Anyone else suffer from poorly sealed headlights? 

I washed the car on Sunday and with it being extra damp yesterday I awoke to some excessive moisture build up inside my drivers headlight unit. Passenger side is fine with no damp and as the I bought the car with very low miles (currently 22k) it’s not age or damage related.
i believe it to be poor sealing when they were made. Yes a power washer was used but not specifically pointed or held in the direction of the lights. 
 

Has anyone gotten into the back of the lights to put some little silica sachets in to draw out the moisture? This is my usual fix as LED headlights just don’t get hot enough to burn of the moisture. 
 

Pics of the offending and non offending units  

The headlights have vents on the rear so minor misting as you have is completely normal. It should clear in normal use.

 

Another member started a post about the same thing on Saturday

 

 

 

4 minutes ago, langers2k said:

The headlights have vents on the rear so minor misting as you have is completely normal. It should clear in normal use.

 

Another member started a post about the same thing on Saturday

 

 

 

Silly me, I should have checked first but was caught between a glass of wine and the wife giving me the evils for being on my phone so I quickly penned a post. 

I also get a little misting inside my LED headlights at times. Had the same with my previous Octavia VRS as well. Seems to be a normal thing with these motors. 

Need some of those cute little wipers like Volvos had at one time... but on the inside!  

Going back to the original post and the photos shown, I am puzzled as to why only the drivers side headlight is 'Fogged' with condensation whilst the passenger side is clear. Surely the same atmospheric conditions are applicable for both lights. I have the same problem with a 2015 Skoda Fabia where only the drivers side headlight steams up. This issue only started during the recent damp/cold weather. 

1 hour ago, hogun pen llyn said:

Going back to the original post and the photos shown, I am puzzled as to why only the drivers side headlight is 'Fogged' with condensation whilst the passenger side is clear. Surely the same atmospheric conditions are applicable for both lights. I have the same problem with a 2015 Skoda Fabia where only the drivers side headlight steams up. This issue only started during the recent damp/cold weather. 

Passenger side has some condensation too but as you quite rightly point out it’s significantly higher within the drivers side unit for whatever reason. It’s funny how I never notice any VW or Audi’s with LED headlights suffer this problem to the same extent. 

In the past 24 hours and with a slight upturn in the daily temperature, the condensation in my offside headlight has now gone. The car has not moved in the meantime so chance for passing air to blow out the water droplets through the vents. Presumably something I'll have to live with every cold winter's day.

8 hours ago, hogun pen llyn said:

In the past 24 hours and with a slight upturn in the daily temperature, the condensation in my offside headlight has now gone. The car has not moved in the meantime so chance for passing air to blow out the water droplets through the vents. Presumably something I'll have to live with every cold winter's day.

Lucky you, mine appears to be worse now and has turned to much larger droplets. 

This is getting much worse now, is there any physical access to the inside of the FL LED headlights so I can dry it out and then add silica sachets to capture moisture? 
 

I have inspected the unit and see no viable issues so can only assume it’s a very poor sealing problem.  

I'm glad I searched back and found this thread, I'm noticing that I'm getting this condensation forming in my headlight lenses on both sides.

This picture was taken after a 39m trip a couple of nights back. I was starting to get worried about it, but I'm quite reassurred now after reading this.

 

I'll just be keeping a watch of this to be sure it doesn't worsen.

 

If it's a bit of condensation it's normal. If it's enough to form a puddle, then it's a problem.

 

Those bashing Skoda for this, I've seen it on 2 different BMWs on my road this week, so it's not a cheap brand Vs premium brand thing either.

 

I’m getting pretty sick of this now. Washed the car yesterday and this is the outcome today. I kept the hose away from the light as much as possible yet still it has gotten in. Again upon inspection there is no sign on damage or missing sealant.

 

What on earth is going on and how do I fix this. Any suggestions as I really don’t want to have to replace the headlight. The car only has 23k miles on it. 

The recent few days of sunshine and dry weather seem to have seen the back of the issue in the drivers side headlight on our 2015 Skoda Fabia.

 

The unit is now completely free of any mist/condensation.

 

The problem had been off and on for many weeks over the colder months of the winter but strangely only in the one headlight - Must check the seal around the top of the unit as that may have been part of the problem. No obvious damage to the plastic headlight cover itself.

 

I found it better to remove the two circular rubber covers on the inside of the light unit , whilst the car was parked and allow the air to better circulate. I have also ordered some sizeable silica gel packets to attach to the inside of these rubber covers.

 

Just wondering how everyone else is getting on with their own 'Condensation' issues?

 

As far as I'm aware the LED headlights are not sealed and that moisture will appear and disappear as the temperature changes. Its a common issue with VAG cars and apparently also occurred on the Xenon headlamps, but the heat from those would dry them out pretty quickly.

