Water droplets inside the head light assembly

DRC · 20th March 2006, 14:59

Experts (TSK and others), I got a problem, need help

After the summer started, I am seeing water droplets accumulating on the inside od the sealed beam assembly. First I ignored, and lately i am thinking more seriously abbout it.

How does this get formed. I do not have this problem on the LHS, only RHS has the problem. How to fix this. I also observed the same problem on many cars in the street. Bosch guy say its common and nothing to worry.

When I opened the rear side of the asly, and tried to dry out, with the help of tissue paper, I ended up using almost half a roll

. I mean there was really a lot of water stagnated in the bottom of the reflectors.

I could not remove the assembly as there is a nut which is unreachable unless the bumper is removed. Please let me know is there something that can be done.

Should I change the lights :((?

revharder · 20th March 2006, 15:21

no need to panic.
but get headlight removed asap and you'll find a crack somewheer in the casing.
blow pressurised air in the headlamp and get all droplets removed, then repair that crack in casing with m-seal and then use araldite over that.
this way the crack will not openup again.
and never rub a cloth or paper on the reflector, use air instead.

most cars tends to hit a vehicle or object over a period of time from their RHS headlight as we all drives RHS cars, so more chances of hitting with our RHS light!
and till you come to know of it, a crack might have occured in the headlight casing and it'll increase with time. you'll come to know of it only after the car experiences a water-full of pothole or a rainfall.

nitrous · 20th March 2006, 15:22

Rain water or water-vapour enters inside the HL assembly and then when cold, condenses to water droplets. Switch on head-light and they'll become gaseous again.But, its difficult to get it out.

Its just a thorn in the foot.Nevermind it.

tsk1979 · 20th March 2006, 17:16

When you get it serviced get the headlight casing checked. If there is no problem in the casing its due to condensation. Only solution is to take out the bulb holder, and park car in sun for few hours. This will get rid of them.

normally_crazy · 20th March 2006, 17:38

Do ask them to check up the rubber beadings of the headlight assembly too. More often than not it turns out that a faulty beading is the culprit.

cheers

DRC · 20th March 2006, 17:47

Guys, All the tricks I have tried out...

Blew the air into the assembly after removing the bulbs, and found that the water settles down in the bottom only to be back after I switch on the head light. Seriously, when I tried to dry out using paper (not by wiping the reflector), it turned out to be nearly half a glass of water!!

I am not sure, if it is hermatically sealed, because i could see a breather with a filter on the rear casing

AND, after drying too, the problem just returned in a few hours... and it had not rained..

revharder · 20th March 2006, 18:21

half a glass of water cannot get accumulated due to condensation only.
you'd get it checked and there has to be a crack somewhere. find it and repair it.

DRC · 20th March 2006, 18:26

Now it really beats me... No rains but where is the water coming from????

revharder · 20th March 2006, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC

Now it really beats me... No rains but where is the water coming from????

which car you have?

off-topic: do you also pet a dog?

DRC · 20th March 2006, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by revharder

which car you have?

The very controversial Fiat Petra...

Quote:

Originally Posted by revharder

off-topic: do you also pet a dog?

more seriously, NO

revharder · 20th March 2006, 18:45

you'd just have a look at the headlight casing after removing that bumper for once. for this small thing you don't have to goto service station. any small roadside garage will do it for very less amount and it'd not take much time too.

else, replace the headlight.
good luck.

deepakhon · 20th March 2006, 18:57

Looks like Palio/Petra seem to be dogged by this problem. My Pal had this problem a year back and I mentioned it to Sundaram. I do not know what they did, but it has not occured till now.

aZa · 20th March 2006, 22:00

My lights casing have holes for strobes, they are sealed using elfy or some glue. i got no such issues though ...

freak incident i guess

nitrous · 20th March 2006, 22:16

If its not doing any harm, i suggest u leave it as it is.

turbo_c · 21st March 2006, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC

Now it really beats me... No rains but where is the water coming from????

Does your car get washed everyday ? Most probably, that's your source of the water !

I dont think it would be a good idea to just forget about it because that water is going to cause corrosion of your HL reflectors and even if not, it will reduce the HL's effectiveness becase the condensed water will scatter the beam.

I think you will need to remove the assembly, dry it out thoroughly and then replace all the (easily) replaceable rubber parts. After this, seal the joint between the glass in front and the plastic back of the assembly with some Areldite / MSeal.

