LED Headlights

[andrew_ww]

Hi,

For a few months now I've been aware of a problems with my headlights. If you look at them they appeared to be badly scratched.

Anyway today I had the car serviced and asked the garage to have a look and see what they reckon. They confirmed my suspicion that the damage was on the inside.

They sought permission to proceed to replace them under warranty and were promptly refused on the basis of something called a TPI, this a summary of it:

"The headlights have an open ventilation system to accelerate the demisting of the glass. It is possible in certain circumstances, Fine dust penetrates and attaches to the glass of the headlights due to electrostatic charge that exists inside the glass, Thus making visible from the outside, This dust does not affect the light intensity of the headlight due to its design, And the headlight is prepared to minimise this effect. "

So, they install a headlight which has a design flaw, then issue a TPI which in their eyes removes any liability. Pretty low behaviour tbh.

Here is a light: (both are the same)

I plan to raise with SEAT tomorrow, appreciate any thoughts on how I should approach it.

thanks.

 

[chrisRibiza]

Mine are exactly the same but as it doesn't affect the light from them I don't really care.

 

[kiddo]

Be interested to see what they look like in a few years. I would of thought any foreign body in light path would have an effect on light strength. Maybe no issues now but give it time and heavy build up. Is this a face-lift lamp?

 

[andrew_ww]

No, cars a 63 plate. Its getting worse and I' rather have it fixed now. Best part of £1100 to replace both...

 

[Pops848]

Just find the vent hole and jet wash the inside, that'll remove any particles...

In all seriousness though, I doubt you'll have much luck with SEAT, unless you can differentiate between dust particles on the glass and scratches.

Surely even if particles attach to the glass this shouldn't scratch them? If scratched then that I would consider is different.

 

[KXL]

How many miles has it covered, and use headlight washers much?

Or did you drive to a dust storm / somewhere really sandy?

 

[Luckypants]

Mine are exactly the same but as it doesn't affect the light from them I don't really care.

It most certainly does! The light intensity from the LEDs is not affected but a dirty glass cover (not really lenses any more are they?) will reduce the amount of light reaching the road. A dirty outside of your headlamp can reduce light output by up to 50% (according to the AA), so a dirty inside will have the same effect.

If this is a known issue then it has serious safety implications if the glass cannot be cleaned.

 

[Deleted member 103408]

Just had a senior moment. Would it be possible to use a magnet to move the dust to the corner ???

 

[Sonofzelda]

Just had a senior moment. Would it be possible to use a magnet to move the dust to the corner ???

Well if SEAT can circumvent the laws of physics I don't see why us old fuddies can't.

 

[weirdkerr]

not noticed any problems with mine (Dec '15 car) but is there a way to hoover them.... lol

 

[terryt]

I have an insect in one of my rear clusters

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[Deleted member 103408]

is it a firefly and what do you feed it

 

[daniel575]

Yes, mine look the same. It's from September 2013, also (UK) 63 reg - however the headlights are from July 2014, I had to buy new ones when I moved to the Netherlands. Still have the UK ones stored a box barely used. If anyone is interested in them for 600 GBP, tell me if you're in the Netherlands and you can come by and pick them up. They're sitting on my attic for the past 3 years in the boxes the new lights came in.

Might also be willing to drive them to the UK some day when I come over again, if anyone is interested. They've been used about 10 months only. I guess less than half the original price isn't bad then. IIRC my Dutch cost way more, including the replacement work.

 

[daniel575]

Yes, mine look the same. It's from September 2013, also (UK) 63 reg - however the headlights are from July 2014, I had to buy new ones when I moved to the Netherlands. Still have the UK ones stored a box barely used. If anyone is interested in them for 600 GBP, tell me if you're in the Netherlands and you can come by and pick them up. They're sitting on my attic for the past 3 years in the boxes the new lights came in.

Might also be willing to drive them to the UK some day when I come over again, if anyone is interested. They've been used about 10 months only. I guess less than half the original price isn't bad then. IIRC my Dutch cost way more, including the replacement work.

 

[TwirlyX]

I just joined this, as found this forum via Google. I have a MK3 Leon 63 model and have the same problem - 63K miles and just under 5 years old - headlights have become so scarred that light output is diminished. Reported to my friendly lovely Seat Dealer who took some pictures - haven't heard back yet but will give them another week. Hopefully somewhere all these reports will be collated and someone will realise.

 

[Seriously?]

I have an insect in one of my rear clusters

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That'll be the glow worm that SEAT fit as a reversing light

 

[Jaco2k]

For the ones affected and out of despair, I would consider to remove the headlights, bake them to disassemble, wipe the interior, bake and seal them again and refit to car.
....just an idea, of course.

 

[ryzie0212]

Hi,

For a few months now I've been aware of a problems with my headlights. If you look at them they appeared to be badly scratched.

Anyway today I had the car serviced and asked the garage to have a look and see what they reckon. They confirmed my suspicion that the damage was on the inside.

They sought permission to proceed to replace them under warranty and were promptly refused on the basis of something called a TPI, this a summary of it:

"The headlights have an open ventilation system to accelerate the demisting of the glass. It is possible in certain circumstances, Fine dust penetrates and attaches to the glass of the headlights due to electrostatic charge that exists inside the glass, Thus making visible from the outside, This dust does not affect the light intensity of the headlight due to its design, And the headlight is prepared to minimise this effect. "

So, they install a headlight which has a design flaw, then issue a TPI which in their eyes removes any liability. Pretty low behaviour tbh.

Here is a light: (both are the same)

I plan to raise with SEAT tomorrow, appreciate any thoughts on how I should approach it.

thanks.

Hi - i have this exact same issue on my 14 Leon Cupra. Did you get anywhere with Seat...??

 

[SteveGSXR600K1]

It is possible in certain circumstances, Fine dust penetrates and attaches to the glass of the headlights due to electrostatic charge that exists inside the glass.

Strangely enough, I found yesterday an anti-electrostatic gun that my Dad used to use on records to remove the dust. If the issue with the lights is to do with electrostatic, it would be interesting to see if it would remove the dust, or at least make it drop to the bottom of the lights.

 

[leonisis]

I've a June 2013 SC FR and my lights are exactly the same. Gonna try the dealer over the next few weeks as I've still extended warranty.

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