How to Seal Headlights From Moisture Correctly

Moisture or water droplets are among the common issues you will encounter in the car lighting system, most prominently in the headlights. While it may not seem much of an issue initially, with time, it may affect the state of the headlights, and you may notice reduced lighting power. Considering how important the headlight is in visualization, you need to know how to eliminate moisture from headlights. A sure way to keep you ahead of this problem is to understand how to seal headlights from moisture.

Besides reduced visibility, there is also the issue of damaged headlight assembly due to rusting, which eats the metal parts. Before looking at how to deal with the issue at hand, you should know what causes it to prevent it from happening. There are several causative factors of condensation, and we will look at them to give you a hint on its preventive solutions.

What Causes Headlights to Get Moisture?

how to prevent moisture in headlights

To understand why there is moisture in your headlights, there are things you need to know. These are the headlamp assembly structure and forces of nature, most precipitation. On the structure, most headlights have two vents, on the top and bottom, and they play a vital role in pressure control in the headlight chamber. Air gets in and out of these car lights via the vents to equalize pressure on the outside and inside. With air in the chamber, it sometimes cools and becomes water droplets due to the water vapor component.

The cooling mostly takes place when the outer lens cools faster than the inside. It is why you will find a water film inside the headlight, mostly in the morning. When temperatures rise, the water will evaporate and escape the headlight assembly. Generally, moisture on the headlight in small quantities is a normal occurrence. However, if it accumulates and forms something like a pool, then there is an issue. It could be cracks or fissures in the assembly. The heat from the headlight bulb will cause it to form a vapor, and it may affect your visibility when driving. If you come across such a scenario, you should sort it out immediately.

Aside from cracks, the issue may be a faulty connection. In this situation, the culprit might be worn-out vent caps, which will allow both water and air to get into the headlight chamber. Also, pay attention to bulb O-ring. The O-ring is a rubber ring around the base, and it acts as a plug to prevent water entry. If the rubber wears out, water will get in, and it may be difficult to get out.

How to Seal Headlights from Moisture: Step By Step Guide

If you find there is excess water in the headlight chamber that you cannot easily rid of, follow the highlighted steps to remove it and seal the headlights to prevent the issue’s recurrence.

how to remove condensation from headlight housing
Image Credit: Amazon.com

Step 1: Inspection

For the first step, you have to inspect the headlight to know the origin of the problem. Check the vents and see if there are any cracks on the headlight structure. Once you identify the problem, you have a head-start in fixing the moisture in the headlight. Inspection is a hard task and may involve the detachment of the headlight assembly to check it out. Removing the assembly is a delicate process and needs you to be careful not to damage any component. Open the bonnet and start removing the clips.

You may need your mechanics tools box, where you pull out a pair of pliers or screwdriver to make the process simple. Unplug the headlight pigtail, then carefully remove the bulb, making sure you do not touch the lens and put it in a safe place. Pour the excess water from the assembly and fill it with clean water. Wipe the surface off any moisture and start checking for leaks. You can blow into the lamp chamber to see where water comes out. Where there are water traces in the place to pay attention to, mark this area with a magic marker pen.

Step 2: Wash the Headlight

Before you seal the headlight, clean it first. When you clean inside headlights, ensure you get rid of all moisture and dirt which can get into the way of sealing it. Once it is clean, you can put it in the sun to dry or use a blow dryer to get rid of the excess moisture. If the headlight has other issues, such as yellowing, you can try out the 3M 39008 headlight restoration kit. This cleaning kit is an all-around item that will remove any yellow streaks in the headlight lens and, together with your moisture removal task, will guarantee you excellent illumination.

Step 3: Sealing the Fissures

You now set your sights on the damaged part of the headlight. With an idea of where the damage is, you bring your headlight sealant to do the task. A silicon-based or vinyl-based sealant will do the job as they are both heat and water-resistant. Most are durable and will offer a permanent seal on the affected area. Put some generous amount of the sealant on the damaged region and spread it evenly.

You can use plastic such as a credit card to aid you in properly spreading the sealing material, especially those that you should not touch with your bare hands. Once sealed, let it rest for 15-20 minutes before you reassemble it back to the car. Most sealants have a curing time of up to 24-hours, but after it is firm, you can put it back.

