I also have condensation in my headlights. I bought my car used a dealership, but it still carried a warrenty for 9 more months. I don't have any paperwork from lexus for the warrenty. The dealer just told me that the basic warrenty was there, and that all I needed to do was come in. They would pull up my vin number and that would be it. Is that true.

I would love to get my headlights be done.

 

I just recently started having problems with my 98' GS400 Hid Headlights with 95,000 miles on the clock. I brought my car in to the dealership yesterday in Greenwich CT to have them inspect my lights. Here is what they found. Sometimes Passenger side Headlight will turn on and not Driver side and Vice Versa. Then at other times both Lights won't work. There also moisture in both of them. They also try using new bulbs and tracing the wires. Lights are still not working properly. There recommendation is to replace both Headlights. To replace both lights will cost me $3,339.00. My factory warranty is up. Does anyone know if there was a recall on these lights ? Or could give me some advice.

Thanks

 

no there is no recall on the headlights as far as i can tell. even so your warranty it out so it's hard to say. but the price is high, i thought if you really have to pay it's like 1k per side. talk to steve ganz about it and see how he can help you. i wonder if it's a ballast problem?

 

Romini

Thanks, For your input. I PM Steve Ganz yesterday regarding my Head Light problem. I haven't heard from him yet. I will try to give him a call today. Also as per your thought if it could be a ballast problem. When I play with the the Light switch and finally get both Head Lights to come on. I don't see the Head Lights self adjust working. But when I turn the key to ACC and restart the car I see that feature for the Head Lights self adjust working. My point is, If it was the ballast would this feature work? Also do think I should get a second opinion these Lights? Lastly, The price for each Head Lights is $1,500.00 not including sale tax.
Any other comment or suggestion you might have will be most helpful.

Thanks

 

umm..... that's the autoleveling computer and it's different from the headlights. but seems like you are having some serious electronic problems over there though...

 

I had the dealer run a diagnostic test on my car. They also said that they trace the wires to see if there was any wrong. When I spoke to there technician he said that there diagnostic computer is stating that I need new Head Lights. He also added that the computer in my car is not communicating with the Driver side Lights and that Head Light is completely gone. The reason why it comes on sometime is that the computer is using the Passenger side Lights. But the Passenger side Lights are on they way out. It is just a matter of time. At this point , I don't know what to think.

 

If you still have your factory bumper-to-bumper warranty (4 years, 50K miles from date of new car purchase), then by all means just bring it into the dealership, and they'll take care of you free of charge. The normal powertrain warranty is good for 72 months or 72K miles (from date of new car purchase). Also, if you ask, the dealer can look up what service has been done at any national Lexus dealership (whether yours or one across the nation), so you can get an idea of what service needs to be done to it.

Also, if you bought the car used from Lexus as a CPO (certified pre-owned) vehicle, I think they come with a bumper-to-bumper warranty that is good for 3 years from the used car purchase date or 100K total miles.

 

Another second opinion would be good, so you can get another take on the problem. Nonetheless, the retail price on the headlights are about $1250 each. If you buy retail from a dealer, they tend to jack up the price another 20% (probably why you quoted $1500 each). If you buy from Carson Toyota (Stave Ganz is with them), you'll find them closer to the $1,000 +/- 50 that Romini mentioned.

As an alternative, look for a good, clean set of HID Lexus GS4 headlights on Ebay--would be cheaper than the dealer, but of course, you risk buying bad, defective junk as well. Some others here on this board will occasionally sell them as well.

Hope it all turns out well.

 

thanks again seattle you have been a big help.

 

Is condensation BAD for a HID light? My passenger side has devloped slight condensation along the lower 1/3 of the lens. This is a previously repaired light so I'm assuming the place where it was cracked may have cracked again, I'll have to pull it and inspect though...

Also, in the back of these headlight assemblies, there are a few small 'U' shaped rubber hose-looking things that I thought were small vents for the inside of the headlight, but I think THAT alone would cause condensation....must be something else.

thanks
-c

 

well moisture is of course not good for the hid. if the water touches teh bulb the bulb is gone for sure. if it's inside the housing then it's a luck game.

i don't know about the u shape rubber hose though, i will try and take a look