How to get moisture out of headlights

How to get moisture out of headlights

A dirty headlight case can drastically diminish your visibility at night. Additionally, moisture trapped within your headlight component can also cause other problems such as bad or dimmed headlight bulbs. So, if you’re wondering how to get these moistures out of your headlights, here are a few pointers to get your complete headlight range of vision back.

How moisture affects your car headlights

How moisture affects your car headlights

Moisture that has been trapped might be problematic, especially while driving at night. Moisture trapped inside the seal, such as debris and fog on the outside of your headlight case, can dim your lights or even create blind spots.

In some regions, headlight fog will prevent you from passing your car inspection. This could result from a leak in the seal around your headlight, allowing water to enter the space behind the lens. It could also be caused by wet air, which heats up while your headlight bulb is on and cools down when it is switched off. Condensation forms on the inner of the lens as a result of this.

How to fix condensation in headlights

How to fix condensation in headlights

You can use a few simple tricks if you see a little area of moisture forming in your headlight without breaking the seal. It’s pretty easy to break the seal between your headlight lens and housing, but once it’s damaged, you’ll need to be very careful when replacing it. If you’re not sure how to work with sealants, it’s a good idea to take your car to a mechanic.

Check your headlight housing vent before removing the seal. Although the specific location of the venting will vary depending on your car’s make and model, most headlight systems contain a vent to prevent condensation accumulation. A blocked vent is a known cause of mild condensation. Debris, spider webs, or dust could be the blame. Wipe the vent with a soft cloth or blow it out with compressed air. If you blow or push something into the headlight housing, you’ll have to break the seal to get it out.

How to fix major condensation in headlights

How to fix major condensation in headlights

Condensation on a large scale involves more complex techniques. Depending on your money, available time, and the quantity of condensation, you can attempt various options. The headlight unit must be removed for major condensation removal. For instructions on removing the bulb, electronics, plugs, and any other components that can be removed, consult a service manual. Remove the headlight housing with care, following the removal technique.

Using a hairdryer to dry out the damp air without breaking the seal. Blow hot, dry air into the vent or on the outside of the headlight assembly with a hairdryer. It should dry out as it heats up. To see if this technique worked, wait until your headlight unit cooled down.

Finally, you’ll need to remove the seal if you want to get water out of the headlights completely. Before you begin, consult a service manual to learn how to remove your seal. Unless your assembly has a replaceable seal, this technique will be far more complex and will require the use of a heat gun. If you’ve not used a heat gun before in a circumstance like this, your headlight assembly is not the best place to start. This guide is based on the fact that you have a replaceable seal. Hand tools such as sockets and screwdrivers, silica gel packs, a lint-free cloth, and a sealant are required for this removal technique. It takes longer than other solutions, but it should completely remove any moisture deposit.

Remove the seal and the clear plastic headlamp cover from the housing with care. Ensure that you haven’t overlooked any screws or other attachment points. With your cloth, wipe away any remaining moisture. Before using the cloth, make sure it is clean and dry. Majority of the moisture can be removed by wiping the interior with a cloth, although this isn’t a complete solution.

Use silica gel packs to absorb any remaining moisture. These are designed to soak up any moisture in the air and put in the headlight assembly. If you don’t want a pack bouncing around in front of your headlights, ensure they’re not obstructing the light or being exposed to the bulbs.

Check for any residual moisture or debris in your headlight assembly once again. To properly reseal your assembly and avoid more moisture, follow the instructions below. This is the most critical step since the wrong reinstallation can let additional moisture into your headlight.

How to prevent further mositure in headlights

How to prevent further mositure in headlights with headlight restoration kit

Following a regular car headlights restoration routine is to prevent headlight moisture in the future. While there are a variety of materials available to help you clean your car headlights, you may want to opt-in for the product that’s made specifically for headlights and that does not require you to be a professional at headlight sanding. This is why we recommend you buy clear light tech – a restoration kit that comes with simple cleaning solutions, wipes, and coating materials. 

Aside from restoring your headlight regularly, look for any damage or debris on your headlight assembly. If necessary, apply a bead of silicone sealant around the factory seal to prevent moisture from entering the assembly, or replace the seal if your housing has one. You should also check the O-rings that protect your headlamp assembly’s electrical connectors, bulb, vent, and other components.

Consider investing in a few high-quality items to help you build a watertight seal. Silicone spray can be used to protect your O-rings and silicone sealant gel can be used to fix any cracks or damaged portions of the lens-to-housing seal. Lastly, check your headlight regularly for any signs that it hasn’t been properly sealed.

How to get water out of headlights

 It’s easy to know how water got inside your headlight if the cover is cracked or the seal around it is broken. However, if there are no cracks or damage to the headlight, the moisture is likely condensed. The humid climate is a big cause when it comes to water-logged headlights. When you turn on your headlamp at night, the humid air inside the headlight housing warms up. Once you’ve parked and turned off the lights, the air will cool, and the moisture in the headlight will condense.

 Below is how to remove water from your headlight;

  • Remove the headlight cover from your car: You should find instructions in your owner’s handbook on how to do this, and it’s usually straightforward, requiring only a screwdriver to unscrew the screws keeping the cover in place.
  • Remove any dirt or debris from the headlight vent that may be obstructing airflow. Most headlamp assemblies have vents to prevent condensation from forming in the headlamp, although this opening might become clogged with time.
  • Remove the headlight assembly as well as the bulbs, plugs, and any other electrical components from the headlamp housing if there is standing water in the headlight.
  • With a blow dryer (the type you use on your hair), heat the air in the headlight housing to evaporate and dry up the water.
  • Use clear silicone caulk to seal any spots that need it to keep water and moisture out of the headlamp. Before reassembling the headlamp, ensure the silicone has completely dried and set.

Headlights are one of your car’s unsung heroes, lighting gloomy highways at night or lighting a path on rainy days. Unfortunately, the weather can sometimes get the better of you, and you find yourself having moisture and water in your headlights! Moisture and water in headlights will not go away on their own, but the mentioned tips will help you get rid of it.

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