In cold weather, my right headlight fogs up. Always only the right one. I already took it out, went thru the seal with silicone, put some silica pads inside, but does not help.

And ofc it wont dry out till i take it out, and dry with hair drier. What else can i do to fix the fogging?

Edited 19 March, 20197 yr by bootup

There is a crack or leak somewhere.

 

If you've already had the headlight off the car, dried it out fully and resealed it as best you can, then the next obvious fix is a new headlight.

 

Unfortunately it's a xenon headlight, which are rarer as a used purchase, and therefore often quite a bit more expensive.

 

You should get it fixed sooner or later though as the AFS modules and xenon bulbs don't like excess moisture.

 

Are the clamps and rubber gaskets forming a decent seal around the ballast and base of the bulb?

 

I'm assuming there is no obvious accident damage, no cracks on the lens, broken mounting brackets etc.?

 

Is the breather / vent tube clear?

 

What about the rubber cap behind the indicator bulb access, is this in place and tight? The plug for the W5W side light bulb, is that secure?

 

 

 

 

1 - Headlight housing

2 - Light bulb for the turn signal light (Light bulb PY21W, 12V, 21W)

3 - Lamp socket for the turn signal light

4 - Control unit for gas discharge lamp (J344 right or J343 left)

5 - Cover

6 - Discharge lamp with integrated high voltage ignition unit (type D1S, 35W)

7 - Light bulb for the parking light (light bulb W5W / W5W BLUE, 12V, 5W)

* Vehicles vRS as of CW 22.09 - light bulb not operational, parking light in individual multi functional lamp with LED diodes via fog light

8 - Holder for discharge lamp

9 - Performance module for the headlight (J668 right or J667 left)

10 - Cover

11 - Light bulb for main beam (light bulb H1, 12V, 55W)

 

Edited 19 March, 20197 yr by silver1011

38 minutes ago, silver1011 said:

There is a crack or leak somewhere.

 

If you've already had the headlight off the car, dried it out fully and resealed it as best you can, then the next obvious fix is a new headlight.

 

Unfortunately it's a xenon headlight, which are rarer as a used purchase, and therefore often quite a bit more expensive.

 

You should get it fixed sooner or later though as the AFS modules and xenon bulbs don't like excess moisture.

 

Are the clamps and rubber gaskets forming a decent seal around the ballast and base of the bulb?

 

I'm assuming there is no obvious accident damage, no cracks on the lens, broken mounting brackets etc.?

 

Is the breather / vent tube clear?

 

What about the rubber cap behind the indicator bulb access, is this in place and tight? The plug for the W5W side light bulb, is that secure?

 

 

 

 

1 - Headlight housing

2 - Light bulb for the turn signal light (Light bulb PY21W, 12V, 21W)

3 - Lamp socket for the turn signal light

4 - Control unit for gas discharge lamp (J344 right or J343 left)

5 - Cover

6 - Discharge lamp with integrated high voltage ignition unit (type D1S, 35W)

7 - Light bulb for the parking light (light bulb W5W / W5W BLUE, 12V, 5W)

* Vehicles vRS as of CW 22.09 - light bulb not operational, parking light in individual multi functional lamp with LED diodes via fog light

8 - Holder for discharge lamp

9 - Performance module for the headlight (J668 right or J667 left)

10 - Cover

11 - Light bulb for main beam (light bulb H1, 12V, 55W)

 

i even bought a used one actually, because previous was fogging too, but i guess bad luck, this fogging as well.. its sealed properly, i have no idea where it might leak in

There will be a vent somewhere, no headlight is completely sealed / air tight.

 

Do you drive at speed through deep water, enjoy splashing through puddles?

 

The moisture inside your headlight is excessive. All headlights generate condensation as they heat up and cool down, but your headlight is definitely showing signs of excess water / moisture ingress.

 

Something somewhere isn't as water tight as it should be, or the vent is blocked preventing the moisture from escaping when the headlights are up to temperature...

 

 

 

 

It's hard to tell for sure, but this could be the vent...

 

 

Edited 19 March, 20197 yr by silver1011

1 minute ago, silver1011 said:

There will be a vent somewhere, no headlight is completely sealed / air tight.

 

Do you drive at speed through deep water, enjoy splashing through puddles?

 

The moisture inside your headlight is excessive. All headlights generate condensation as they heat up and cool down, but your headlight is definitely showing signs of excess water / moisture ingress.

 

Something somewhere isn't as water tight as it should be, or the vent is blocked preventing the moisture from escaping when the headlights are up to temperature...

 

 

 

nope, didnt even wash in the past month. but the mornings are moist here, and im guessing that. almost didnt even had rain either. 

When you dry it out with the hair dryer do you let it rest to cool down afterwards before putting it all back together?

with all the open holes facing upwards to allow any warm air (which will be moist) to fully evaporate. If not you may be inadvertently trapping moisture in....

 

Obviously moisture got in there in the first place so as Silver says, either a leak or blocked vent.

Weird this has happened on two light fittings although the one you purchased may have been for sale because of his reason.

 

As you have a spare one i would strip / clean one as much as possible (after going over it with a magnifying glass), and reseal it again. 

Other option (maybe next last resort) drill a few vent holes at the top/rear of housing. Last resort purchase a new/new one.

 

Logic says there ought to be a vent at the top, otherwise condensation would evaporate but not have anywhere to go, to get out.

 

3 minutes ago, Tilt said:

When you dry it out with the hair dryer do you let it rest to cool down afterwards before putting it all back together?

with all the open holes facing upwards to allow any warm air (which will be moist) to fully evaporate. If not you may be inadvertently trapping moisture in....

 

Obviously moisture got in there in the first place so as Silver says, either a leak or blocked vent.

Weird this has happened on two light fittings although the one you purchased may have been for sale because of his reason.

 

As you have a spare one i would strip / clean one as much as possible (after going over it with a magnifying glass), and reseal it again. 

Other option (maybe next last resort) drill a few vent holes at the top/rear of housing. Last resort purchase a new/new one.

 

Logic says there ought to be a vent at the top, otherwise condensation would evaporate but not have anywhere to go, to get out.

 

yes i let it cool overnight. also cured the silicone overnight. its weird, because it has 4 vent holes actually. 2 on bottom sides, 2 on upper sides. as a last idea, i might try buying a "rubber in spraycan" sealer, and mask all vents/connectors. And spray it down. Used xenon one is indeed rare, and new costs 500€. Also i will drill a small hole at the lowest part of the headlight, to allow the excess water to leak out, and dont get trapped.

I've had nothing but trouble with teh same headlight on my car lots of water in it. I tried silicon gel and resealing it nothing works. It's the drivers 1 same as you. I've ended up getting a pair cheap as chips ( I dropped on really) it's stayed clear just after her washing staying away from the light still it listed up FFS.

17 hours ago, Haighie said:

I've had nothing but trouble with teh same headlight on my car lots of water in it. I tried silicon gel and resealing it nothing works. It's the drivers 1 same as you. I've ended up getting a pair cheap as chips ( I dropped on really) it's stayed clear just after her washing staying away from the light still it listed up FFS.

 

It looks lovely and clear in your photo about the base adjustment. Or are they the new (cheap as chips) ones, before you washed it?

1 hour ago, Tilt said:

 

It looks lovely and clear in your photo about the base adjustment. Or are they the new (cheap as chips) ones, before you washed it?

New 1 before I washed it this is old picture

You need to keep the vent hole(s) free of obstruction, not seal everything, you're just sealing moisture in.

 

Use the headlights more often to dry the moisture build up, it will exit via the vent hole(s).