Guys, I need advice. I live in Dubai, on the morning after heavy rains, I saw an error with “parking lights”. When I came out to check headlights I saw my headlights were steamed. I went to the dealer with my Giulia, but after 2 days checking, they told me: it’s not a warranty case, you sailed in your car. But if I did really sail then I must have more problems than with headlights. How it is possible??? Headlights should be hermetic. Couple times I've waded across, but very carefully, I know what is a hydraulic impact for the engine. I’m confused.
theMadMax
steam in headlights
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Guys, I need advice. I live in Dubai, on the morning after heavy rains, I saw an error with “parking lights”. When I came out to check headlights I saw my headlights were steamed. I went to the dealer with my Giulia, but after 2 days checking, they told me: it’s not a warranty case, you sailed in your car. But if I did really sail then I must have more problems than with headlights. How it is possible??? Headlights should be hermetic. Couple times I've waded across, but very carefully, I know what is a hydraulic impact for the engine. I’m confused.
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People in Europe and USA have had steamed headlights replaced under warranty as the seals on some of the early headlight units are defective allowing mositure in. Do you have a Middle East customer care number you can ring to register a complaint case? Do not accept the dealer diagnosis. This should be covered under warranty. And do not mention "wading" though puddles or water, the more info you give them the more excuses they have to deny warranty.
Plastic headlights are not and cannot be hermetically sealed due to the heat and altitude changes causing the air inside to change the pressure by enough to distort the plastic excessively. Old school glass headlights with very restricted shapes and thick glass can cope with the pressure change and are hermetically sealed. Plastic headlights have a vent; only the lamp inside of the headlight unit is hermetically sealed.
The front of the headlights should be fully water tight. The back of the headlights is clearly not water tight and is protected from direct water exposure by the fender well and a head light access port in the fender well. If that system is compromised from bad work or abuse, the headlight will likely fail as seen and warranty may be denied. It should be pretty obvious by inspecting the wheel well (preferably with the wheel removed first) if this is the case. As least one Giulia forum member had a laser jammer installed and the installer messed up the headlight access port and caused such a failure.
If you waded into water that was headlight deep the headlights are pretty certain to fail and that failure is your fault, but lots of other things in the car will likely have failed as well. Only highly specialized vehicles are suited for driving at any speed in water that is higher than the ground clearance of the vehicle (about 11-12cm for Giulia). Even then if water is more than about 1cm deep speed in most vehicles (including Giulia) needs to be reduced to a walking pace or less to avoid damage to the vehicle and to be able to maintain control of the vehicle.
If the wheel well is properly assembled and in good condition the headlight failure is most likely due to a failure of the front water proofing seal in the headlight. In that case it should be covered by warranty.
In the USA forum members reported that new headlights are about $1500 USD each.
The front of the headlights should be fully water tight. The back of the headlights is clearly not water tight and is protected from direct water exposure by the fender well and a head light access port in the fender well. If that system is compromised from bad work or abuse, the headlight will likely fail as seen and warranty may be denied. It should be pretty obvious by inspecting the wheel well (preferably with the wheel removed first) if this is the case. As least one Giulia forum member had a laser jammer installed and the installer messed up the headlight access port and caused such a failure.
If you waded into water that was headlight deep the headlights are pretty certain to fail and that failure is your fault, but lots of other things in the car will likely have failed as well. Only highly specialized vehicles are suited for driving at any speed in water that is higher than the ground clearance of the vehicle (about 11-12cm for Giulia). Even then if water is more than about 1cm deep speed in most vehicles (including Giulia) needs to be reduced to a walking pace or less to avoid damage to the vehicle and to be able to maintain control of the vehicle.
If the wheel well is properly assembled and in good condition the headlight failure is most likely due to a failure of the front water proofing seal in the headlight. In that case it should be covered by warranty.
In the USA forum members reported that new headlights are about $1500 USD each.
Hello theMadMax,
We are certainly sorry to hear about your recent concern. Unfortunately due to the nature of our team we are unable to assist customers outside of the United States. You can, however, reach out to Middle East customer care for potential assistance with this manner via 971-600-565561 or customercare@fca-me.com .
Laura
AlfaRomeoCares
We are certainly sorry to hear about your recent concern. Unfortunately due to the nature of our team we are unable to assist customers outside of the United States. You can, however, reach out to Middle East customer care for potential assistance with this manner via 971-600-565561 or customercare@fca-me.com .
Laura
AlfaRomeoCares
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