Condensation in front headlight? FIXED!!

Idx86

So I've had condensation in my driver's side headlight for the last several months. I thought it would clear up "naturally" but that hasn't been the case (boy, how many times in the history of the world has someone said THAT?)

Anyway, now the headlight is burned out and I need to fix that. I'm fairly confident I can replace the bulb myself, but my concern is that the condensation in there will either a.) shorten the life of the bulb substantially or b.) short it out right away. I think there is a bad seal somewhere that is letting the condensation form.

My question is this: Has anyone had any experience cleaning out condensation and fixing this on their own? I found one suggestion (i think) via Google but had no idea what they were asking me to do, or how to do it so I'm looking for someone who has done this before.

Edit: Sorry, this is a 2000 Ford Taurus.

acidlacedpenguin

it would help to know the make/model/year of the car, but you should check out the haynes manual (they have one for pretty much every make/model/year ever, and cost like $20) it'll show you how to take the car apart and put it back together.

You could probably just take the headlight assembly out, drain it, or better yet, fill it with water then hold it up so you can figure out exactly where the seal is broken, then you could probably just fill it with caulk (lol that's what she said) and put it all back together.

Idx86

Update:

So I bought a replacement bulb at Napa and asked the dude if I needed to seal the crack and get rid of the condensation. He said not to worry. As I was changing the bulb tonight I noticed there was a puddle of water in the headlight itself, which I dumped out.

tl;dr Laziness prevails as it turns out it was not a necessary part of the project. Bulb changed, everyone wins!

illig

the crack allowed water in, which likely killed your original bulb

if you just let the water out and didn't seal it properly, your new bulb will probably fail more quickly as well

fuelish

You will keep seeing condensate until you remove all of the water and seal the crack.
I have dried them out with a hairdryer(actually a 1200 degree heat gun, but a dryer would work)

Idx86

illig wrote: »

the crack allowed water in, which likely killed your original bulb

if you just let the water out and didn't seal it properly, your new bulb will probably fail more quickly as well

That was my concern as well, and logically it makes sense. He said it had no impact on performance though.

embrik

My 2¢ - I had a car that had such a large leak in the top of the right headlight housing that half of the headlight filled with water. I first noticed it when one of my headlight beams appeared to be moving. Turned out I was seeing water sloshing around, causing weird patterns. Like when you look at lights in a swimming pool. When I took the car in for an oil change, the mechanics drilled a small hole at the bottom to drain it, and didn't patch it up or replace the housing. Two years later, when I sold it, it still had the same bulb. The thing never burned out, even with water submerging the bulb. Don't ask me how!