that all Z's have this and that the only reason I am seeing it is because the clear bra is "magnifying" the effect...!!!!
is that the most ridiculous thing you have heard?
what is this $hit?!... the techs are optics experts now?!!
BTW these pics are with the clearbra removed... as you can tell the "magnifying effect" is pure BS.
I'm furious with the way Earnhardt Nissan is handling this. The tech told me that all Z's have this and that the only reason I am seeing it is because the clear bra is "magnifying" the effect...!!!!
is that the most ridiculous thing you have heard?
what is this $hit?!... the techs are optics experts now?!!
BTW these pics are with the clearbra removed... as you can tell the "magnifying effect" is pure BS.
Last edited by N74DV; 07-23-2003 at 03:57 PM.
07-23-2003, 04:17 PM
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I forgot to mention that I have a clear bra, but not on the headlights.
As I mentioned in my post earlier, the servicer manager said Nissian has "technical notes" stating that cetain types of cleaners is causing this.
Headlights should not crack because any type of cleaner is put on it. By the way, I think it is cleaners causing it.
N74DV, I will check Pms in a minute.
As I mentioned in my post earlier, the servicer manager said Nissian has "technical notes" stating that cetain types of cleaners is causing this.
Headlights should not crack because any type of cleaner is put on it. By the way, I think it is cleaners causing it.
N74DV, I will check Pms in a minute.
07-24-2003, 10:53 AM
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Re: headlight plastic shows "stress cracks"
Originally posted by N74DV
my headlights both have about 30-40 small hairline cracks about 1/2" long. They are all orented the same direction. It looks like the type of cracks you get when you bend a piece of plexiglass... small white hairline cracks.
Dealer says Nissan may not warranty because he says it mey be due to my 3M protective film on the plastic headlamps.
Somewhere I thought I heard of another Z owner who had the same cracks and did NOT have 3M clear bra film on them.
I HIGHLY doubt the 3M fil is causing the cracks.... so many other cars have the film and do not have cracks
sorry no pics yet... I'll try to get some
who else has these???
my headlights both have about 30-40 small hairline cracks about 1/2" long. They are all orented the same direction. It looks like the type of cracks you get when you bend a piece of plexiglass... small white hairline cracks.
Dealer says Nissan may not warranty because he says it mey be due to my 3M protective film on the plastic headlamps.
Somewhere I thought I heard of another Z owner who had the same cracks and did NOT have 3M clear bra film on them.
I HIGHLY doubt the 3M fil is causing the cracks.... so many other cars have the film and do not have cracks
sorry no pics yet... I'll try to get some
who else has these???
Az240z
07-25-2003, 03:24 AM
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Mine are being replaced next week. I don't have a clear bra on the lights, but I have 12 cracks on the left and about 30 on the right. The dealer didn't have any problem with saying they needed replacing.
08-12-2003, 09:22 PM
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dealer said his dealership would cover them and that he was doing it as a gesture of goodwill because Nissan will not cover the claim.
He said the cracks are due to mistreatment.
WTF? all I ever did to the headlights is wash them with soapy water and dry them with a soft cloth.
****ing dealership a$$holes!
He said the cracks are due to mistreatment.
WTF? all I ever did to the headlights is wash them with soapy water and dry them with a soft cloth.
****ing dealership a$$holes!
08-13-2003, 07:31 PM
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Has anyone considered the possible correlation between the stress cracks and rough roads? For those who are experiencing the cracks, do you believe the roads you drive may be on average rougher than what the rest of us drive.
I get the feeling very few people overall are having this problem sice this is the first post I've seen of this issue.
I get the feeling very few people overall are having this problem sice this is the first post I've seen of this issue.
08-13-2003, 08:18 PM
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there have been a few posts regarding the headlamp cracks.
I do not think it has anything to do with rough roads... my Z has seen only smooth asphalt here in Phoenix, AZ. We are lucky here to have very nice roads.
Maybe it has something to do with heat??? It was about 119 degrees here the week that I began noticing....
I do not think it has anything to do with rough roads... my Z has seen only smooth asphalt here in Phoenix, AZ. We are lucky here to have very nice roads.
Maybe it has something to do with heat??? It was about 119 degrees here the week that I began noticing....