What would the odds of getting a warranty replacement for this?

[Saga]

To make a long story short, my truck was covered in mud/grime/salt/slush and whathave you. I ran it to a local spray wash and spent about 10 minutes cleaning the grime off it thoroughly.

So I finish, spend a few minutes polishing the rails and kicks, and back the truck out of the stall. This is where the confusing part comes in, as I honestly have no idea how this all happened; the stall warmed up quite a bit due to the warm water used to wash the vehicle, but I'm no human thermometer so I can't accurately estimate how warm it got. Upon backing out I stuck the truck in direct sunlight and began drying off the side mirrors, light clusters, and tail lights. Here I was standing behind the bed wiping down the rear bumper and I hear what sounds like a pop of pressure released and what sounds like a beer bottle hitting pavement and breaking. In a mini panic my head zips up and I literally watch the plastic pieces of what was once the cover to my cab mounted brake light crumbling to the bed of my truck. Was probably one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen.

For a few seconds I sat there like a retard staring at it and then started looking around for someone who had just shot out my brake light with a bb-gun or something similar - but the only thing behind me was a 4 lane intersection and road.

Did I just experience some bizarre aftereffect of thermodynamics of taking the wet truck from a semi-warm enclosed area to -12 degree temperatures?

2007 Sierra with < 15,000 miles. Still under the factory 3 year 100,000 mile warranty. What are the odds that someone will actually believe me for a warranty replacement?


Edit: Apparently I can't spell thoroughly.

 

[Vette73]

Pics as I am not sure what you are saying.


Did it break, fall off, melt, ???

 

[Demon-Xanth]

It's possible if they're feeling generous, but I doubt it's expensive.

 

[Saga]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Pics as I am not sure what you are saying.


Did it break, fall off, melt, ???

It shattered as if stuck by impact, but right in front of my eyes.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Worth a try, but the dealer will probably try to say that something hit it. If you can show that there's no scuffs/scratches/dents around the light it will boost your case, but it's still not a sure thing.

ZV

 

[StageLeft]

Is there anyway some water got between spaces and promptly froze/expanded? I cannot image warmer water in ambient air even down that cold could cause damage to plastic.

 

[Saga]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Is there anyway some water got between spaces and promptly froze/expanded? I cannot image warmer water in ambient air even down that cold could cause damage to plastic.

Shit I have no idea. I've washed it numerous times under similar conditions and it's not like it's glass, I've never seen plastic explode due to rapid expansion before in my life.

Was the most bizarre thing ever.

 

[dud]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Pics as I am not sure what you are saying.


Did it break, fall off, melt, ???

The OP cleaned off his truck with heated (hot?) water then moved it out into a -12 degree ambient atmosphere and was surprised that his cab brake light shattered.

Op, you thermo-stressed a piece of plastic from as much as (hot water) 150 degrees or more down to -12 degrees in nothing flat. Do you know what sudden temp changes can do to plastics? I guess now you do.

As for warranty replacement ... have you checked to see how much the new part costs? Go to the dealer and ask for a warranty replacement ... what's the worst thing that can happen? They say no?

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's an American truck, this sort of thing is typical and no, I wouldn't expect GM to repair that under warranty.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
It's an American truck, this sort of thing is typical and no, I wouldn't expect GM to repair that under warranty.

I have never in my life heard of a plastic light cover shattering due to thermal shock.

I have heard of idiots breaking their windows by pouring hot water on them to melt the ice, but that affects glass in general, not just glass on american cars.

 

[Saga]

Got a pretty quick warranty replacement. Apparently the cover on the 07 was glass, and not plastic. I simply wasn't as careful as I usually am and didn't let it dry off enough before putting it back in subzero temperatures.

Interestingly, the replacement is definately plastic. Though the shards on my truck bed are also definitely glass.

Strange.

 

[Jugernot]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
It's an American truck, this sort of thing is typical and no, I wouldn't expect GM to repair that under warranty.

:roll:

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Saga
Got a pretty quick warranty replacement. Apparently the cover on the 07 was glass, and not plastic. I simply wasn't as careful as I usually am and didn't let it dry off enough before putting it back in subzero temperatures.

Interestingly, the replacement is definately plastic. Though the shards on my truck bed are also definitely glass.

Strange.

Cool, so now if it happens again you can REALLY be surprised. I still don't think that hot water spray at a car wash to cold ambient air (cold water is another matter altogether) would have a quick enough temp change to cause what happened, but I can definitely see how I would have posted the same enigma-type post!

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Is there anyway some water got between spaces and promptly froze/expanded? I cannot image warmer water in ambient air even down that cold could cause damage to plastic.

This.

I have to believe you filled the area behind the lens with water, even if it was 1/4 filled. Warm water will actually freeze faster.

 

[LTC8K6]

Warm water will actually freeze faster.

Negative, Ghost rider.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6

Warm water will actually freeze faster.

Negative, Ghost rider.

Mpemba effect

 

[LTC8K6]

Those specific circumstances would not be in effect at the car wash.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
It's an American truck, this sort of thing is typical and no, I wouldn't expect GM to repair that under warranty.

Like the same hard plastic lenses the imports uses is somehow superior? :roll:

You disgust me.

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
It's an American truck, this sort of thing is typical and no, I wouldn't expect GM to repair that under warranty.

:laugh: As if on cue. God, give it a rest. You know full well that if this were anything other than an American vehicle, you'd either remain silent, or be making all kinds of excuses for it.

I fucking hate fanboys. :roll:

 

[Sluggo]

Originally posted by: Black88GTA

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
It's an American truck, this sort of thing is typical and no, I wouldn't expect GM to repair that under warranty.

:laugh: As if on cue. God, give it a rest. You know full well that if this were anything other than an American vehicle, you'd either remain silent, or be making all kinds of excuses for it.

I fucking hate fanboys. :roll:

Just think, if the OP had bought a Tahoe instead of a pick-up, we would have been treated to the full fledged SUVs suck rant.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: LTC8K6

Warm water will actually freeze faster.

Negative, Ghost rider.

Mpemba effect

Shens.

A reviewer for Physics World writes, "Even if the Mpemba effect is real ? if hot water can sometimes freeze more quickly than cold ? it is not clear whether the explanation would be trivial or illuminating."

Doesn't sound conclusive to me. A gram of water at 150 degrees contains far more energy than a gram of water at 35 degrees. The actual effect as I understand it is that the hot water evaporates very quickly in the cold (thus dry) air, therefore there is less to freeze. If half of the 150 degree water evaporates it's conceivable that it might freeze faster under certain conditions.