Headlights
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rocket69GTP
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:02 pm
- Car: 2008 Infiniti G37
2005 Pontiac Grand Prix Comp G - Location: Pensacola, FL
- Contact:
Headlights
Has anyone had any fogging issues with the headlights on their G37's at all? I know the older G35's had a bad problem with this and didn't know if I should be working to protect my investment (even though I should be anyway). Thanks
Re: Headlights
I recently worked for a company that manufactures many of the headlights on todays Japanese cars, including the 07-current G35 sedan. While the Infiniti lamps were built in one of the Japanese facilities, they are made the same way there as they are here in the states. My first question is are you talking about yellowing of the lens, or actual fogging that appears inside the headlamp assembly?
The outer lens on nearly all current production cars is made from clear polycarbonate which typically does not have good resisitance to UV light and will haze over time. Therefore the lenses are painted with a clear paint usually called "hardcoat" to protect them from the UV rays from the sun, and to protect them from minor scratching. Once the hardcoat is gone from the lens surface and the bare PC is exposed, your lamps will yellow / haze. I dont know if there is an effective aftermarket product to repair yellowed headlamps or restore missing hardcoat. Frankly I would be surprised if there was something effective out there considering the hardcoat we used was solvent based and was cured in a UV oven.
Now, if you are having fogging of the lens via moisture on the inside, you may have leaking lamps. The lamps are not sealed from the factory, they have vents designed in to let them breathe, but if there is a non-designed leak (like between the lens and housing in the 'glue channel') there can be excess moisture in the lamp that may result in fogging. Many lamps (probably Infiniti lamps) have an anti-fog paint applied inside the lens to help the moisture dissipate quickly, but it can only do so much.
Sorry I dont have an answer for you, but at least this may help with understanding of the situation.
The outer lens on nearly all current production cars is made from clear polycarbonate which typically does not have good resisitance to UV light and will haze over time. Therefore the lenses are painted with a clear paint usually called "hardcoat" to protect them from the UV rays from the sun, and to protect them from minor scratching. Once the hardcoat is gone from the lens surface and the bare PC is exposed, your lamps will yellow / haze. I dont know if there is an effective aftermarket product to repair yellowed headlamps or restore missing hardcoat. Frankly I would be surprised if there was something effective out there considering the hardcoat we used was solvent based and was cured in a UV oven.
Now, if you are having fogging of the lens via moisture on the inside, you may have leaking lamps. The lamps are not sealed from the factory, they have vents designed in to let them breathe, but if there is a non-designed leak (like between the lens and housing in the 'glue channel') there can be excess moisture in the lamp that may result in fogging. Many lamps (probably Infiniti lamps) have an anti-fog paint applied inside the lens to help the moisture dissipate quickly, but it can only do so much.
Sorry I dont have an answer for you, but at least this may help with understanding of the situation.