ATTN 05 Renegades: Cracked Fog Light Covers

Sean · **Posted:** Sat Dec 03, 2005 5:49 pm

The night before Thanksgiving it snowed and was about 15 degrees here in Michigan, and I drove about 5 hours on the expressway with my Fog Lights on.
Once I arrived at my destination 10:30pm, I turned them off and went inside. The next morning I awoke to a suprise, two cracked fog light lenses.
I went to the dealer and they said they couldnt warranty it because they/I couldnt prove I didnt hit anything. Even after I spoke with the service manager and explained my situation to him, he wouldnt warranty them for me. (keep in mind I have 14,500 miles, and was 8 months old [never been through winter yet])

So, I remember someone on here mentioned that when going through a cold stream their lenses cracked, so i mentioned that, and he said bring me in proof that others are having this issue.

So, has anyone had this happen to them?
If so... I would like to hear from you.

Thanks, Sean.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Dec 03, 2005 5:58 pm

wow there is no way they both got broke by rocks, not at the same time. I guess the ice contracting on them broke them.

Tightwadsjeeper · **Posted:** Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:33 pm

You shouldn't have to PROVE that you didn't hit anything!!!

Any moron can look at the lens and see whether there is a "nick" from where a rock impacted the lens or not.... if there was a rock there will be the little round concentric marks of an impact. Go back and ask them to show you where the "rocks" impacted the lens.... and if they can't, then you expect to have them replaced since it's under warranty.

Your dealer is being an AZZ.... plain and simple. A GOOD dealer wouldn't lower themselves to that poor level of service.

Luis

ps. What happens is the temperature difference between the HOT bulb and the COLD outside causes the lens to crack. There are NO warnings about this kind of problem anywhere in the manual, but the answer is to NOT run the fog lights when it's below freezing outside (you shouldn't have any fog at that temp anyway) as they're not designed to withstand that temperature difference.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Mon Dec 05, 2005 1:26 pm

Tightwadsjeeper wrote:

ps. What happens is the temperature difference between the HOT bulb and the COLD outside causes the lens to crack. There are NO warnings about this kind of problem anywhere in the manual, but the answer is to NOT run the fog lights when it's below freezing outside (you shouldn't have any fog at that temp anyway) as they're not designed to withstand that temperature difference.

I've always been just turning them on with the headlights in any weather. Keep in mind that the "fog lights" on the 05 renegade aren't any lower than the headlights, they are effectively driving lights more than anything.

I always clean the ice + snow off my lights before using them, though, so hopefully that's enough. I might think about getting some grills for them, since they aren't as protected as the headlights are (still looking for some nice mesh offroad-style grills for these!)

treborwhip · **Posted:** Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:15 pm

If you find any nice mesh offroad-style grills for the fog lights, please let me know. I have an '06 Renegade which has the same type fog lights as your '05, I think!?

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:16 am

MI winters can be pretty harsh... I know my dad's 96 Explorer's first winter ever (he got it new, and we lived in Zeeland at the time), the back window exploded. not from an impact, not from ice buildup, just from bein FRIGGIN COLD. things happen, and no, there AREN'T always concentric cracks on a PLASTIC lense when there's an impact.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:05 am

The fogs on mine are cracked now because of the cold too. Are yours the fogs that mount on the bumper, or do you have the ones that are integrated into the grille like me??

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 4:38 pm

treborwhip wrote:

If you find any nice mesh offroad-style grills for the fog lights, please let me know. I have an '06 Renegade which has the same type fog lights as your '05, I think!?

Any idea what the size is on the fogs? I keep forgetting to measure when I'm outside.

Think these would work?

http://www.clickit.com/clickit/shopping/jcwhitney_com/lights_lighting/6__stone_guards_10101-2003772.htm

Sean · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:30 pm

LibertyCRD wrote:

The fogs on mine are cracked now because of the cold too. Are yours the fogs that mount on the bumper, or do you have the ones that are integrated into the grille like me??

Mine are on the bumper, like the 05-06 Renegades.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Wed Dec 07, 2005 8:32 am

That makes this even more interesting. Apparently Jeep uses the same supplier for both styles of foglight, and both of them are total junk. Hmm... Well I've got bumper to bumper warranty for 20,000 more miles, so they can just keep replacing them weekly as far as I'm concerned because I'm not going to stop using them just because it's below 32 degrees.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:28 pm

I have 43k on my liberty and the extended warranty (70k bumper to bumper). I was just told by my dealership:

1). They won't cover the cracked lens under warranty
2). Replacing the lens is going to cost me $200

carroll952 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:41 pm

Ouch $200, I'd just buy some new fog lights for that. The problem with the fogs on our renegades is they get so hot. Naturally we'll be more prone to use them during cold weather hence the cracks. $200 is definatly a rip off.

I thought the 7/70K warranty was only for drivetrain. Glad I live out in the desert where it's not so frigid.

Jeepman56 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:20 pm

I am having some (bumper mounted) installed on Monday but now I am thinking twice. Are they always on when the lights are on, or are they put on seperate switch? Any suggestions for covers?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:01 am

You can buy Hellas for $70 at advance. Ive had mine for a few years with no problems in the winter.

carroll952 · **Posted:** Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:02 am

Jeepman56 wrote:

I am having some (bumper mounted) installed on Monday but now I am thinking twice. Are they always on when the lights are on, or are they put on seperate switch? Any suggestions for covers?

Are these the mopar lights? If so, the switch is where your other light switches are. To activate the fog lights you pull the knob out. This can only be done when the parking lights or regular lights are on.

The major problem with cracking comes in cold climates. The fog lights get hot pretty quick since the housing is much smaller than normal lights. If the housing is really cold the lense will crack.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Sat Oct 13, 2007 11:47 am

carroll952 wrote:

Ouch $200, I'd just buy some new fog lights for that. The problem with the fogs on our renegades is they get so hot. Naturally we'll be more prone to use them during cold weather hence the cracks. $200 is definatly a rip off.

I thought the 7/70K warranty was only for drivetrain. Glad I live out in the desert where it's not so frigid.

the normal 7/70 is drivetrain, but I paid extra for the extended bumper to bumper. What a waste.

ATTN 05 Renegades: Cracked Fog Light Covers

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