Spontaneously Disintegrating Headlamps ?

[wotnoheadlight]

My 53 regd. Avensis T4 (bought 4 months ago) was serviced by Sandhurst Toyota at 60350 miles and all was fine(ish).

I noticed that the headlight bulb was blown at 63500 miles, Sept 10th - hadn't used lights all summer.

I took up the offer of free fitting if I bought a bulb at Inchcape Sandhurst (after having failed to even get the black cover off myself).

Took the car in, waited a while, I'm told by Mr. Toyota that the headlamp is broken at the rear - the bulb holder is detached from the headlamp - *** "It was like that when we opened the cover" I'm told ***.

£250 Sir for one new headlamp and labour.

Since the car was two weeks short of three years old, and has its Full Service History I asked if this was covered in the warranty. Mr. T said not - the cars past 60000 miles ! We discussed how the rotation of wheels and displacement of pistons affects the headlamp - it seems common sense is not allowed to come between Mr.T and his cash. After much ado and dealer phoning Toyota GB, the price came down to £180.

I was still not at all happy with this and decided to look myself. I found that the electrical connector on the bulb was very stiff - I had to pull very hard to get it off the bulb.

Looking at the posts, I see others have broken their fragile headlamps while changing a bulb - but has anybody ever had their headlamp "spontaneously disintegrate" as they drove ? Is it timed to happen just after the warranty runs out ? What Technology !

This story has three morals :

1. If your Avensis is approaching (but under) three years and 60K, get those bulbs changed quick - even if they're burning bright today.

2. If your Avensis is over 60K or three years old, take the trouble to take the rectangular black cover off and check your headlamp has not spontaneously disintegrated, take a photo, then take it to you Toyota dealer for a new bulb.

3. If you're buying an Avensis, think again.

The driver of the car in front is fuming. :ffs:

[matty2767]

mine did break whilst driving.

i have not had a new bulb fitted - ever. then about a month ago when it started getting darker and i had to use the lights i noticed that the passenger side was pointing up in the air. took it into the dealer and they said the metal which holds the bulb to the headlight unit had corroded (common fault) and replaced the unit under warranty. it needed the whole headlight changing including the front lense.

they are hard to get off which is why i dont change them on any of my cars. i would argue that they broke it themselves but you will never prove it. try getting one from the scrapyard.

[Avensis luna 03]

This is a well known problem. The back area of the headlamp lens burns presumably from the heat of the bulb, become brittle, loses it reflectivity and distorts so the focus is gone as well as the brightness of the lights. Quite dangerous actually, trying to drive with lights that don't really show the road.

While the part becomes brittle, I have never seen it to disintegrate while driving, though as soon as you touch it it will come apart.

The big problem here is your dealer. If he had any cop, he'd have replaced the part under warranty, notwithstanding that he damaged your car. Keep away from him in future!

[Cypermethrin]

When my car went in yesterday for its 3yr service and MOT I mentioned that the driver's side headlamp seemed not to be as bright as the LHS. They said they would check.

Turns out the bulb had melted some of the surrounding plastic and dropped etc - so they replaced both headlamps there and then under the warranty (along with the 4 alloys which is another story!). Until then I had no idea that this was an issue - they said it was "quite rare". I would suggest that if Sandhurt Toyota are cuasing you some problems on this - go to to OCTAGON in Bracknell who were really very impressive.

139 quid for 3yr service and MoT + 2 new headlights + 4 new alloy wheels + full valet and clean + courteay car and a recall to do with a pollen filter which I had not been aware of and fixing the rear parcel shelf rattle.

For once I am pleased with Mr. T

This is a well known problem. The back area of the headlamp lens burns presumably from the heat of the bulb, become brittle, loses it reflectivity and distorts so the focus is gone as well as the brightness of the lights. Quite dangerous actually, trying to drive with lights that don't really show the road.

While the part becomes brittle, I have never seen it to disintegrate while driving, though as soon as you touch it it will come apart.

The big problem here is your dealer. If he had any cop, he'd have replaced the part under warranty, notwithstanding that he damaged your car. Keep away from him in future!

[Chris Dance]

The melting of the headlamp bulb holders is a well known issue. There are other threads about it on this site. First sign that they are melting is condensation on the headlight glass. My dealer also changed my headlights no quibble. Make sure your dealer put in the new type bulb holders as well. I have also had fog lamps changed 3 times under warranty for condensation. My warranty has finished now I just hope there are no more faults!!!

[tezza]

My car was in for a 80k service and warranty work although just over three years old. The dealer had it all week. Used the headlights for the first time going home last night. Guess what, the offside headlight bulb had gone. Sods law. Went to a different dealer near work today to get the bulb changed. £54 please sir. Anyway when they went to do it they found the bulbholder had detached itself. New headlight required. That will be £250 please sir. Hold on a mo says I , I bought the extended warranty last month. In that case just pay for the bulb then. Result. Was I glad I took that warranty out.

[scandal]

You should not be fobbed off by T dealers. I work in the industry and know that T are very well aware of this problem. It is nothing to do with corrosion (unless this occurred in addition) but the heat within the lamp and vibration. You can't do anything about the heat (but don't live in Arizona), but the longer the lamp is on the higher probability of failure.

If you regularly use rough roads & dirt tracks etc, this will almost certainly effect the life of the lamp. Condensation is expected to some degree and is not really an indication of this failure unless condensation present is severe.

I would recommend the 3 morals advised in the first post - Get them checked before 60K!

[curlyscub]

noticed that my passenger side headlight bulb was out so i looked in manual as to the type of bulb required, went to Halfords and bought the bulb, when i got home i took the back cover off the light to discover that the headlight bulb had actually become detached from the rear of the headlight, my car has only 50 000 miles and has never suffered condensation in the lamp, phoned toyota garage and he says yes they do replace them but as my car is just over 3 years old there is nothing that he can do, audi is looking very good!

[wotnoheadlight]

Thanks for all the replies - so I'm not the only sucker who paid for Toyota reliability.

Wrote to Toyota GB without success (so far) - have also mailed BBC Watchdog.

In the meantime my car has scraped thru the MOT with Araldite temporarily doing what Toyota should have done.