Oh, the (headlight) degradation!

rednekz-ms · Post by **rednekz-ms** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 12:10 am

I guess this is a common problem, so if you have an older model you may want to inspect the wiring of your headlights before you get stuck somewhere in the dark.

dhobbs · Post by **dhobbs** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:15 am

Not sure what I'm looking at. Is it the wiring on the right hand side?

What symptoms did you have?

Personally I've not heard of any OEM wiring issues for the headlights, only when someone replaces them with aftermarket one. Good spot though and will check the next time I have the front wheels off.

Zulu4 · Post by **Zulu4** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:35 am

There was a thread recently where someone's internal headlight wiring had also degraded really badly.

rednekz-ms · Post by **rednekz-ms** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 1:36 pm

dhobbs wrote: ↑Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:15 am Not sure what I'm looking at. Is it the wiring on the right hand side?

What symptoms did you have?

Personally I've not heard of any OEM wiring issues for the headlights, only when someone replaces them with aftermarket one. Good spot though and will check the next time I have the front wheels off.

Yes, this is the passenger headlight. The insulation has degraded to the point where it's all fallen off the wires. And yes, OEM! The low-beam (the plug is pictured) wasn't working at all, and the p/o had put electrical tape around the high-beam wires to keep those working. (You can see where he started on the low-beams.) As a band-aid I've soldered in new wires for the low-beams until my Spyders come in. Fun stuff.

dhobbs · Post by **dhobbs** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 2:25 pm

Keep us posted on the spyder lights, they look good.

kis · Post by **kis** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:49 pm

Never seen this before and I’ve had a fair few headlights. Be interested in the old light after you’ve got the Spyders? (2xcite I assume)?

Post by **srhutch** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 5:18 pm

As above either aftermarket lights or rodents I would suggest have caused that issue.

kis · Post by **kis** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 10:59 am

They look like the OEM ones.
OP, was it missing a rear cover? If so, I think it would make a nice home for a small mammal!

rednekz-ms · Post by **rednekz-ms** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 1:21 pm

kis wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 10:59 am They look like the OEM ones.
OP, was it missing a rear cover? If so, I think it would make a nice home for a small mammal!

They’re OEM and the cover was on, tight as ever. Some guys on other forums have said this has been an issue with stock headlights, no rodents involved.

Apparently the insulation degrades from the heat emitted from the halogen bulbs. As everyone doesn’t have this problem, my guess is there was a certain batch made with this type insulation.

kis · Post by **kis** » Wed Jul 28, 2021 11:12 am

I must have had a dozen lights (pre facelift so same era as your 2003) and never had insulation falling away. Is yours high mileage? High useage somehow degraded the cable?

Or did it have water ingress? Maybe water caused the issue? I’ve heard of water travelling inside insulation when it wasn’t capped off properly (for work). So maybe this issue, on a smaller scale.

rednekz-ms · Post by **rednekz-ms** » Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:21 pm

kis wrote: ↑Wed Jul 28, 2021 11:12 am I must have had a dozen lights (pre facelift so same era as your 2003) and never had insulation falling away. Is yours high mileage? High useage somehow degraded the cable?

Or did it have water ingress? Maybe water caused the issue? I’ve heard of water travelling inside insulation when it wasn’t capped off properly (for work). So maybe this issue, on a smaller scale.

I don't know if it's mileage or age (vehicle has 88K miles). As I said, I suspect it's due to a batch of lights manufactured with defective wiring. Having said that, I do live in an area known for heat and humidity (South Mississippi). The lights did have a light coat of mist in the inside of the lens when I bought the car, since dried. (Had it about a month.)

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