2016 Leon condensates lights?

gamerdood123

Active Member
Oct 1, 2020
54
8
United Kingdom
Hi all!
This is my third Leon, I've not noticed this on other two but never really looked until I was showing this car to a friend.

The front lights have a bit of condensation, it has been showers today but nothing heavy rain. Have had some. Sun inbetween! Since it rained I have driven 20 mins home and still there but led lights don't get hot!

Have read else where its normal but since its not been bad rain thought I better check and not seen it in photos like this! Tomorow I will throw some water on it and see if it gets in.

2016 Leon, 28k miles. Well looked after car
Thank you all, I panic over nothing I know
 

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Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
Seat say it's normal. Which is great if you think crap quality is normal.

We had a 2014 Leon for years and there was never a trace of water in the lights, which proves it can be done. Both our 2016 and 2017 cars get it. Sucks but what can you do? Poor design, poor build quality? Poor something I know that.
 

CalJames

Modification Addict
Jun 25, 2019
333
152
North Wales
I don't think it has anything to do with rain.
My 2014 Leon gets it when it's dry. Think it's down to the small amount of heat generated by the LEDs and any sudden change in external temperature.
Normally mine gets it if we have a warm day followed by a cold night
 

gamerdood123

Active Member
Oct 1, 2020
54
8
United Kingdom
I had a 2014 Leon for 3 years, never spotted it but on that one the lights always looked a bit hazzed, as if plastic had got dirty over the years! Last 2016 one I only had couple months so wouldn't have spotted as it was returned and I bought this 2016 one.

Thank you for your reply both! Was only concerned as mine looked thicker than other photos I'd seen (although still only in small area)
 

BoomerBoom

Active Member
Jun 1, 2018
690
249
My 2018 FR has done it since new, only a light mist at worst but still visible.

The headlights can't be sealed, they have to breathe to contract & expand, but the vent should have a vapour barrier - which I don't think the earlier models had at all.

The lack of a barrier also means dust gets drawn in, adhering to the lens by the strong electrostatic charge it generates and you end up with an internal frosting.

Condensation can be reduced by removing the rear headlight caps on a warm day, facing the sun but the dust is a long term and cumulative problem.
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
The headlights can't be sealed, they have to breathe...

Technically, this isn't quite true. There are ways around it, just the people designing the lights haven't thought of them.

Yes, as the air inside the light changes temperature it expands and contracts but you can deal with that without opening the light to the atmosphere. The easiest way to do it is by putting a rubber diaphragm over an opening in the case. Light gets hot, diaphragm gets pushed outward, gets cold, it gets pulled in. It moves with the air pressure but maintains a seal on the light.

Very simple, used in other applications. Why they haven't done that? No idea.
 
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KXL

KXL
Dec 15, 2016
1,581
197
London, UK
Happened to my Leon Pre-FL sometimes in the front, but it would always clear up, the rears, it as permanently condensed on one side. Ibiza, it happend when i first got it, as it was at sea for a week coming from Barcelona, the Bi-xenons would creat a heat spot in between the condensation (where it's dry) where the light shines, it happened several times (the headlights with some condensation). On my Volvo V40 LED headlights, never once was there any condensation despite whatever the weather. Guess these light unit seals are superior and made light units made better than Seats!
 

gamerdood123

Active Member
Oct 1, 2020
54
8
United Kingdom
How about this much? Its covering nearly the entire light now! But it does go as quick as it appears
 

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gamerdood123

Active Member
Oct 1, 2020
54
8
United Kingdom
Seems to be atleast this much every day at the moment at night. Is this a normal amount or should I get it looked at
 

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Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
Seems to be atleast this much every day at the moment at night. Is this a normal amount or should I get it looked at

If it's out of warranty a dealer will say they need replaced. If it's still under warranty they'll say it's normal.
 

gamerdood123

Active Member
Oct 1, 2020
54
8
United Kingdom
If it's out of warranty a dealer will say they need replaced. If it's still under warranty they'll say it's normal.
That wouldn't surprise me!

Its under warrenty but with a pug dealer as thats where I got it, they took it p/x. 2016 30k miles.

If they won't fix them, is it worth me replacing them at great expense? Or taking cap control stickers off back and opening it to dry out on a nice day or a hair dryer on low low heat? Thanks!
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
.. is it worth me replacing them at great expense? Or taking cap control stickers off back and opening it to dry out on a nice day or a hair dryer on low low heat?

I don't know. I got one light replaced under warranty but the other still fogs up. I haven't done anything about it. You need to remove the bumper to get the feckin things off!
 

gamerdood123

Active Member
Oct 1, 2020
54
8
United Kingdom
I don't know. I got one light replaced under warranty but the other still fogs up. I haven't done anything about it. You need to remove the bumper to get the feckin things off!
Oh dang I can't take the bumper off, my ocd will ruin me if I don't mine the bumper back up dead perfectly!

How long ago did you have your changed/others been misting for? Have you tried taking back off and parking up in the sun to try and dry it? Guessing new one never mists?
 

gamerdood123

Active Member
Oct 1, 2020
54
8
United Kingdom
This ^

Mine fogged up three days after delivery, a brand new face lift FR. Wait for a sunny day and park toward the sun with those caps off - problem solved (until you drive the car on a wet, cold night again).
The one bit I don't get about that is how it gets back in on a wet night, as my 2013 mk3 led Leon didn't ever have even a drop of mist that I spotted in nearly 4 years! So surly these lights have to have been made bad on comparison?

Did you take off both caps at back? The big square one I can't work out, the small circular one I guess unscrews? (again these are led so I don't know if that matters)
Thanks
 

BoomerBoom

Active Member
Jun 1, 2018
690
249
Mine are different but on yours just pull the two wire clips to each side then remove the big square one.
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
How long ago did you have your changed/others been misting for?

It's a total lottery. We had a 2014 car which never got any misting the whole time we had it. Both lights on the 2016 car I have were misted when I bought it. The dealer said one was 'normal' and replaced the other. I don't even know what they're doing these days, I don't pay any attention. If a light fails I'll deal with it but until then it's getting ignored.
 
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