Halogen Headlight Condesation

[hitandamiss]

Hi Guys,

I know the headlight condensation is a common problem but it's really annoying me on my 07 Leon FR. Anyone been able to resolve this problem? Only solution I could find online was to use an air pencil and air compressor of which I have neither so wonder if there's another solution or even has anyone had this fixed at a garage and how much did it run them?

Cheers

 

[andycupra]

take the rear cover off.
use a hair dryer to dry out,
then important bit, turn dryer to cold setting and continue to blow through for a good 5 mins afterwards.
replace cover.

another option is to increase air circulation in the headlight so installing vents/holes in rear cover is an option but need to do this in a manner so it doesnt easily allow water in.

 

[jc_boc]

Silica gel packs are also an option.....

 

[hitandamiss]

Gave the hair dryer a go there and made NI difference after removing the light cover, maybe have to take the headlights out for it. I think the silica gel would help prevent it once it's cleared but without putting them in the actual headlight don't think they'd pick up the moisture. Nightmare

 

[robthebubble]

Easiest think is to take the backs off and take the car for a 10 minute drive with the headlights on (make sure it's not raining though!) then put the covers back on. This dries out any condensation in the headlights and the airflow from driving gets any condensation out.

 

[andycupra]

Gave the hair dryer a go there and made NI difference after removing the light cover, maybe have to take the headlights out for it. I think the silica gel would help prevent it once it's cleared but without putting them in the actual headlight don't think they'd pick up the moisture. Nightmare

you have condensation in a headlight, and blowing hot air with a hair dryer did not clear it...?
unusual..........

 

[hitandamiss]

you have condensation in a headlight, and blowing hot air with a hair dryer did not clear it...?
unusual..........

Yeah tried the hairdryer and made no difference whatsoever.

Easiest think is to take the backs off and take the car for a 10 minute drive with the headlights on (make sure it's not raining though!) then put the covers back on. This dries out any condensation in the headlights and the airflow from driving gets any condensation out.

Keen to try this Rob but i'm in Belfast and it's December so might be a while before the rain goes off lol

 

[lsg60]

Easiest think is to take the backs off and take the car for a 10 minute drive with the headlights on (make sure it's not raining though!) then put the covers back on. This dries out any condensation in the headlights and the airflow from driving gets any condensation out.

I did this the other day, took it for a blast down the motorway, worked a treat

 

[robthebubble]

Told you it would!

 

[lsg60]

Told you it would!

They don't call you the headlights master for nothing eh

 

[hitandamiss]

Took the backs off tonight, been out about an hour and no change to them fs

 

[Hamburgalarr]

Sure its condensation and not polymer cracking or abrasion can you take a picture?

 

[hitandamiss]

Call me daft but can't see a way of attaching a picture to the thread here?

 

[andycupra]

you cant attach directly. cost of hosting etc.
what you need to do is upload to a site such as photobucket, then you put the img link in here and it will display the attachment.

 

[hilly81]

Took the backs off tonight, been out about an hour and no change to them fs

I did this on my Toledo at the weekend. Worked an absolute treat but, not only did I take all the covers off the back of the headlights I also had to remove one of the Bulbs (the main beam in my case) to create a hole into the headlight casing. Just removing the covers and not a bulb wouldn't have left hardly an space for the warm air to get into it.

 

[robthebubble]

Call me daft but can't see a way of attaching a picture to the thread here?

I think you also need over 20 posts before you can add pictures?

 

[Jonsyb]

I found taking backs off and have dipped and full beam on helped but it's not a permanent fix condensation creeps back after a period of time especially with our weather lol

 

[andycupra]

I found taking backs off and have dipped and full beam on helped but it's not a permanent fix condensation creeps back after a period of time especially with our weather lol

part of this fix is to heat up the air in the headlight (by having the headlights on) which leads to condensation reduction as the water evaporates/is obsorbed by the warmer air.

this is fine - but only until the air in the headlight and the headlight lense falls below a temperature where the air once again reaches its dew point leading to condensation.



The second part of your fix is to remove the backs, - the idea behind this is to get air circulation, or to replace the air in the headlight. which is needed to avoid the condensation returned as above.

If the rear is removed, but headlight bulbs are still in place then the air circulation wont be great, perhaps in your case you need to do it again but make sure the air in circulated/replaced more thoroughly.

 

[andycupra]

Yeah tried the hairdryer and made no difference whatsoever.

you did remove the4 bulbs also and blow the hot air through into the headlight?

 

[Jonsyb]

part of this fix is to heat up the air in the headlight (by having the headlights on) which leads to condensation reduction as the water evaporates/is obsorbed by the warmer air.

this is fine - but only until the air in the headlight and the headlight lense falls below a temperature where the air once again reaches its dew point leading to condensation.



The second part of your fix is to remove the backs, - the idea behind this is to get air circulation, or to replace the air in the headlight. which is needed to avoid the condensation returned as above.

If the rear is removed, but headlight bulbs are still in place then the air circulation wont be great, perhaps in your case you need to do it again but make sure the air in circulated/replaced more thoroughly.

I have tried it also with airlines and bulbs removed also with hair dryer come to conclusion I have a dodgy seal on the headlight I read on here power washing doesn't help it much either lol