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Headlight Condensation

M

Midnightsun

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My drivers side headlight has lots of condensation in it so naturally I brought it to the dealer for warranty claim. They say they need to attempt a repair before ordering a new assembly which I was ok with however, here is the story I got after I picked it up and saw water in there just as when I originally brought it in for service. They say it needs to breath and in a few days the condensation will disappear? Now correct me if I'm wrong but I am 99.9% sure all headlight housings are completely sealed and the only way water can get in is through a bad seal or fissure. If it were to actually breath, it would condensate all the time on cool wet mornings. It has been 2 days now and it's worse than before so I assume the fix failed and they will order a new housing.
 
Headlights seem to be curiously hard to fix, once they've lost their seal. I'm dealing with the same thing with my Acura. I had the bumper replaced and when I picked it up there was condensation in the headlight. The body shop said they would "throw it back in the bake oven" which should heat it up and drive out the condensation, but like you said, if it's sealed, that won't work without removing the seal. Anyway, when they gave me the car back there was still water in it and they told me to "give it time." It's been a year and it still develops water in that lens.

I think there are two issues, or things that need to be fixed. First, one has to fix the seal. Second, one has to get all the moisture out, or it will continue to condensate every time the temperature changes.
 
I think there are two issues, or things that need to be fixed. First, one has to fix the seal. Second, one has to get all the moisture out, or it will continue to condensate every time the temperature changes.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. Hopefully they will acknowledge the "fix" failed and will order a new part for me. The passenger side is perfect by the way. ;)
 
To my knowledge, the headlights are NOT sealed.
On my old Acura, I have noticed that there's an opening and a rubber pipe that hangs out.

I've seen condensation inside my Genny as well. Only noticed a few times when the weather was cold.

Dan
 
nearwater said:
To my knowledge, the headlights are NOT sealed.
On my old Acura, I have noticed that there's an opening and a rubber pipe that hangs out.

I've seen condensation inside my Genny as well. Only noticed a few times when the weather was cold.

Dan
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Mine's a '03 TL. What was yours? I thought all modern beams were sealed. If not, it seems like it should have dried out by now. I was thinking of removing the bulb and blowing a hair dryer into it.
 
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The headlights are in fact sealed, and the amount of glue used between the front and backs is considerable, so the most likely place for a leak is usually at the bulb, but water won't get in through there, that typically happens from the front. Even the smallest hairline crack will draw moisture in.

For the OP with the car under warranty, let the dealership try what it wants but keep pushing for a new housing - eventually they will just replace the whole thing since I can guarantee they won't be able to fix the problem.

Disaster, since your car is out of warranty, if the body shop was indeed able to seal the headlight assembly properly, the only way you'll get rid of the condensation now is to let it heat and vent at the same time. Pull the headlight bulbs out of the back, disconnect the bulbs, and drive with them out - the heat from the engine and the fact that they are open will work to dry out the assembly. The other option is to remove the assembly from the car and place it in the freezer over night - this will suck the moisture out, then leave it to warm to room temp and the condensation will evaporate, and then you can replace on the car, but before hand you would want to apply new sealant to the assembly, since you have it out of the car.
 
Disaster said:
Mine's a '03 TL. What was yours? I thought all modern beams were sealed. If not, it seems like it should have dried out by now. I was thinking of removing the bulb and blowing a hair dryer into it.
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Mine was an '02 RSX-S. But I guess I was wrong. Sayantsi says they're sealed.
I must've mistaken something else as a vent.

Dan
 
Sayantsi said:
Disaster, since your car is out of warranty, if the body shop was indeed able to seal the headlight assembly properly, the only way you'll get rid of the condensation now is to let it heat and vent at the same time. Pull the headlight bulbs out of the back, disconnect the bulbs, and drive with them out - the heat from the engine and the fact that they are open will work to dry out the assembly. The other option is to remove the assembly from the car and place it in the freezer over night - this will suck the moisture out, then leave it to warm to room temp and the condensation will evaporate, and then you can replace on the car, but before hand you would want to apply new sealant to the assembly, since you have it out of the car.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Sayantsi. Since the headlight was dry before I had the work done I suspect they must have done something to it during their operation. Perhaps their baking oven opened the seal or they cracked it moving it, or they had it apart and allowed water in.

Another way, I've used, to draw out moisture, is to heat up rice and put the device in a sealed container with the rice. It than draws up the moisture like a decadent. Of course a real decadent works too. :-)
 
They might have cracked it - I had an Audi that got the smallest crack in the headlight assembly - invisible to the eye almost, but the headlight quickly filled with water and the water would in turn blow out the headlight bulb. I never did get it completely sealed, but some clear epoxy did help once I found the crack. Leaving the bulb out was the easiest way for me to dry out the assembly.
 
nearwater said:
Mine was an '02 RSX-S. But I guess I was wrong. Sayantsi says they're sealed.
I must've mistaken something else as a vent.

Dan
Click to expand...