A point to note in the inspection part is that you should also focus on the bulb’s O-ring and the vent caps. These parts typically have a rubber build, and if the rubber wears out, you need to get a replacement. For the O-ring, you will have to replace the entire bulb or apply some dielectric grease on the surface to enhance its grip. Additionally, you can confirm whether the headlight vent holes have any blockage. A blockage can prevent the exit of water from the headlamp chamber. For efficiency purposes, you can use a desiccant packet, which acts as a headlight moisture absorber and will prevent future moisture buildup.

Method Two: Creating a Drill Hole

Another way to look at how to stop moisture in the headlight is where you drill a hole somewhere in the headlight assembly. It applies to headlights, which have a closed design, where a headlight condensation drill hole will help remove the pool of water in the chamber. Drill a hole while being careful not to damage other components of this lighting unit. Drain out the water and use a sealant to cover up the hole. Do not forget to inspect the damaged areas to prevent encountering the issue again.

How to Remove Moisture from Headlight without Opening

A look at how to remove moisture from headlight housing, you get the idea that it can be a demanding task, particularly when detaching the headlamp. The good thing is that there are hacks to try if you have such an issue without removing the assembly. The non-removal process is ideal if you do not experience too much moisture accumulation.

Wait For It to Dry

You can go the easiest way and wait for the moisture to dry away naturally. It is a great move if it is just a film of moisture. If there is a pool in the headlamp assembly, this might not be the ideal move as it will take a lot of time to clear the water.

Use a Hairdryer

You can also use a hairdryer to deal with the moisture. As earlier mentioned, the water droplets form due to the exterior cooling faster than the interior. You use the hairdryer to heat the exterior, which will, in turn, warm up the interior. This action will hasten evaporation, and the air will escape via the vent, leaving you with a moisture-free headlight. To protect the headlight, set it at low heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How Do I Get Rid Of Moisture In My Headlight?

Moisture in headlights is a nuisance to many as it reduces visibility, and the water can damage some parts of the headlight assembly. There are several ways to deal with this problem, but dependent on the amount of moisture. If it is little, you can let it dry out in the sun or use a blow dryer to hasten the evaporation process. If you have a pool in the headlight assembly, you may have a bigger issue at hand, and you need to detach the chamber to find and fix the issue. If it is a crack, you will need a strong sealant to cover it.

Q: Will Headlight Condensation Go Away?

Headlight condensation is common and will normally go away, primarily if you are talking about the little droplets. However, if there is too much water in the headlight, you may have a bigger issue, and you will put in extra effort to remove the excess moisture.

Q: How Do You Protect Headlights From Rain?

Rain is one of the natural elements that can wear your headlamps or lead to moisture accumulation on the inside. If you want to protect the lights from rain, you can try waxing and seal any cracks on the surface.

Q: Is It Normal To Have Condensation On Headlights?

Condensation on headlights is a common occurrence and, in most cases, not a cause for worry. The problem comes when there is too much water in the headlights, where you need to act up to prevent things from getting out of hand, like reduced illumination power.

Q: Why Is My Headlight Full Of Condensation?

Moisture in the car headlight is not a cause of alarm, and it comes due to the outside lens getting cooler than the inside. The moisture will disappear on exposure to sun or heat via evaporation. If there is too much water, then you may have a serious underlying issue. It may be a crack, worn-out O-rings, or faulty headlight vents.

Final Word

Condensation in the headlight is a common issue you will notice, especially in the morning. It is normal, and it should not alarm you. This article shows you how to deal with moisture on headlights and gives you an idea of how it comes by. If there is too much water in the headlight, you must inspect the assembly to ascertain the problem. When you find the issue and deal with it, use desiccant packets to deal with moisture through absorbency. Do not forget essential maintenance practices like cleaning and bulb replacement, which will make headlights brighter.

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Tito

Hi there, I am R. Hasan Tito, a mechanic, and owner of this website. My friend and I created this website to share our knowledge, expertise, and experience with our fellow mechanics' community and car users. I am a specialist and certified automotive mechanic (Both Heavy Commercial and Private Cars). I worked as a Mechanic and Mechanic Supervisor for over fifteen years at Global Rebound Automotive companies - Toyota, TATA, BMW, Nissan, TVs, and Others. Now, I enjoy my new role of leading a team of automotive experts (in their respective fields) and publish new content on a regular basis on my website and social media.

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