Dark line/shadow in headlights

[WarthogBrz]

Hi guys,

I recently had my right headlight unit replaced on my '14 BRZ. On the first time driving at night this week, I noticed what seemed like a dark line that split the right side headlight pattern in two. When I got home, I noticed that I could actually see a narrow, triangular shadow projected onto the plastic lens cover of the head light unit. It's about 1/2" wide, with the base of the triangle at the bottom of the lens cover, and it extends upwards about half way through the light pattern. With the lights off, there's no visible difference between the two headlight units. It's almost as if there's something inside the internal lens itself that's casting a shadow.

AFAIK, this is an OEM part. Were there any changes to to the BRZ's lights in the last year that might cause this pattern?

[carma143]

Underexposed pictures would help others help you

[WarthogBrz]

Okay, here's some pics. The first couple are of the problem headlight. I've tried to put some arrows where the shadow appears on the lens cover. I also took a picture of the light pattern being thrown on a white board about 2 feet away. As you can see, it looks like there's a road disappearing to the horizon running down the middle.

I've also thrown in a few pics of the untouched left headlight, and the pattern it throws in the last pciture.

[Dominus]

That just looks like the new open sights for aiming the on-board missiles

but seriously it looks like something is loose behind the projector lens, i would probably have it checked out.

[extrashaky]

Does it also happen when your brights are on?

That light is defective. Something inside the projector is either broken or misaligned. Send it back and get another one.

[Poodles]

I'm betting the HID bulb is in wrong, looks like the ground strap on the bulb.

[WarthogBrz]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

Does it also happen when your brights are on?

That light is defective. Something inside the projector is either broken or misaligned. Send it back and get another one.

It's actually a bit worse with the brights on, in that the same triangular type shapes appear right and left of center. Not quite as darkly as the lower one, but noticeable.

[Poodles]

Didn't notice before, but the cutoff line is out of focus as well. It's all classic signs of a bulb that's not installed properly.

[dtrop]

The only thing that hasn't been mentioned is that the two headlights are purposely, from factor, uneven. The left points slightly more downward to help relieve blinding incoming traffics.

[swarb]

Swap bulbs and see if its that is the problem. Have clean hands and don't touch the element.

[Poodles]

Originally Posted by dtrop

The only thing that hasn't been mentioned is that the two headlights are purposely, from factor, uneven. The left points slightly more downward to help relieve blinding incoming traffics.

This is untrue on HID headlights, they're aimed at the same level and have a step in them to facilitate this old aiming procedure.





But seriously, it's likely the bulb is in wrong and it needs to be fixed before it causes more issues...

[WarthogBrz]

Thanks for the input guys! FWIW, the car was in a minor accident, and the body shop replaced the headlight unit. I let them know about the problem today, and they are going to take a look at it.