Condensation in headlights

dan_b

dan_b

A2OC Donor
Argh - ever since I had to temporarily remove my HIDs to exchange the ballasts, I've had condensation in my light clusters. This bothers me.

I tried yesterday to dry the units out with a hair dryer but after 20mins it had made no difference. I also drove back up the M3 with the dipped lights on with the back of the bulb holders open in the hope the heat and the draught might clear it out, but again, didn't seem to make any difference.

Any more tips? Do I need to take all the bulbs out and just have a concerted effort with the hair dryer?

Is this likely to cause me a problem with the MOT?
 
Unless the condensation is on the lens and affects the beam pattern, you'll be fine for the MOT.

Check and double check the seal on the back covers and also the grommet where the new HID cables go in.

If these are ok, get a few sachets of silica gel and attach them to the insides (rubber bands around the wires to hold them in place) to dry the insides out.

Also check for any tiny hairline cracks around the front edges of the headlamp, as these are a very common cause for water ingress and some of them are almost invisible and hard to spot.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Hi danb
I once had a similar problem with condensation in the headlamps which did not clear, even using a 3kw greenhouse fan heater directed onto the glass.
The only thing which worked was to remove the headlights and place them on top of a radiator overnight - use a towel or something similar so the glass is not in direct contact. After doing this, Skipton's advice should keep them mist free.

Cheers Spike
 
Cheers - the condensation is on the inside of the clear plastic front to the whole light cluster, not within or on the bulb lenses themselves.
I'll persevere and get some silica gel in the meantime. Will also re-check the HID grommets too.
 
dan_b said:
Cheers - the condensation is on the inside of the clear plastic front to the whole light cluster
Click to expand...

Sorry Dan, that's what I meant to say - I just forgot that modern light units have plastic instead of glass fronts like they used to have.

Cheers Spike
 
Of course removing them means dealing with that hideous Audi "impossible to remove without destroying" clip for the main cabling :(
 
My off side lamp has fogged up as well in this cold weather. Cant say it bothers me much, and the light (as poor as the standard set up is) seems unaffected. I'll get Skip to look at it when he fits my HID's :D
 
Last edited:
I also have some moisture in headlights, especially in the left one. Sometimes it dries for a while but especially now that it is wet outside it is constantly wet :(.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top