Headlight Condensation

[hadi125]

My drivers side headlight has a bit of condensation/water. No idea where it's coming from. What's the best solution to solve it?


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[veteran]

Hmm, interesting. Having been trying of late to temporarily remove that headlight on my own Match Edition 6R (new model), I came across a warning in the Driver's Manual to be very careful that the rubber bungs on the back that cover the apertures for the bulbs are put back fully into place when you're finished working on the headlight unit. They're there to keep water and damp air out. I found that indeed you had to be very diligent about that, pressing and feeling with your fingers that all the bungs were fully back into place.

There are two sides to the argument for doing this, though. If you make the headlight too airtight, you're more likely to encourage condensation on the inside, especially if the car's used in a damp climate where temperatures can plummet. It's rather like draughtproofing your home; if you overdo it you restrict the flow of fresh air, and moist air can then condense out on any cold-enough surface.

I noticed that I also had some much smaller apertures in the back of my headlight unit. Some had short tubular bungs in them, some didn't. So, it's likely that one or two of these tubular bungs have been missed out on my Polo. These may or may not cover entries into the headlight unit. I'll need to investigate a bit more, on my Polo.

Other than putting the headlight unit into an extra-warm, dry environment for some time, I don't think there's any easy way to remove the condensation. There might, however, be enough heat generated from some of the bulbs to eventually drive off the condensation if you now keep the headlights on (dipped, preferably) while you're driving around. (Don't do it while the engine's off, as you'll run down the battery).

You're right to be concerned, as condensate inside the unit will eventually damage the silverings. Make sure you account for the presence of every bung that's supposed to be there, as depending on the particular design of headlight unit, some of them can be tucked out of sight.

[RUM4MO]

There is usually a drain/vent system on these lights, so if you use the at night it should dry out! (not a proper answer just a fact)

Anyway, you are right to wonder where the moisture is getting in, maybe check around the lens cover/body join for any damage and seal if you find/suspect that there is any possible leak sites.

I think that you are probably experiencing lots of rain and lower temperatures and that means that the lower temperature air within the headlight can not retain so much moisture so it drops out and condenses on the lens area as it will be the coldest area when you are driving with the lights out in daytime.

Edit:- typical dealership comment on that issue is "its normal that is why these light units are fitted with vent tubes" !

[joe6]

You can get rid of the condensation by taking out the rubber sealing plugs at the rear of the headlights and use a hairdryer on a low setting to blow inside the headlight - then make sure the seals are replaced properly. Make sure you are not spotted by the missus with the hairdryer

[RUM4MO]

You can get rid of the condensation by taking out the rubber sealing plugs at the rear of the headlights and use a hairdryer on a low setting to blow inside the headlight - then make sure the seals are replaced properly. Make sure you are not spotted by the missus with the hairdryer

I think that I've claimed an old hair drier for garage and other DIY use, you know, the sort that just don't cut the mustard now, like a sub kilowatt one from the past, currently on my second one as the first one seems to have gone into hiding, this one is a Braun, good old German engineering?

Edit:- just don't use a hot air gun!

Another Edit:- no signs of vents on these headlight clusters, if there was a vent, I'd expect the spares listing to include a vent pipe as a spare part, none listed!

[veteran]

joe6,

That pre-supposes there's sufficient room to position the hairdryer. I'm doubtful. And to stand any real chance of blowing sufficient hot air into the headlight, you'd need to first remove the bulb(s), be they H7 or whatever. But if the Polo's a recent one, you'd need to first remove the entire headlight from the car before you can get the bulb(s) out. Also, on some recent Polos there are insulated bulb wires that'd be left in the opening, and you'd definitely wouldn't want to play a hot airstream on those for too long, as their insulation covering would melt.

[RUM4MO]

That is when the suitably small and under(low) powered old hair dryers come into their own!

I used to place the rear light cluster, that leaked, from my daughter's late 2009 Ibiza on to of the central heating boiler overnight - that worked for it - though the back plate was removed, oh and she was working in KL, so no rush!

[RUM4MO]

Just an update as no one has commented on the issue over, are there vents in these headlight clusters, I have just taken the RHS off my wife's August 2015 Polo SEL and it has 2 vents per cluster, that car has LED headlights and DRLs if it makes any difference.

[hadi125]

Update: took out the headlight and bulbs. Then shoved a hair dryer in. It took out 90% of the condensation. Rest was cleared out by the sun.


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[RUM4MO]

"cleared by the sun" the sun, what does that look like? (only joking - sort of!)

[Willni]

joe6,

That pre-supposes there's sufficient room to position the hairdryer. I'm doubtful. And to stand any real chance of blowing sufficient hot air into the headlight, you'd need to first remove the bulb(s), be they H7 or whatever. But if the Polo's a recent one, you'd need to first remove the entire headlight from the car before you can get the bulb(s) out. Also, on some recent Polos there are insulated bulb wires that'd be left in the opening, and you'd definitely wouldn't want to play a hot airstream on those for too long, as their insulation covering would melt.

You can put them in the oven think it's under 70 degrees generally for condensation, and 130ish to remelt the rubber seal around the lens. I've only done it once but no harm done, I was sceptical of that internet advice so I put it in at 30degree since it's temperatures they'll definitely survive. Also I've put a silca pack (from a box of shoes) in the headlights on the rubber seal that you can open so it keeps taking out the moisture