Fog Lights - PROBLEM???

13961 Views 24 Replies 13 Participants Last post by coloradospringsprius, Feb 22, 2007

PriusMarv

Discussion Starter · May 15, 2005

2

I just took my 2005 Pruis to the dealer. I noted today when cleaning the fog lights that BOTH had one long crack in them.

I mentioned to the service manager that several people have noticed cracks in their fog lamps and he said he hadn't heard of a problem yet regarding them. BUT most of the Prius he's seen don't have fog lights.

He took a very LONG close look at both lamps and he thinks the cracks were NOT caused by any impact. the lights are still smooth on the surface and he could not find any sign that an impact cause this cracking. And both lights have similar cracks.

I am thinking that it might be caused by the heat generated against the glass surface and being hit by cold water. I remember having the lights on when I had the car washed at the automatic carwash the last time. I also remember checking the lamps and they were fine when "roadgoat" on priuschat.com posted a note about cracked fog lights back in January.

I suggest that everyone check their fog lights for this type of crack on the fog lights. I and others are suspecting that there is a problem with the material used in the the glass.

The dealer is replacing my fog lamps under warranty.

Here's the left light

Here's the right light

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PriusMarv

Discussion Starter · #2 · May 22, 2005

FOLLOW UP

I had the new fog lights installed on Tuesday and had the 3M Stonegard installed immediately thereafter.

While at the dealer two more service managers took a look at the lights. The first one ran his fingers along the cracks and said he couldn't feel anything and asked the district service rep for an opinion. After running his ink pen along the cracks (he didn't offer to allow me to do it as proof), his opinion differed greatly from that of the other manager and the service manager who worked last Saturday who said he could not find an impact point. This district manager wanted me to pay a portion of the costs and I reminded him the first two managers who looked could not find any impact point on either light and the Saturday manager said he'd cover them under warranty.

DONE DEAL! He relented, without any further fuss.

On a side note... He noticed my Llumar Paint Protection and said that Toyota is now installing it as a factory option. Surprised me and the other manager.

Anyone else hear of it?

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An04Prius

· #3 · May 23, 2005

When someone on this site called my attention to it, I examined my fog lights and found each lens had an impact crack...like you see when a BB or small sharp stone hits glass. Mine did not look like your straight line cracks in your photo.

I ordered and installed plastic shields from Clear Guard 814-763-1550.

They are two flexible plastic-like disks that are installed over the glass on the fog lamps. I paid $10. for what they call 04/05 Prius Fog Light Kit.

That was several months ago, so far no more cracks.

I believe the fog lights are in a particularly vulnerable area of the car subject to debris, rocks that are kicked up by traffic. I felt $10. is well worth it if it might prevent an expensive fog lamp lens replacement.

What is the 3M Stoneguard like...similar ??

GSpozars

· #4 · May 23, 2005

Clear Guard 12 mil Fog Lamp Kit now $15.95

I called the number posted for the Clear Guard Fog Lamp Kit,
and the price now is $15.95 plus shipping for one 12 mil Fog Lamp Kit for 2 lenses. Sample packets of "303 UV Protectant" included with order.

Rather than having cracked Fog Lamp lenses some day I ordered the Kit.

Was told that if a group order of 15 Kits was made, the price could be reduced to $10.95 plus shipping per Kit.

2005 Silver Prius w/Fog Lamps, 11K miles Owners
2005 Driftwood Prius w/o Fog Lamps, 2K Owners

Sanny

· #5 · May 23, 2005

Re: Clear Guard 12 mil Fog Lamp Kit now $15.95

GSpozars said:
Was told that if a group order of 15 Kits was made, the price could be reduced to $10.95 plus shipping per Kit.

You can count me in, if you are looking to put together a group.

GSpozars

· #6 · May 23, 2005

I already ordered the $15.95 Kit to avoid wait for group

I already ordered the $15.95 Kit to avoid waiting who knows how long for 13 others to get together, make payment, reimbursement, etc to order.

I checked Priuschat, but could find no group order for fog light shields.

I figured spending even the $15.95, was cheaper than lamp replacements.

2005 Silver Prius w/uncracked Fog Lamps, 11K miles Owners
2005 Driftwood w/o Fog Lamps, 2K miles Owners

bshef

· #7 · May 23, 2005

Anyone put this kit on yet......from reading their website info....looks like a pain in the A$$.....
$15.95 for the covers but then all the crap to put in on with? sigh!

paul16451

· #8 · May 23, 2005

bshef said:
Anyone put this kit on yet......from reading their website info....looks like a pain in the A$$.....
$15.95 for the covers but then all the crap to put in on with? sigh!

