can anyone tell me a good easy fix for the headlight condensation, seems to be getting worse slowly
headlight condensation fix required
- Thread starter jackster150
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but sureley thats how the condensation gets in, drilling .as any unmoddified headlight is a closed and sealed unit, and that does not get condensation, until we start messing about with them, sureley sealing them up with silicon must do the job, thats what ill be doing weekend,
No as it allows them to breath. Its because the unit can't breath is why it fills with condensation. My other halves old Ka misted up until I drilled the backs and it solved it straight awayt
leon headlights are not sealed 100% but are sealed pretty well so there is the issue.
Condensation is due to the fact that the warmer the air the more moisture it can retain.
As the air passes over cold surfaces and the air is cooled, it reaches its dew point and thus cannot retain the moitsure and it ends up on the cold surface. (same thing as when your car windows steam up and why this happens when its cold or raining).
So, how do you stop condensation in headlights?
1 - first approach is sealed units with low humidity air in it. This way if the air gets cooled it can still retain the moiture.
2 - air circulation or air change. (system used in bathrooms via windows or extractor fans).
Now, the leon headlights are sealed pretty well, but what if the seal was last closed on a day when the humidy was high (or a hot day). such as changing a bulb etc. Condensation will form when car is washed or its cold. You then turn on the headlight which then warms up the headlight. Great
however this has just put the moiture back in the air and as its a sealed unit it will just do it again the next time the conditions allow.
(so next time its cold and not humid and the condensation has gone (perhaps after a drive and you have warmed the air up in the headlight, take the seal off and allow the air to circulate for a while and then reseal when its still cold. This will reduce the chance of it happening again, ( but not totally as not a very technical approach and the seal isnt 100%.
Or you have air changes, and this is where drilling holes in the back works. The idiea being that you should have air similair to the prevaling conditions and can reduce condensation issues.
just has to be done in a way to prevent water ingress.
Condensation is due to the fact that the warmer the air the more moisture it can retain.
As the air passes over cold surfaces and the air is cooled, it reaches its dew point and thus cannot retain the moitsure and it ends up on the cold surface. (same thing as when your car windows steam up and why this happens when its cold or raining).
So, how do you stop condensation in headlights?
1 - first approach is sealed units with low humidity air in it. This way if the air gets cooled it can still retain the moiture.
2 - air circulation or air change. (system used in bathrooms via windows or extractor fans).
Now, the leon headlights are sealed pretty well, but what if the seal was last closed on a day when the humidy was high (or a hot day). such as changing a bulb etc. Condensation will form when car is washed or its cold. You then turn on the headlight which then warms up the headlight. Great
however this has just put the moiture back in the air and as its a sealed unit it will just do it again the next time the conditions allow.(so next time its cold and not humid and the condensation has gone (perhaps after a drive and you have warmed the air up in the headlight, take the seal off and allow the air to circulate for a while and then reseal when its still cold. This will reduce the chance of it happening again, ( but not totally as not a very technical approach and the seal isnt 100%.
Or you have air changes, and this is where drilling holes in the back works. The idiea being that you should have air similair to the prevaling conditions and can reduce condensation issues.
just has to be done in a way to prevent water ingress.
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Unit can't be sealed, you have to be able to change the bulb. Having said that, not everyone has condensation problems. First step may be to check that the bulbs are seated squarely and fully home? But drilling vent holes has been reported to work by lots of people on here; small holes, of course.
sorry i misled you guys by saying sealing up the headlights i actually meant the grommet belonging to the hids where it seals the backing plate, hole for the wire access, so is everyone in the same frame of mind that im better to drill a couple of small holes
It's sealed in the sense of it has a sealing grommet in the back of the panel that goes over the rear of the lights.
I have been trying to get SEAT uk to accept this problem under warranty for the last 9 months - but just a black hole, if not resolved I will reject the car as unfit goods. .....................leon headlights are not sealed 100% but are sealed pretty well so there is the issue.
Condensation is due to the fact that the warmer the air the more moisture it can retain.
As the air passes over cold surfaces and the air is cooled, it reaches its dew point and thus cannot retain the moitsure and it ends up on the cold surface. (same thing as when your car windows steam up and why this happens when its cold or raining).
So, how do you stop condensation in headlights?
1 - first approach is sealed units with low humidity air in it. This way if the air gets cooled it can still retain the moiture.
2 - air circulation or air change. (system used in bathrooms via windows or extractor fans).
Now, the leon headlights are sealed pretty well, but what if the seal was last closed on a day when the humidy was high (or a hot day). such as changing a bulb etc. Condensation will form when car is washed or its cold. You then turn on the headlight which then warms up the headlight. Great
(so next time its cold and not humid and the condensation has gone (perhaps after a drive and you have warmed the air up in the headlight, take the seal off and allow the air to circulate for a while and then reseal when its still cold. This will reduce the chance of it happening again, ( but not totally as not a very technical approach and the seal isnt 100%.
Or you have air changes, and this is where drilling holes in the back works. The idiea being that you should have air similair to the prevaling conditions and can reduce condensation issues.
We had the same problem. I took the back off and held a hot air gun down the back until the condensation had dried out (an hair drier may work but might take longer). I then wiped some vasalene on the rubber seals of the back cover (to fill any gaps) and reassembled. 12months on the condensation hasn't returned.
I have no back cover on my offside light (due to FMIC hose proximity) and a cover on my nearside light.
Guess which light gets condensation in?
The nearside.
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