Misting Headlights!!! Grrrr

[ibiza_adam]

Hi all... As i'm sure most of you know the misting headlights is a right pain on the Beeza

I mentioned it when I was in the steelers last week getting the airback light done and the bloke on the service desk span me a right tale about how they are a dual layer unit disgned to expell water and moisture etc etc etc He said "i can guarantee Mr Wilkinson if you leave your lights on for 5 minutes the mist will clear" , however with the colder weather it aint clearing now and it's an MOT failure

So it's still in warranty til march, has anyone actually managed to get em replaced under warranty????

 

[RaggedLob]

My solution to this (and in fact a lot of other peoples) was to drill one or two holes in the plastic back cover of the unit...

Basically, the problem is that moisture builds up through the weak seals around the edge of the unit, but has nowhere to go, so by giving the unit a bit of ventilation, it should help

 

[ibiza_adam]

Cheers for reply mate!!! I did think of how to get rid etc, in the old days we used to use a black cloth over the headlight and leave them on! The black draws the heat through the lens and dries it out quicker!;-) And like you said was then going to drill it and also place silica sacks in for good measure, but as it's still under warranty I want as much new stuff as possible! lol

It's stupid the amount of faults that I have had in 6 months that would have been an MOT failiure on any car, let alone a 2 year old motor!!!

 

[CJRamze]

I've had three Ibiza's now and every single one of them's done it.
I was advised a silicone packet in the headlight but this drilling of the cover sounds alot better to be honest!

 

[ScottHmk4]

this was my task today, got most of it cleared but cant clear the bottom edges and corners at the beams dont expand that far and the sidelights dont emit enought heat to do the task, i have also drilled holes in the back plastic covers aswell as silicone sealed the glass to the plastic to stop the gap letting air in, looks alot better but still a bit to go, al leave it at that for today and see if they mist back up, heres hoping they dont but only time will tell. if they dont re-condensate i will find some way to clear the rest of it and hopefully be done with it for good.

 

[ibiza_adam]

Scott, as I said above mate! An old trick is to put a black t-shirt on the outside of the light (trap between bonnett and slam pan) and then, with the engine running switch full beam and dipped on together! Leave for around 5 minutes and you will be amazed at what it can clear!

Used to do it on Vectras back in the day, was a common prob on them too!!!

HTH

 

[andy17]

Happened to me today, and the rear lights aswell!

I dont know if i can be trusted with a drill

 

[ScottHmk4]

Scott, as I said above mate! An old trick is to put a black t-shirt on the outside of the light (trap between bonnett and slam pan) and then, with the engine running switch full beam and dipped on together! Leave for around 5 minutes and you will be amazed at what it can clear!

Used to do it on Vectras back in the day, was a common prob on them too!!!

HTH

noted and in progress. just put 2 black tee's over them with both full beam and xenons on, will leave it a good 15 mins at least and see how that fairs. hopefully that works....is it only a temp solution or if i seal them and air the back covers so u think a perminant solution

 

[andycupra]

as said above, ventilation is the key.
Take the cover off the back for a while or increase ventilation some other way.

Either than or 100% seal in in a low humidity environment. - then moan like buggery when the bulb goes and you cant change it due to it being a sealed unit..

 

[andycupra]

noted and in progress. just put 2 black tee's over them with both full beam and xenons on, will leave it a good 15 mins at least and see how that fairs. hopefully that works....is it only a temp solution or if i seal them and air the back covers so u think a perminant solution

its only a temporary solution.. what you are doing is getting the air in the unit to heat up and warmer air can hold more moisture.
Which is the opposite to whats causing the issue: Which is warm humid air, which then cools, (when you wash car or due to cold weather) and the cooler air has to get rid of the moiture by way of condensation. Same as in the cabin in winter, the air condenses on the cold glass.

Or if there is water gettingin to the unit, say via leak, when you turn onthe headlights, the air warms up, some of the water in the unit then humidifies the air. Then you park up turn off the lights, leave it over night in cold conditions, and the humid air cools.. which condenses on the glass. (or plastic )

 

[ScottHmk4]

ok the first 2 pics r from the other day but still basically what i had this morning, and up to 10 mins ago the results, as you can see from the last picture i couldnt get it away 100% but most is now.

after having xenons and high beam on earlier in the day, tried to finish with black Tees

results

still a tad there

 

[AndrewJB]

Ive had this problem since new


Ive got holes in the back of mine for where i fitted my HID's and it still does it , really annoying TBH looks a right mess

 

[ibiza_adam]

Thats a cracking result mate!!! It would have probable worked better without the HIDs in and some standard bulbs, due to the amount of heat that they create!!!

Looks tuns better now tho!!!

 

[ScottHmk4]

Thats a cracking result mate!!! It would have probable worked better without the HIDs in and some standard bulbs, due to the amount of heat that they create!!!

Looks tuns better now tho!!!

not gonna lie to u but i went out literally 30 mins later and half the condensation had returned :

 

[ScottHmk4]

see those silicone packs where should they be put to sook up the condensation? just inside the rear caps? or actually inside the headlight which im not doing as im not having it lying about inside?

 

[kidinspace]

I was told by a Seat Mechanic that the lights will only be replaced if the condensation comes up to a certain level, can't remember where exactly, but if it doesn't come up high enough then, they don't change them, just dry them out....

.G.

 

[techie]

Silica gel packets worked for me on my old Fabia and I had them apart to paint the internals.

 

[goble]

Nah simpler fix is take the back off (the covers) remove the old foam and reseal with thicker foam like draft excluder the white stuff for doors and windows from B&Q. fold it in 1/2 so both sticky sides join then fit it into the groove. Run your lights on for 20 min with covers on then refit.

 

[Aimez]

meh, don't even look at it now front and rear lights do it HIDs have prob helped a bit but, people have had the lights replaced under warranty but it is a design fault any one can see that as every ibiza does it so pointless gettig them changed.

 

[DEAN0]

Silica gel packets worked for me on my old Fabia and I had them apart to paint the internals.

+1 on this.

Change them every few months and sorted. Find them in electrical equipment and new shoe boxes