Stress cracks in headlight - 07 TL-S

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Old Jul 11, 2008 | 08:27 AM
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WRXtranceformed's Avatar
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Stress cracks in headlight - 07 TL-S

So I'm not sure whether it was pre-existing (doubtful, I would have noticed it) or whether they occurred from heating the headlight to install the Rockblocker on them but my driver's side headlight has a series of small stress cracks in it now. I could actually see them through the film, which I removed the other day because I drove through a rainstorm a few weeks ago and the lack of light output was VERY noticeable. I'll try to get some pics up at lunch today to give you an idea.

Question: Have any of you guys ever repaired stress cracks in a headlight that you can feel with your fingers? It doesn't look like the cracks go all the way through the light. I've refinished headlights by wetsanding / Plastic-X / buffing but the cracks weren't quite as deep as these. Any recommendations on grits I should use? Thanks
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Old Jul 11, 2008 | 09:48 AM
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Here we go, here are some crappy camera phone pics I took.


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Old Jul 11, 2008 | 11:37 AM
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From: N35°03'16.75", W 080°51'0.9"
Hmmm?

Are you sure those are cracks (as opposed to, say, left over adhesive)?

If they are, I say don't even fool with 'em. Straight to the dealer for replacement.

Any other mods you might be concerned with regards a possible/probable warranty repair?

I'll double check mine and post back later - same car, same environment, w/Blue Batmobile Overlays.
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Old Jul 11, 2008 | 12:10 PM
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I think the hairdryer caused the stress cracks. If you did this in your garage where the headlight is say, 75f ... going all the way up to 130 / 140f in an instant would probably be the culprit.

I just took off my headlight tint and what do you know, stress cracks
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Old Jul 11, 2008 | 12:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Bearcat94
Hmmm?

Are you sure those are cracks (as opposed to, say, left over adhesive)?

If they are, I say don't even fool with 'em. Straight to the dealer for replacement.

Any other mods you might be concerned with regards a possible/probable warranty repair?

I'll double check mine and post back later - same car, same environment, w/Blue Batmobile Overlays.
Yeah they're definitely cracks, I can feel them with my finger nail. No other mods to the car other than some LEDs in the license plate lights...
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Old Jul 12, 2008 | 08:41 PM
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Nobody's tried to fix cracks like this before?
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Old Jul 12, 2008 | 08:43 PM
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hmmm wetsanding might make them less noticeable


ive baked over 20+ sets of headlights in the over for clearing/blacking... never seen that before! even seen a set thats been opened up 2 or 3 times
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Old Jul 12, 2008 | 09:41 PM
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I'm interested as well.

@WRX, I have about 6x more stress cracks than you do.
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Old Dec 2, 2009 | 02:52 PM
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has anyone ever done anything about the stress cracks? I took mine off for my yearly inspection...and bam...stress cracks galore
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