How to Get Moisture Out of Headlights
Headlight fog is as dangerous as debris and oxidation on the exterior of your headlights. When moisture finds its way inside, it can dim your lights and create blind spots. This makes it dangerous to drive at night.
Moisture usually finds its way inside your headlights through a crack that allows water to get in. Other times, it may be due to a worn out seal that leaves gaps on the edges. When the headlight is on, the moisture heats up and causes condensation.
How to get moisture out of headlights
There are two ways to go about removing condensation from your headlights. It all depends on how much moisture is trapped inside.
Removing a little moisture
If your headlights look slightly foggy on the inside, it could be due to a blocked headlight vent. The vent helps to prevent buildup of condensation.
Start by checking whether the headlight housing installed in your car has a vent. Next, check to see if it’s blocked. Clean it to remove dirt and debris.
To get moisture out of your headlights, blow compressed air inside. Be careful not to blow contaminants into the housing.
If your headlights do not have a vent and you have no way of blowing compressed air inside, you’ll have to break the seal that keeps the housing intact.
Breaking the seal is an easy process. However, it requires care and some skill. You’ll also need to reseal the headlight using a good headlight sealant. Read on to find out more about this.
Removing a lot of moisture
- Using a hair dryer
For headlights that have lots of moisture inside, the same process applies. Check for a vent on the headlight housing. You can consult your user manual for this.
Blow dry hot air into the housing using a hairdryer. If your headlights do not have a vent, blow air on top of the plastic lens.
The lens will heat up and the moisture inside will evaporate. You’ll have to wait for the headlight to cool down to see if the solution worked.
- Remove the seal
If using a hairdryer does not work, you’ll need a more thorough approach such as breaking the headlight seal.
This process involves disconnecting the wiring that connects to the headlight and removing the assembly from the car. You may need to consult your owner’s manual.
Once you’ve removed the headlight housing, break the seal to remove the plastic lens. Use a heat gun to remove the moisture. This requires some skill to avoid damaging the housing.
You’ll need several tools to work on your headlight housing, including a screwdriver, socket, microfiber cloth, and headlight sealant. You’ll also need to pay extra attention to avoid breaking or misplacing parts.
Once you’re sure that there’s no more moisture in your headlight, the last step is to create a strong seal that will not allow any air inside.
Apply some silicone sealant where the factory sealant was. Silicone sealant is waterproof and helps to keep the headlight intact and moisture free. It is also ideal where there are cracks or damages.
You may also have to replace O-rings and any other rubber seals that protect the vent, bulb, and electrical connectors. Once done, reinstall the headlight and confirm that it’s working properly.
Conclusion
As seen above, it’s possible to remove moisture inside your headlights using a few tools and products. This helps to get rid of condensation which tends to give headlights a hazy look. If you are not comfortable working on this project by yourself, take the car to a certified mechanic
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