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Moisture In DRL Housing

Have you had a problem with water and your DRL/Fog lights?

  • No

    Votes: 47 90.4%
  • Yes still problem

    Votes: 5 9.6%
  • Yes Dealer Fixed

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Yes I Fixed

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • I haven't noticed

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    52
This has been my only complaint so far,... since day one, I did notice the whole lamp fixture quite cheap
- compared to my '00 LandRover Freelander -.

Big BIG design flaw... :eek:

And by the result of the poll , seems to be a wide spread ocurrence....

Kinda got used to it, my job prohibits me to waste time on trivial dealer visits!
 
after i bought my avalanche, i noted the moisture in the lights up front. I was an auto tech for 10 years, and this back then was a bad thing. With talking with the chevy tech, I was told this was normal, to let out the higher heat temps. I did look around the dealer lot the next morning and most j\of the new Av had moisture in the front lights.
 
How hard was it for you to have the dealer replace them, as my dealer keeps saying it is normal condensation. But it looks horrible. On a $37K vehicle it is a problem, as I see it. How did you convince them to replace under warranty. Any hints or something to us as leverage that I dont know.
 
In really humid weather after rain, my housings show some condensation, but they all clear up fairly quick. Now one of the DRL/fog lamps won't clear up like the others. I am taking in in tomorrow morning to have it replaced in an hour while I wait. No problems with warranty, and I have 18k on the truck.
 
I noticed when I replaced the the standard DRL with ambers, that part of a thin piece of a water resistant ring was partly around the opening where you insert the bulb. I am thinking about putting a layer of plumbers putty on before the snow flies. :0:
 
I had it on my right (passenger side) Fog lamp. It covered about half of the lamp. Like other owners' mine was mainly, I think due to humidity after a rain, but that drives me crazy when I see it on other cars, and my truck, so I had the dealer replace it and haven't had a problem with the new one so far. I did read where GM was haveing a problem with the supplier, Guide, about quality issues and gave them notice to increase quality or else! I have over 25,000 miles just over a year and no ext. warranty so I hope this doesn't occur again. :B:
vf454 said:
I found my first problem today I have condensation in my DRL/Fog Light housing. :6: :( ? :8:
 
Mine only took about 30-45 mins. They did have to order it though. The dealer didn't give me any s--- about it but I was prepared to give them some back if they did! >:D :B:
sharpvette said:
How hard was it for you to have the dealer replace them, as my dealer keeps saying it is normal condensation. ?But it looks horrible. ?On a $37K vehicle it is a problem, as I see it. ?How did you convince them to replace under warranty. ? Any hints or something to us as leverage that I dont know.
 
Thks Ambalanche, I guess a visit to the dealership is in order before I go home. I wonder if I should put my factory white DRL's back in and take out my ambers before I go. My luck the dealer would tell me that MY mod caused the problem. :8:
 
I definately would. He might say that, but I would think they would've had a service bullitin on this by now. I've noticed quite a few members trucks from their pics that have the same problem and may not even realize it. Another reason I went ahead and had them change it out is if condensation gets on the bulb, it could burn it out. :B:
sharpvette said:
Thks Ambalanche, ?I guess a visit to the dealership is in order before I go home. I wonder if I should put my factory white DRL's back in and take out my ambers before I go. ?My luck the dealer would tell me that MY mod caused the problem. ? ? ?:8:
 
There is a definite possibility of burn out as my drv's side Fog light casing has a good amount of water (sitting) inside the housing. A good bump and the water would probably fly back into the bulb.
 
Ambalanche, you a dixie? I saw the Mobile in your sig. I live in Huntsville, AL. :cool:
 
Mine have been bad enough that I have water pooled in the bottoms of the lenses :7:. I took the Av to my dealer today to show the service manager the problem . He took one look, and jumped on the computer to check for updates on bulletins. He found nothing under Avalanche bulletins. He then called G.M. direct, and asked them what was up. The tech from G.M. refered him to a service bul. about a general problem not just listed as Avalanche. The tech then was refering to the size of the drops on the lens. My service manager told the tech he didn't have to measure the drops because the water collected in the base was proof enough. They then ordered me new lenses, and they should be in in about 2 to 3 days. The strange part is that I have no moisture in the D.R.L.
 
baron138 said:
The strange part is that I have no moisture in the D.R.L.
That's how mine was...one inch of water in the passenger fog light but none in the DRL. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the whole housing assembly...
Reminder-If you have changed your fog or DRL bulbs, swap them back to stock before you take it to the dealer.
 
SimTechRay said:
That's how mine was...one inch of water in the passenger fog light but none in the DRL. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the whole housing assembly...
Reminder-If you have changed your fog or DRL bulbs, swap them back to stock before you take it to the dealer.

I took mine in to show the dealer all the water in the lens and I left my amber drl's and upgraded fog lites in. They were still in when I went back to have the lens assy replaced. I had no problems with the dealer on this issue, unfortunatly many problems with other issues :rolleyes:
 
I just noticed condensation in one of my fog lights after washing the Av yesterday. I'll monitor to see if it goes away fast or not. I'd hate to have to go to the dealer just for this one problem.

For those of you that have had the lights replaced, did you have to schedule an appointment just to show the light had condensation, and then have to schedule a second appointment once the part came in?
 
I had one, then the other replaced. The first time was right after a rain, so it showed. The other was a week later and the condensation had gone away a bit, but the dealer took care of both without a problem.
 
I read a service bullentin on this subject and it said that light condensation is normal and will dry out when the lights are turned on. Larger amounts of water in the lense is not normal. Shouldn't look like a front load washing machine ;)
 
Ok last month I had about a 1" of water in my passengers side. I am planing on taking my Av to the dealer tomorrow. So I took a look at the fog light and there was no more water in it just condesation. So I got the water hose and started pooring from the top and could not get any water in the housing. Then I tried from the bottom and slowly it started to fill with water. Looks like the water is coming from the bottom and not the top. The only other thing is that it may be coming in from the bulb. I did not check to see if it was tight but now my housing has water in it so I can get a new one replaced. Once it is replaced I will put on the amber bulb and put some sealant to help keep the water out.
 
I just had my housing's replaced as well. The new ones are suppose to have new seals. I don't know if they work yet, we just got our first rain today since the install. Will keep you posted.

MOD ON

Wiki
 
midlifecrisis said:
For those of you that have had the lights replaced, did you have to schedule an appointment just to show the light had condensation, and then have to schedule a second appointment once the part came in?

I usually just drop my Av off for a day of pampering (Oil Change, Lube, etc.) along with any problems like this. I've had both DRLs replaced due to condensation without any hassle whatsoever from my dealer. Now, to answer your question, the first one I had replaced they had to order, so I had to come back for the install. The second one they "robbed" off an Av on their lot, so it was swapped out that day.

I guess it really depends on the dealer...they may rob/swap for you if you press to have it done asap.

Kevalanche
 
I've had my AV for over a year now and I notice moisture in my fog lamps and also my headlights about two month ago.
 
I've had moisture in my Drl's before...I thought I was going to have a problem on my hands...but it turns out it went away all on it's own....I seen a Lincoln Navigator at a local shopping center that had his entire fog light housing filled with water on both sides.....truly disturbing... :B:
 
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