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Headlight Hades

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Posted by: caddiac

My 02' STS was purchased new from the dealer. While I am still under warranty, I take the car in for among others, a head light problem. Warranty claim is denied because the headlight is not a GM part. In fact, neither one is a GM headlight. The car has never been wrecked in the front end. GM says it is between me and the dealer. Dealer says they can't help me. Has anyone ever had a similar experience? Does anyone know how an aftermarket part can be tracked back to its point of sale?

Posted by: lhheston

What is the problem - projection / aim or did something melt?

Does the headlight have any markings on it? (Handle with gloves, of course)...

Are you sure the bulbs are original from your purchase of the car?

Are you sure you are the first owner?

Posted by: caddiac

The entire head light assembly on both sides of the car are after market. One is made for an export Seville. I purchased the car with 125 miles on it from my local dealer. It was on the show room floor and was not presented as a demo or as having ever been damaged. They had received the car from another Caddy dealer couple of hours drive from here across the state line. There are two stickers on the top of the head light assembly. The left light has "Europe" on it while the right has "Dom" on it. There is one additional bulb on the left headlight which results in a slightly different wiring arrangement.

Posted by: lhheston

Dom, of course, is short for domestic...

Well, it really sounds like a "Monday" car. And it sounds like one dealer pulled a fast one on another, too... I hope you can get get this escalated up GM's ladder because it sounds like a factory screw up, especially if it has different FACTORY style wiring on it.

Posted by: caddiac

Looked like factory wiring to me - no splices, wires emerging neatly from the bundle, etc. I would bet on the dealer sticking it to another dealer. Hard for me to see how this kinda thing would have happened on the assembly line. I don't see it going up GM's ladder any higher. They put the blame squarely on the dealer and won't even send a area rep. to look at the problem.

Posted by: caddiac

Quick update: It seems that the parts ARE OEM. Now everyone is trying to figure out how a European headlight assembly ended up on one side! But hey, that means the car was not wrecked and will get fixed. Whew!

Posted by: lhheston

Quote:

Originally Posted by caddiac

Quick update: It seems that the parts ARE OEM. Now everyone is trying to figure out how a European headlight assembly ended up on one side! But hey, that means the car was not wrecked and will get fixed. Whew!

As we say in Kan-sas, YEEEE-HAW!

So, before the eruo light disappears, find the part number because some of our fellow readers just might like that look.... Got a picture?

Also, the reason I previously mentioned the "Monday" car is, back in the '60s and '70s, there were more defects noted on American cars assembled on Monday. It was assumed the blue-collar fellas would come in slightly hung over from drinkin' and watching the late football game Sunday night, and you really didn't want the car someone built in that condition... That was before the Japanese quality control really caught on. It probably isn't as bad these days.

Thanks for passing on the good news!

Posted by: caddiac

As they say in Georgia, Squeeeeeel like uh pig! Now GM says the OEM headlight that should have been on a Cadillac bound for the UK or Japan was made in April 2001. The Car was made in May of 2002 so that means that it could not have possibly have happened at the factory since the they turn their inventory at a much higher rate. As a result this is not a warranty claim but you can get it fixed at the dealer for $920. My next car will be a Mercedes!

Posted by: caddiac

Hey I will get a picture of that sucker and post it - since I still own it! I love my Caddy but am real upset about the dealer attitude. Hey for $45,000 if you wait 3 years to point out the problem so what - it is still under warranty. Okay so they won't stand behind. I just wish they would stand in front of it...............................