Vision when driving at night is already harder, never mind if you’ve got fogging headlights too. You’ve probably seen all that moisture trapped in your headlights, sweating to get out, but how did it get there? We’ll tell you how and we’ll tell you how to get rid of it too!
What causes condensation in your headlights?
It would be great if we could tell you straight up what the answer is to this question, but there are more ways than one that can cause moisture to get into your headlights.
Faulty seals
The first one has got to be a dodgy seal. You won’t be the only one to have had a dodgy seal, and you won’t be the last. Your headlights could potentially not be sealed in the first place, which means that they have vents and can allow the heat out more effectively.
If this has happened to you, you’ll either need to repair the seal or replace the headlight, simple. It only takes that small tiny crack in your seal to allow all the moisture in.
Headlight vents
Your vents are there to suck in moisture from outside air when you turn your car off. This then condenses after your bulb has cooled. If your vent becomes blocked, then this isn’t as bad as it sounds, because you won’t have to break the seal and repair the headlight so long as you play your cards right.
All you need to do is sit and wait for it to pass. Generally speaking, condensation tends to clear up on its own, depending on how much you’re getting. If you’re getting a hell of a lot more than you bargained for, it’s time to take action to get rid of this.
Damage to your headlights
Does a crack or damage to your headlight sound familiar? It’s got to have happened to us all at some point somewhere along the line. If this is you, it might be a good idea to either repair it or replace it, whichever is easiest.
The longer you leave it, the more water will build up inside it and before you know it, you won’t be able to see.
How to get condensation out of your headlights
We’ve all seen condensation before, most probably on our windows, and the same happens on our headlights too. When this happens, you can’t simply switch on the fan or the air con to get rid of it. You need to get it out, but there are a few different ways that you could go about doing this.
If you fancy trying to get the condensation out of your headlight, try these steps:
- Remove your headlight completely – being careful not to damage it in the process of course. Remove the bulb and the connector too.
- Fill your headlights with water – yes, you read that right. Fill it with water so that you can find out where the leak is and how the water is getting in. If there is any damage to the headlight, you’ll be able to see it for yourself when you see the water coming out of the broken area.
- Empty all the water and dry your headlights – if the crack is too big for you to repair, you may a swell go and buy some new ones
- Seal the deal – if you can save your headlights, then why not? you could seal the broken part to stop the water from coming in again.
How to prevent further moisture
Now that you know how much of a faff it can be trying to get the condensation out, you’ll want to know what you can do to avoid it in the first place.
The answer is a strong seal. You can create a strong seal from so much these days. While you’re doing this, it’s a good idea to check all of the other bits and pieces too, like the electrical connectors, the bulb, and the vent.
Once you’ve got yourself some cracking quality products, like some silicone spray and sealant gel, you’ll be able to repair any cracks or damaged seals. Then it will be reinstall time. So, have you got the right angle, brackets and electrical connectors all in place? We thought so, which means it’s time to test out your light to make sure it’s shining bright like it should be! There you have it. Jobs a gooden and all you can do now is inspect it regularly to check it’s sealed correctly.