Oh? How so? When I checked the site:

http://www.clear-guard.com/productsearc ... &model=654

it said the installation difficulty rating was 1/5 (easy for beginner), and gave no further information. These are just the protectors, NOT the whole light, which was rated advanced (4/5 stars).

Where did you see the additional info?

An04Prius

· #9 · May 24, 2005

bshef said:
Anyone put this kit on yet......from reading their website info....looks like a pain in the A$$.....
$15.95 for the covers but then all the crap to put in on with? sigh!

When I bought it and installed it around Feb 05, it cost me, as I said, $10. from Clear Guard. The kit I got was two flexible plastic discs just slightly smaller than the fog lamp lenses, and a small smoothing tool to help installation. They are placed on the fog lamp lens with water.

I remember putting them on was fairly easily. The instructions were clear and understandable to me.

Sanny

· #10 · Feb 20, 2007

So simple, a polar bear can do it. Look ma, no hands!! (just paws)

An04Prius

· #11 · Feb 20, 2007

Sanny said:
So simple, a polar bear can do it. Look ma, no hands!! (just paws)

Actually, it was a short enough project that I didn't have to pause... until I was finished.

David Beale

· #12 · Feb 20, 2007

It sounds like it's the same stuff as the 3M product. The 3M is just a thicker vinyl than the "clearbra" you can have installed on the front to protect the paint. I had it installed on the anti-Prius, to protect the $350 headlamp assys. It's also completely transparent, whereas the clearbra is slightly opaque, I think due to it not being perfectly polish smooth.

Once you have either of these products on the lamps, do be careful when wiping them clean. It's easier to scratch than the lens of the lamp. So clean with water, don't dry wipe. I was lazy one day and used a squeegee on mine and they are now scratched.

As far as effectiveness, I watched a large rock (1 1/2 inch) ricochet off one lamp assy on the highway with no damage. I suspect it would have cracked the lamp lens without the protection. I was just happy it missed the windshield, but on reflection, the windshield is less expensive than the lamp assy.!!

Roger V

· #13 · Feb 20, 2007

Re: Clear Guard 12 mil Fog Lamp Kit now $15.95

Sanny said:
GSpozars said:

Was told that if a group order of 15 Kits was made, the price could be reduced to $10.95 plus shipping per Kit.

Click to expand...

You can count me in, if you are looking to put together a group.

I'm interested as well. I know there have been group orders in the past for VAIS, etc., but how does it work with different shipping addresses and credit card numbers?

Hep

· #14 · Feb 20, 2007

Sanny said:
So simple, a polar bear can do it. Look ma, no hands!! (just paws)

Sanny, has Livvy been digging in the archives? Resurecting threads from May 05? :wink:

DanMan32

· #15 · Feb 20, 2007

David Beale said:
As far as effectiveness, I watched a large rock (1 1/2 inch) ricochet off one lamp assy on the highway with no damage. I suspect it would have cracked the lamp lens without the protection. I was just happy it missed the windshield, but on reflection, the windshield is less expensive than the lamp assy.!!

How in the world did you do that? The fog lamps aren't visible from the cabin. Were you in a pace car driving in front of the Prius, or did you mount a camera to the front grille?

Ct. Ken V

· #16 · Feb 20, 2007

Hi, Dan,

David said in his 1st paragraph that he had the "clearbra" installed on his anti-Prius to protect his $350 headlamp assys. (so not the Prius & not the fog lights). If you're a tall driver (which I"m not) & sit straight up in the seat, you may just be able to see the tops of the headlights on his RX-7 or Nissan Pathfinder. Actually, it must have been the RX-7.

Ken (in Bolton,Ct)

An04Prius

· #17 · Feb 20, 2007

One of my small gripes about the Prius is that there should be a dashboard indicator that the fog lamps are on. If there is room for a snowflake... :wink:

coloradospringsprius

· #18 · Feb 20, 2007

True - I drove around with 'em on for I-don't-know-how-many weeks or months. I only found out they'd been on when we finally got a little fog (which is almost unheard-of here).

Roger V

· #19 · Feb 21, 2007

Dan,
He is talking about one of his anti-Prius vehicles. He doesn't yet own a Prius.

firepa63

· #20 · Feb 21, 2007

You folks sure know how to resurrect an old post (May 14, 2005) and keep it going...

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