- T u r b o C -

20th March 2006, 14:59	#1
DRC BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cockpit Posts: 907 Thanked: 67 Times View My Garage	Water droplets inside the head light assembly Experts (TSK and others), I got a problem, need help After the summer started, I am seeing water droplets accumulating on the inside od the sealed beam assembly. First I ignored, and lately i am thinking more seriously abbout it. How does this get formed. I do not have this problem on the LHS, only RHS has the problem. How to fix this. I also observed the same problem on many cars in the street. Bosch guy say its common and nothing to worry. When I opened the rear side of the asly, and tried to dry out, with the help of tissue paper, I ended up using almost half a roll . I mean there was really a lot of water stagnated in the bottom of the reflectors. I could not remove the assembly as there is a nut which is unreachable unless the bumper is removed. Please let me know is there something that can be done. Should I change the lights :((?
	() Thanks

20th March 2006, 15:21	#2
revharder BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 460 Thanked: 57 Times	no need to panic. but get headlight removed asap and you'll find a crack somewheer in the casing. blow pressurised air in the headlamp and get all droplets removed, then repair that crack in casing with m-seal and then use araldite over that. this way the crack will not openup again. and never rub a cloth or paper on the reflector, use air instead. most cars tends to hit a vehicle or object over a period of time from their RHS headlight as we all drives RHS cars, so more chances of hitting with our RHS light! and till you come to know of it, a crack might have occured in the headlight casing and it'll increase with time. you'll come to know of it only after the car experiences a water-full of pothole or a rainfall.
	() Thanks

20th March 2006, 15:22	#3
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 333 Times View My Garage	Rain water or water-vapour enters inside the HL assembly and then when cold, condenses to water droplets. Switch on head-light and they'll become gaseous again.But, its difficult to get it out. Its just a thorn in the foot.Nevermind it.
	() Thanks

20th March 2006, 17:16	#4
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,695 Thanked: 23,484 Times View My Garage	When you get it serviced get the headlight casing checked. If there is no problem in the casing its due to condensation. Only solution is to take out the bulb holder, and park car in sun for few hours. This will get rid of them.
	() Thanks

20th March 2006, 17:38	#5
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,305 Thanked: 543 Times View My Garage	Do ask them to check up the rubber beadings of the headlight assembly too. More often than not it turns out that a faulty beading is the culprit. cheers
	() Thanks

20th March 2006, 17:47	#6
DRC BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cockpit Posts: 907 Thanked: 67 Times View My Garage	Guys, All the tricks I have tried out... Blew the air into the assembly after removing the bulbs, and found that the water settles down in the bottom only to be back after I switch on the head light. Seriously, when I tried to dry out using paper (not by wiping the reflector), it turned out to be nearly half a glass of water!! I am not sure, if it is hermatically sealed, because i could see a breather with a filter on the rear casing AND, after drying too, the problem just returned in a few hours... and it had not rained..
	() Thanks

20th March 2006, 18:21	#7
revharder BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 460 Thanked: 57 Times	half a glass of water cannot get accumulated due to condensation only. you'd get it checked and there has to be a crack somewhere. find it and repair it.
	() Thanks

20th March 2006, 18:26	#8
DRC BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cockpit Posts: 907 Thanked: 67 Times View My Garage	Now it really beats me... No rains but where is the water coming from????
	() Thanks

20th March 2006, 18:45	#11
revharder BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 460 Thanked: 57 Times	you'd just have a look at the headlight casing after removing that bumper for once. for this small thing you don't have to goto service station. any small roadside garage will do it for very less amount and it'd not take much time too. else, replace the headlight. good luck. Last edited by revharder : 20th March 2006 at 18:46.
	() Thanks

20th March 2006, 18:57	#12
deepakhon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,441 Thanked: 77 Times	Looks like Palio/Petra seem to be dogged by this problem. My Pal had this problem a year back and I mentioned it to Sundaram. I do not know what they did, but it has not occured till now.
	() Thanks

20th March 2006, 22:00	#13
aZa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Noida / Delhi Posts: 1,595 Thanked: 25 Times View My Garage	My lights casing have holes for strobes, they are sealed using elfy or some glue. i got no such issues though ... freak incident i guess
	() Thanks

20th March 2006, 22:16	#14
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 333 Times View My Garage	If its not doing any harm, i suggest u leave it as it is.
	() Thanks