Condensation in Lights

[philaw]

Update on vaseline experiment.
After a night of heavy rain, followed by a cold morning - no condensation - have I cracked it ?
Before sealing the rubber with petroleum jelly, I dried out the moisture with a hairdrier (set to cold), and allowed the temperature inside the lens to equalise before putting the cover on. They were so wet before, that it took 30 minutes of blasting the hairdrier to dry them out !

 

[philaw]

Update on update. Experiment worked perfect. Driven in heavy rain, washed the car, and left outside wet overnight, no condensation - at all. Make sure the inside of the light unit is absolutely dry, I used hairdrier through hole created by removing bulb. Once dry, (took me 30 minutes !) put a little vaseline around (intact) rubber seal, put cover back on engage clips, ensure perfect fit. Don't forget to put your bulb back in (like I did). I have found the answer (I think).

 

[hon_n_gem]

yeah bought a new fr just yestesterday, had one light that had condensation. i took of the bulb and parked it in the sun. left if for a day and most of it has gone. will wait nearer summer to see the rest of it dissapper!
Thanks for the advice guys/gals

Hon

 

[butcher]

Thanks to nickibizacupra
looking at what he had done with his lights I went home last night took the backs of my lights and done the same, came out this morning all the
condensation had gone.
Phoned my local seat garage they want to have a look.
They changed 3 sets of lights for different customers and they are still getting the problem .

 

[nickibizaCUPRA]

well i know everyone on here including myself were getting totally fed up with this problem, i can safely say my lights are still prefectly clear!!!

 

[ibiza_cupraTDI]

I have had enough of fighting this problem with SEAT customer services i have spent 4 months trying to get it sorted, its time to go to the consumer rights organisations! maybe they might listen if enough people put complaints forward.

 

[muddyboots]

I have had enough of fighting this problem with SEAT customer services i have spent 4 months trying to get it sorted, its time to go to the consumer rights organisations! maybe they might listen if enough people put complaints forward.

Good to see you're standing your ground, good luck

 

[Triple D]

I have had enough of fighting this problem with SEAT customer services i have spent 4 months trying to get it sorted, its time to go to the consumer rights organisations! maybe they might listen if enough people put complaints forward.

They delt with mine straight away, took it to the local dealers (Listers in Coventry), told them about the condensation and they came out, took some pictures and sent them off to Seat UK. About a week later, got a hone call saying the kit had arrived and when could i drop the car off to be fitted.
Although it didn't totally solve the problem, i managed to fix it myself by taking the covers off, driving around for a few hours and then drilling about 5-6 holes in the covers.
And hey presto, no more steam at all.

 

[CarlosSeat2.0]

Firs, sorry for my english,
second...

How do you use the hairdryer, do you use it for dry the inside of the Light, or the outside??? cold or hot air?

Im from mexico and i have the same problem... I have Xenon Headlights, and i dont know if i have to pull out the Xenon headligh before tryng to dry the housing..

 

[Triple D]

Hi CarlosSeat2.0, if you just take the cases off the back of the lights, then drive around for a while, they will clear pretty quickly. Then simply put the cases back on, and they should stay clear from then on. Hope this helps mate.

 

[CarlosSeat2.0]

Hi CarlosSeat2.0, if you just take the cases off the back of the lights, then drive around for a while, they will clear pretty quickly. Then simply put the cases back on, and they should stay clear from then on. Hope this helps mate.

Thank you!!
Is not the humid air going back to the light housing when i put the cases again!??

Im asking this cause my headlights clen very fast, 10 15 min after rain... my problem is not permanent moisture but moisture when is a cold weather..

Maybe drilling some holes

 

[Triple D]

Thank you!!
Is not the humid air going back to the light housing when i put the cases again!??

Im asking this cause my headlights clen very fast, 10 15 min after rain... my problem is not permanent moisture but moisture when is a cold weather..

Maybe drilling some holes

Yep, i have also done that, and mine never mist up any more, worth a shot mate

 

[papdog]

The other thing you can do if you don't want to use a hairdryer to dry the lenses, switch the lights on and cover the outside of the lenses with kitchen foil. Heats up the unit a treat.

Graham

 

[muddyboots]

Hi CarlosSeat2.0, if you just take the cases off the back of the lights, then drive around for a while, they will clear pretty quickly. Then simply put the cases back on, and they should stay clear from then on. Hope this helps mate.

Easier said than done - with the Xenon units, you can't take the rear covers off without removing the headlights first, there is not enough space. Well there wasn't on my TDI anyway.

Also, if you want to generate heat inside, you'll have to do it with the main beam. I don't think the Xenon lights generate as much heat.

 

[Grant745]

I had the same problem with my facelift Ibiza bought in May. Took it too my local dealers ( Bickets in Kilmarnock) who took photos and heard back to say that Seat had authorised replacement under warranty. Took about 8 weeks to arrive, but they fitted new headlamp units (only took an hour or so) and have not had a problen since.

 

[andy43]

Update on update. Experiment worked perfect. Driven in heavy rain, washed the car, and left outside wet overnight, no condensation - at all. Make sure the inside of the light unit is absolutely dry, I used hairdrier through hole created by removing bulb. Once dry, (took me 30 minutes !) put a little vaseline around (intact) rubber seal, put cover back on engage clips, ensure perfect fit. Don't forget to put your bulb back in (like I did). I have found the answer (I think).

I had this problem on my Cordoba, I only had a small amount of condensation after washing the car etc.
Put vaseline on the rubber seals like philaw said and bingo totally fixed and has been ever since in any weather, so is it really necessary to drill holes? It is quite obvious that the rubber seal isnt of particularly good quality or a tight fit and that definitely was the problem with my lights. So thanks philaw

 

[andythom]

I had the same problem with my facelift Ibiza bought in May. Took it too my local dealers ( Bickets in Kilmarnock) who took photos and heard back to say that Seat had authorised replacement under warranty. Took about 8 weeks to arrive, but they fitted new headlamp units (only took an hour or so) and have not had a problen since.

Where abouts in Glasgow are you mate for your local dealer to be bickets?

 

[Grant745]

Im in Festival Park next to the M8 (kinning Park area). I would'nt go to Arnold Clarks in Alexandra Parade on principle and although I have bought a Seat from Livingston's in Bellshill and they have always been good, I have had a couple of cars from Bickets and they always gave me a good deal and service has always been excellent. Only 20 mins from me as I am right next to the M77 as well.

 

[andythom]

Im in Festival Park next to the M8 (kinning Park area). I would'nt go to Arnold Clarks in Alexandra Parade on principle and although I have bought a Seat from Livingston's in Bellshill and they have always been good, I have had a couple of cars from Bickets and they always gave me a good deal and service has always been excellent. Only 20 mins from me as I am right next to the M77 as well.

ah i get you!

I'm the complete oposite end of glasgow.......kirkintilloch cumbernauld way......

I actually got mine from paisley.....got 3 year service plan so arnie better do his job right......after that I'll prob take it to livingstons.....

is bickets near the ingram vw down at ayr? was there on saturday looking for a polo for the missus

 

[Grant745]

Bicketts is in Kilmarnock just outside the town centre. Ingrams in Ayr is about 10 miles further down the A77. Bought a MKIV Golf GTI turbo from them the other year, you get good customer service from them and the service prices were not too steep for a VW either. Did'nt move too much on price though but you pay for wot you get !