Headlight condensation.

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck) 09/21/2019 at 17:54 • Filed to: Sportcross

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Between intense rainfalls, water getting into my garage during that flash-flood, and having half of the front of my car torn apart during repairs, condensation has found its way into one of my headlights.

Unfortunately, it is also possible that they’re 17 years old and just old. The seal on the other one is cracked, though no water is inside — yet.

So I’m trying something easy first from the IS forum:

“SOLUTION :

I unplugged the parking city bulb and the high beam bulb and moved them away from the headlight, this leaves a small and larger circle open into the headlight. I then ran the engine and closed the hood with the bulbs still out of the headlight. The heat from the engine and under th hood enters the headlight through the removed bulb entrances. It took only a few minutes for the headlights to clear up

just be careful nothing other then air enters the headlights through the open bulb entrances.”

But there’s a fair amount in there... Any other DIY suggestions are welcome. The lense is in theory removable, but it’s pretty well understood the bezel will shatter as soon as you try. While a fresh seat of headlights will really rejuvenate the looks of this car, I’m still emotionally and financially recovering from my last expense soooooo 

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/21/2019 at 18:00

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If you’re willing to buy new ones , replacements seem rather inexpensive compared to what I expected.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/21/2019 at 18:05

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rice

if you can get it in there it will soak up any moisture

Boxer_4 > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 09/21/2019 at 18:16

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Haha, too funny!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/21/2019 at 18:23

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If you can remove the lights, get a hairdryer in those bulb holes. Dries it right up.

Edit: nvm, i missed the bit about the bezels shattering

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/21/2019 at 18:52

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Heat them up above the boiling point of water so it pushes the water out.

However, if the seals are bad, it’ll come right back. You will need to replace them. It’s a lot of years to expect some rubber to remain flexible.

MM54 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/21/2019 at 20:14

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The lights in the 4Runner pick up condensation on cool rainy days, running the headlights while driving or warm sunny days tend to clear it up. Have you been driving it since you noticed the condensation? It may be the same for you.

Mr Donkey > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/21/2019 at 23:35

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Add some descicant pellets into the assembly through the holes. The descicant won’t interfere with the lamps and will happily grab and release that water in cycles so the condensation will minimize and disapere . I work at a car dealer and we have huge bags of descicant places all throughout the cars so the water crossing doesn’t damage the cars during shipping. Go to any import dealer like Alfa Romeo or Maserati especially and ask if they can save you a bag or two. I toss them so to the dealer it’s simply waste. Leave a few in your trunk and car. It helps rid you of musty  odors.

facw > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/22/2019 at 12:38

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I had this in my car, but there was a little vent hose thing I could mess with. pulling it and then reattaching it later did the trick.