I think this is the headlight assembly for an 02 RSX.

a100111.jpg


It is sold as one unit, and is a clear plastic face sealed to the plastic rear with everything inside from the factory. It is sealed with a large amount of gooey plastic. You can cook the assembly to get it hot enough to melt the sealer without the other plastic bits, and pry the clear from the the back, to reseal it, but an easier option might be to simply remove the assembly from the car and apply additional sealant around where the clear meets the back. The whole unit should be sealed up in back though.

When the front bumper is removed on modern cars with modern sealed light assemblies, the assembly can be cracked at the bottom by stress if the remover isn't careful. Even the smallest cracks will draw in moisture - its highly annoying! But, if you think you ave a crack in the assembly, start by examining the front-bottom of the assembly.
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you can change the headlight and see if fits good if not try some silicon around the rubber ring of the headlight,good luck
sometimes the condensation is because some water.
 
Sayantsi said:
I think this is the headlight assembly for an 02 RSX.

a100111.jpg


It is sold as one unit, and is a clear plastic face sealed to the plastic rear with everything inside from the factory. It is sealed with a large amount of gooey plastic. You can cook the assembly to get it hot enough to melt the sealer without the other plastic bits, and pry the clear from the the back, to reseal it, but an easier option might be to simply remove the assembly from the car and apply additional sealant around where the clear meets the back. The whole unit should be sealed up in back though.

When the front bumper is removed on modern cars with modern sealed light assemblies, the assembly can be cracked at the bottom by stress if the remover isn't careful. Even the smallest cracks will draw in moisture - its highly annoying! But, if you think you ave a crack in the assembly, start by examining the front-bottom of the assembly.
Click to expand...

Yes, that was the housing. I baked it to open the seal and to color-match the chrome plastics with body color.
It turned out great and enjoyed every minute working on it. :)
It was either that or an aftermarket headlight housing with angel eyes that I saw the rubber hose(L shaped).

Dan
 
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Mine is the older model Acura TL with reflector HID's.

41rqZ4qu3iL._SS500_.jpg


When I get around to it this summer, I'll open it up and try drying it out. If it gets wet again I'll reseal it. Thanks for the tips.
 
Well here is an update. They removed a foam insert and said this would dry thing up and solve the problem. Four days later it was even worse so I brought it back and told them I need a replacement. They said they need to get an OK from Hyundai Canada before they could order/install a new one, that was last Monday. Called them on Wednesday only to be told they had not heard from Hyundai yet. Monday morning I will not be very polite when I hit the service department. Basically, get me a new housing by tomorrow or this is the last time you will see me hear. $50,000 car and I can't get a effen light replaced. Sorry, just needed to vent. :mad:
 
you must have a headlight with auto level , so they are not completely sealed, this has happened to my 09 4.6 w/ tech gen. only on the driver side they swapped out the headlight with no issues, about a week later happened again same spot same side headlight, i called and demanded answers and he called back and said it is a known problem and he would make a note in the computer to cover under warranty if no fix was found by the time my warranty went out. i live in louisiana so we have a high moisture level here and the new headlight happened only the one time the sun dried them out and have seen moisture sense
 
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Midnightsun said:
Well here is an update. They removed a foam insert and said this would dry thing up and solve the problem. Four days later it was even worse so I brought it back and told them I need a replacement. They said they need to get an OK from Hyundai Canada before they could order/install a new one, that was last Monday. Called them on Wednesday only to be told they had not heard from Hyundai yet. Monday morning I will not be very polite when I hit the service department. Basically, get me a new housing by tomorrow or this is the last time you will see me hear. $50,000 car and I can't get a effen light replaced. Sorry, just needed to vent. :mad:
Click to expand...

I wonder if they even bothered calling Hyundai - service reps won't bother with a warranty repair if they don't think Hyundai will reimburse, can you call Hyundai directly?
 
After threatening to take my business elsewhere and laying into everyone involved they miraculously got a new headlight the next day and are installing it as I write this. Regardless, warranty work should not be as painful as pulling teeth. Not pleased at all with the trouble and trips it took to fix a brand new car under warranty.
 
Midnightsun said:
After threatening to take my business elsewhere and laying into everyone involved they miraculously got a new headlight the next day and are installing it as I write this. Regardless, warranty work should not be as painful as pulling teeth. Not pleased at all with the trouble and trips it took to fix a brand new car under warranty.
Click to expand...

Consider your dealer incompetent. Take it to another dealer next time.
Glad they took care of you though.

Saw condensation in both my headlights during colder weather.
Was disappointed, but haven't seen it since so I decided to keep an eye on it until I see further problems. No biggie.

Dan
 
Picked up the car and all they could do was pat themselves on the back for getting it changed. Their comment was, that thing is worth $1500, no wonder they are so reluctant to swap it out. Good thing the engine is ok, imagine the cost of that! :rolleyes:
 
IProblem will continue. Had a Lexus GS 400. I bought new headlights. It's cracked or it is the seal...
 
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