Why did I know it was a Porsche, Andreas? And how are you going to get that by the FRC? Real estate doing pretty well, I take it?

Chris

 

Chris,
RE is doing quite well. But a move of this magnitude requires more that simple financial wherewithal. A great deal of highly-diplomatic arm twisting has happened over the course of the last few months.

The tide has finally turned and the CFO of the FRC has seen the light. She is now able to point out specific models on the fly and has weighed in on exterior/interior color combinations. Pointing out the myriad safety features of such a conveyance only helped to solidify the deal. The dialogue has transitioned from "your" references to "our" references.

All in the name of a solid marriage. And a sheitload of naturally-aspirated fun on the weekends!


As for the shields, I will contact my buddy and see if there is any interest in producing these.

Andreas

 

I have to ask what you did to get HElla to replace them for free. I emailed them about my lights being coroded and all they did was send me the same diagram for the shilds. Nothing about offering to replace the lights.

 

I sent a few detailed pictures showing the damage, wrote a diplomatic but firm email, and offered to ship the corroded lamps to them at my expense. This has worked twice for me now - not because I am trying to get something for free, but because the product is defective and I approached them in a non-confrontational manner.

What did you write? Did you send pics as proof?

Andreas

 

I didn't send pics but my email was very non confrontational.

This was the first response I got from them:

This is a known problem that we discovered after Toyota started buying
those lamps from us. We developed a fix for it, and presented it to
Toyota,
but they chose not to implement it. The cause is water being forced
into
the back of the lamp by the tire as it rotates. The fix involved a
metal
shield. I am attaching a drawing of that fix, and you can have it
fabricated by a machine shop, etc., however you will need new lamps,
as
you
cannot fix the ones you have now.


I answered that asking if they offered a resolution and this is what I got back:


We aren't permitted to sell direct to consumers, but about the best
price
you will find is to buy a single Micro DE lamp, part # 008090047,
which
has
a silver trim ring, or 008090037, which would have the black trim
ring.
This won't have the rubber cap or a pigtail, but you shouldn't need
those.
I would try one of these two places and get a price from them:

http://www.puma-access.com

http://www.rallylights.com/

Neither one of these places will have these two parts listed, so you
will
need to e-mail or call them. I work with both of them all of the time,
and
they will be very happy to help you.

You may also try PTC Factory Returns at 770-632-8755, and tell them
you
just need two single Micro DE lamps, and that's all you need.They
handle
our warranty returns, and salvage and sell some parts and pieces.

Another tip is that if you buy the lamps in the aftermarket rather
from
Toyota, they come with a one-year warranty, which would cover this
kind of
thing. Unfortunately, the way our contract with Toyota is written, we
are
unable to handle any claims on parts that are bought through them,
either
factory installed, or added by the dealer.

I hope this helps!



I'm considering pushing a bit more. In my last email to them I told them that maybe I'd look to PIAA's to replace their lights and that got no reaction at all.

 

I've had nothing but great luck with Hella lamps in the past. In fact, I have run a set of the Hella 4000 lamps for more than 3 years now with nary a problem. As for the Micro DE lamps, magnesium + salt water = bad. I would contact them again and explain that others have had resolution to their issues.

Andreas

 

Ok, another email back and forth and Hella is basiclly telling me I'm SOL, but I'm not giving up. Has anyone had Hella replace their lights within the past few months? If so can you tell me when?

 

Please address another email to Jack Hilton. He handled the second round for me within the last couple of months.

Andreas

 

Jack is the guy I'm dealing with now. He claims that he has been handling these issues for only the past two months and in that time he has not relaced any lights. I'll have to remind him about that.

 

Just a quick update. The last email I got from Hella suggested that I fight this with the dealer where I bought the truck. They have got to be kidding me. I'm not going to go on a wild goose chase and play the he said- she said game. I cannot believe I am being put through the grinder like this when other had no porblems at all.

Kinda makes my dirving light decision easy. I'm going with PIAA's. I guess I'll be replacing the fog's with PIAA's as well. Hella's unwillingness to stand behind their products have pushed me away forever.

 

Just an update. I finally got around to installing the replacment Micro DEs from Hella, and installed the aluminum shields I had made. I also cleaned up the rusted lamp brackets and gave them a few coats of paint.
Hopefully these lamps will be in business for awhile!



Andreas

 

Need to get my set built and on my truck, both fog lights are non-functional after new tires. Look under and found my 'inter-tube fix' did not work as they both split :-(. Guess I will need to open them up and air them out, then build a set of these gaurds.

SLG

 

I got sick of the amount of water flowing into my fog lights, so I decided to make my own shields with a 2-quart milk jug. I cut the milk jug in half diagonally and cut the top part with handle off. I then placed them upside down over the back of the fog light and zip tied it on, so far, so good. I will try to take some digital photos tonight. I also greased up the rubber boot on the back of the fog lights, I think that may help also.

SLG
(Redneck engineered me some fog light shields)

 

Bringing up an old thread out of the dead, because I'm about to buy a set of these Hella's to replace my OEM fog lights.

Does anyone have the drawing file for the specs Hella sent to the OP? I can't see the dimensions on there. The alumium brackets you had made up are awesome! I'll probably just go the cheap and easy route and bend some sheet metal into the approximate shape, but it would be helpful to have the dimensions.

TIA.

 

OP here .

Send me your email address and I'll forward the drawing pics. You can blow them up and see all the details.

It's been 4 years since installing these - the lights work fine and show no corrosion. Amazing!

aowalter@comcast.net


Andreas

 

Andreas is the MAN, he does what he says he will do. Always willing to help another...

 

Chris,
You're TOO kind! Thank yoiu brother.


Andreas

 

Just went to Home Depot and purchased some metal brackets. I drilled an extra hole and cut it down to size. Looks almost identical to the specs that Hella provided for a fraction of the cost. So easy to do it yourself. Plan to install tomorrow.

 

Ghost - take some pics and please post. Would like to see the easier/cheaper solution.

Thanks!

 

Fireball, I first picked up some parts from Home Depot and Advance Auto. At HD, I got two zinc plated stake holders for about $4.25 each. At Advance Auto, I picked up four black grade 8 bolts (3/8"-16 x 1-1/2" hex flanged cap screws) that are automotive grade and heat tempered (pictured), 4 matching nuts for the end, eight nuts used for spacers, and some washers.

I first drilled an extra hole in the stake holder so it will line up with the Hella DE holes; the existing holes in the stake holder will not line up properly. You can either drill the extra hole so the stake is slightly slanted, or overlap the new hole with the existing hole and have the stake line up perfectly parallel with the fog lights. If you choose the second option, you will need to drill another hole to access the adjustment screw.

After you drill the hole, you can cut off the extra metal piece from the other side (pictured). I didn't have the proper tools to cut this metal piece, so I just used my power drill and punched many holes until it fell off. It's not pretty, but no one will see this.

Next, I fit the longer screws, washers, nuts (as spacers), and put it all together. I also used anti-seize lubricant on the connections inside the rubber guard and sealed the rubber guard with silicone. I'm hoping this will protect my fog lights for quite some time.

I figure this mod is cheaper than fabricating a custom splash guard, and better than using plastic milk containers. It's affordable and easy to do yourself. Hope you try this method... and if you have any questions, let me know.