Condensation in Lights

[slimjim]

Just noticed one of my front fogs is ....... well foggy!

Looks like a week in the airing cupboard and silicone treatment for it.....

(Leon)

 

[Civic_Legend]

Mine only get like that after they've been jetwashed.... I just try not to let it get to me

 

[slimjim]

Mine only get like that after they've been jetwashed.... I just try not to let it get to me

Suppose I may as well leave them as they will do it now till summer next year.

Unless ...... I could leave my fogs on ALL THE TIME to dry them out and just say:
"They are driving lights" fing :w4nk:ers!

 

[orangesprout]

The garage hadn't heard of the breather unit either! Think it's a brand new invention thingy. Yeah I've already worked out if you complain enough they start to give, although I hate moaning. Customer services said it would be fitted their now delaying it and making me go through some long winded process.

I don't think I'd let myself loose with a drill on my new car! My old style mini maybe.

thers loads of riges on cover so easy to find a good spot - plus easy to fill if i ever need to. hole is only about 4 or 5 mm

covers are a pig to get on and off but if you got little soft office hands like me you`ll be fine.

 

[maddest_cow_eva]

Civic Legend were you running at Santa pod the other weekend?

 

[Civic_Legend]

Yes indeed... I was the one scaring the clio V6

Did you enjoy my cloud of soot?

 

[maddest_cow_eva]

Yeah the cloud of soot was certainly amusing!

You stay down there? It was soooo cold, the alcohol was keeping me alive.

 

[Civic_Legend]

Nah didn't stay, getting too old for that camping lark

Your pic was taken in the 'Spring' in Ewell by the looks of it. Tell me I'm wrong!

 

[maddest_cow_eva]

Yeah tell me about it, what idiot camps in October as well!

Although I do go to the spring, I can tell you your wrong Wetherspoons in Epsom, must have been feeling cheap that night!!

 

[Dizzy Ibizzy]

Getting back to the issue of your misting headlamps, my TDi Sport had a bout of the same problem. This was after I had changed the bulbs for Phillips 50% plus, as the originals were worse than candles.
It was usually after I had washed the car I noticed the moisture inside the headlamp glass. On closer inspection one of the holding clamps was not quite in place. After a visit from Mr Big Screwdriver, and some levering all was fixed. Simple but worth looking into. Check the clamps that hold the rear unit seal. These are the clamps you would release if you were gaining access to change the bulbs, hope it helps.

 

[maddest_cow_eva]

I have noticed how poor the lights are, was contemplating changing mine.

I have actually managed to get the car booked in to the garage for them to have a look at. Sadly I can't go climbing round under the bonnet at the mo, injured myself ice skating at the weekend and have cracked the bottom of my spin so will just be looking at my car lovingly for a while!

Thanks for the suggestion though, will keep it in mind.

 

[Civic_Legend]

Wow, you really ARE the maddest_cow_eva!!

Get well soon.

 

[slimjim]

Cracked the bottom of your spine?

Ouch...

Take it easy with that....... Hope you have a speedy recovery..

 

[maddest_cow_eva]

Thanks very much

Yeah the little tail bone, right at the bottom. So much pain for such a small insignificant bone!!

My advice to all is don't pick a fight with ice, it tends to win!! At least I get the joys of some heavy painkillers

 

[slimjim]

Is it the coxics? or something? I remember my Ma crackerd hers YEARS ago.....

sorry to say but she still suffers from it ....

mmmmm Painkillers and Stella....

 

[maddest_cow_eva]

Well my car went in to be looked at, they've taken their pictures. They said they've only had the backs off the lights to allow it to dry out, but you can see from the bits of fluff inside the lights that they've had a cloth in there. Obviously they think they can get away with lying. Anyway, next step is to send their pics to Seat and see what they say, mean while my lights have already got water back in them within 2 hours of driving it away from the Garage!!!

 

[slimjim]

Shite ..... Make sure you DO push this....

Plus.... how it the spine babe? Mobile again?

 

[andycupra]

Hope this little explanation helps:

Condensation mainly occurs due to the fact that warm air can hold more moisture than cold air.
In the case of headlights, the air inside the unit could be quiet happily holding the moisture levels ok. But, then the headlight gets cold (possibly due to you washing the car or it just generally gets cold. - like it has recently!) and so the air within the headlight gets cooled against the glass.
As the air is cooled it can no longer hold the moisture (called the 'dew point' and deposits on the glass. - IE Condensation.
The general temperature may rise later, but the condensation will most likely not disappear as the warmer air will not 'suck' up the condensation.
It would have to get very warm for the condensation to evaporate and be absorbed by the warmer air. - A few of you mention using a hair drier. You are basically evaporating the condensation which is absorbed by the air within the headlight.
This will probably be on temporarily only. The next time the air is cooled you will get condensation again.

This is also why sometimes the condensation goes when you put on the headlights, basically due to the heat generated.

What can we do?

One way would be to properly seal the unit with air that is 'de-humidified' and therefore changes in the air temperature should not create condensation. Thus working by preventing condensation occurring.

The opposite approach would be to circulate the air.
(much like opening window when taking bath/ shower. Basically works by evaporation and replacement of the air before the 'dew point' is reached. - Would this be the breather you speak of on some threads? This method would reduce the likelihood of condensation occurring, but not necessarily stop it. It should however also remove it slowly when it has occurred.

But, with a headlight, either approach is not easy:
100% seal the unit and you can’t change the bulbs!
Leave it open so you get air circulation and you cold get water ingress and debris.

So in many ways the fact that the headlight unit is sealed, but not 100% sealed, prevents either approach working effectively but is the only workable solution?

So any 'repair' or removal of condensation is likely to be temporary. But you could influence how temporary…

If you have some way of measuring humidity levels, then it would be a good idea to remove the condensation and let the headlight circulate new air for a while on a day when humidity is low.
If you have no way to measure this then you could try it on a clear, dry cold day.
This is when air humidity is likely to be low and less likely to be influenced by lower temperatures.

 

[andycupra]

Thanks very much

Yeah the little tail bone, right at the bottom. So much pain for such a small insignificant bone!!

My advice to all is don't pick a fight with ice, it tends to win!! At least I get the joys of some heavy painkillers

most likely due to drying out with a cloth and warm air conditions in the nice garage
go for a drive, cold air on lense...
air cools in side housing..
bingo.
condensation

 

[kiwi_cordy]

i have this problem with my new FR, all four lights mist up.

the dealer said that all seat dealers have a list of instructions from follow from seat uk in order to solve this, and if not solved they will replace.

basically said they strip them down and dry them out.

some dealers seem to play ball more than others, i spoke to frosts seat in brighton where i got the car and they were great, but my local dealer in maidstone said go elsewhere.