I bought a 2016 Yeti a couple of years ago. The garage has had four attempts to resolve the excessive condensation  in the O/S headlamp unit. It doesn't clear but just builds up to the point that it would fail MOT due to distortion of the beam. The latest try they changed the whole unit and also had to replace the running light LED bar as that had corroded.

Has anyone else had this as a recurring problem?

Hi johnontheroad,

 

Sorry to hear of your ongoing problem with the build up of condensation in the driver's side headlight on the Yeti. 

 

We had the same problem with our 2015 Fabia Mk 3, again only on the one side.

 

It has only very recently cleared up after many weeks of coming and going and I have to put it down to warmer,slightly drier weather. 

 

As per my earlier post, I took the rubber caps off both lamps on that headlight and left them off on a dry, sunny day, with the bonnet fully open as well. Thereafter, I used some strong double sides tape to affix some sizeable silica gel packets to the inside of the reattached rubber caps and to date that seems to have done the trick.

 

That said I am not naive enough to believe the problem is completely sorted and may well re-appear again next winter when the cold weather returns.

 

Good luck to you.

On 12/01/2021 at 20:20, langers2k said:

The headlights have vents on the rear so minor misting as you have is completely normal. It should clear in normal use.

 

Another member started a post about the same thing on Saturday

 

 

 

I'm very pleased to hear this. I've noticed the same problem on mine.

Hope this is ok reviving and old thread. 
Picked my Octavia up over a month ago now (67 plate)
Had the car in Skoda for their all in package which was all ok. I mentioned the headlights and they said completely normal. The condensation still has not went after 4/5weeks.
Was fine when I picked it up but the drive home was very snowy/slushy and noticed when I got home. 
 

I’m not convinced that it is normal. 
does the photo look like I should be pushing for a warranty claim for a new unit?

 

 

If those droplets are in the inside, then I'd consider it excessive.

 

There is a Skoda tpi regarding this, bit more info and pics in this thread: 

 

Nice on thanks. Having a TPI to refer to should help my case. 
They do appear to be droplets also, will try to get it looked at soon. 
 

thanks again 

LED Headlights do not generate any heat to dry out the condensation. It is a common problem. I have a 67 Plate TSI with the same issue, but its never been and issue that affects driving or function. It will eventually disappear.

1 hour ago, FrankNicklin said:

LED Headlights do not generate any heat to dry out the condensation. It is a common problem. I have a 67 Plate TSI with the same issue, but its never been and issue that affects driving or function. It will eventually disappear.

 

I certainly agree that misting is normal and should clear out naturally. However, there shouldn't be enough moisture to cause droplets...

 

Based on the image from tdavison, the dealer should follow the TPI and perform a physical inspection to determine the cause of the water ingress. Few snippets from the TPI:

Quote

1) Physical steaming-up of lens
Lens steaming-up on inside, damp (physical steaming-up = foggy film without visible formation of drops) ; no fault in the sense of warranty.

 

2) Water ingress into the headlamp/light body
There is water in the headlamp/light, strong formation of drops.

If the water ingress/ the leak is obvious (drops on the lens), replace the headlamp.
• If you find the cause of the leak (damaged seal, lens, incorrectly fitted or damaged cover etc.), mark the area of water ingress and make detailed photo documentation.
• Attach the photo documentation made to the DISS report. If you do not find the source of the leakage, attach a completed check list to the DISS report.
• Account the repairs according to current working positions and the spare parts used.

 

The problem is if a dealer replaces the headlamps but Skoda disagree there is a problem, the dealer won't get any money to cover the work/parts:

Quote

Warranty accounting instructions
• Headlamps/ lights complained about within warranty or goodwill being correct (no fault is confirmed) according to the manufacturer test instructions may be charged back.
• The photo documentation of the situation/condition complained about + a detailed photo of the moisture penetration into the headlight (cracked polycarbonate headlight lens, cover incorrectly closed etc.) are to be always attached to the parts complained about in the DISS report (DISS query), including Chassis No. If the cause of the moisture penetration was not detected, attach a completed checklist.
• For main headlamps, fog headlamps, taillights and indicator lights being replaced on the same day based on this SI (repair date), account only one warranty claim per one vehicle.
• Replacements of headlamps that you may carry out fall into your responsibility.
• If the documentation in DISS (photo and completed form) is not complete, the manufacturer will reject it.

 

So it's easier for the dealer to say it's 'normal' even when there is a likely issue

Yeah I agree that I don’t think it is a ‘big’ problem, but it does spoil the look of the car for me, every time I look at it it’s all I see, more annoying that anything. But not when you want when it’s your new car. 
 

I’ve tried searching on Google for the tpi mentioned in the other thread linked, but I can’t seem to find anything at all? Is there anyway to find more info about it? 
would like to go to the dealer with more info on it. 
 

cheers 

You can download it and all other TPI's against your VIN directly from Skoda for a small fee: https://erwin.skoda-auto.cz/erwin/showHome.do

 

Attached a copy that I have but it may get removed: