Hi all,

My drivers side headlight has condensation build up inside of it. Anyone know how to remove the headlight or does anyone have a guide on how to do this?

I'm guessing that a seal has worn or split but I need to get it out to have a look.

Cheers

I've never had to remove a headlamp myself but here's the Chassis Electrical section from the workshop manual, which shows you how to do it. Good luck.

Hope the attachment works this time..............

Hi there Bovril,
I can't seem to see an attachment but thanks for your help.

any ideas on how to remove the headlight guys? Is it held in place with a few screws?

The condensation ruins the whole look of te front of the car.

Shame I couldn't attach the exploded diagram from the workshop manual.

However, I'll try to describe/translate it.

First step, remove the front bumper.

Second step remove the turn signal lamp (it shows this as being held in by 1 hex bolt).

Third, remove the upper radiator grille. The diagram shows this as being held in place by 3 hex bolts underneath and 3 plastic push-in pegs on top - although you will probably have removed some of these when removing the bumper.

Finally, the headlamp should now be attached only to a black plastic subframe, from which you can remove it by undoing the hex bolts and spring clips.

NOTE: The manual says that if it's the left headlamp then you need to remove the radiator reserve tank also.

Good luck!

Excellent reply, thanks very much Bovril.

By the way, where can I get a copy of the worksop manual from?

Search ebay, people sell them for £1-£2 plus postage. (It is on a CD).

Top job. Thanks very much for your help mate :)

Not sure if its to late for this but,I read somewhere that a fix for the condensation problem is to have the headlights face the sun when its parked,the heat causes the condensation to evaporate.

kpatrickm-

Hi, there,
That works to get rid of the condensation but only until night fall as it fills again as temperatures drop overnight.

I've tried putting silicone sealant around the cover and along any exposed edges of the headlight that I can get my hand to but with no luck, which suggests that it's getting in from the underside os somewhere I can't see.

I'm planning on ordering a workshop manual/cd and taking the headlight out to give it a good seal.

I did this last August and the condensation has not returned.
Park the car facing the sun or heat the headlamp with a heat source until all the condensation disappears.
Remove the seal and bulb holder at the back of the headlamp and remove all the damp air inside with a vacumm cleaner; I positioned the vacumm nozzle to one side of the hole to cause an air flow that removed the damp air and replaced it with dry air; I did this for about 20 mins. Replace the bulb holder and the seal.

I did this to my motorbike as well and the condensation has never returned.

I presume that the air was very humid when the car was made and it remains in the headlamp due to the seal at the back. I guess that the condensation would come back if the headlamp wasnt sealed properly.

Try it and let me know how you get on.

Hi Robc990.

I've tried removing the seal and the bulb holder to let the condensation escape and as I've explained this clears the headlight.
However, the condensation reappears the following morning which means that it's getting back in again somehow.
I appreciate your comments but that's just curing the symptoms and not solving the cause of the problem.

Will let you know how I get on once I've removed the headlight itself and had a better look at it.

Cheers

Suri,
Smply heating the air and then leaving it to float out of the lamp holder hole by convection is not enough, the damp air will stay in the top part of the headlamp. You must suck the damp air out and replace it with dry air otherwise it will condense again when the headlamp gets cold. By the way you must do this on a dry day when humidity is low.
Another solutuion that somebody else did was to drill a small hole at the bottom corner of the headlamp to act as a drain.
Regards
Rob

Well I managed to get the headlight out earlier, albeit at the expense of 2 plastic clips that were holding the grill in. and with the asistance of the workshop CD.

I was amazed that about a good 100ml or so or water poured out as I tipped it upside down.

I left the light to sit in the sunshine for a bit before blasting with cold air from the wifes hairdryer to try and expel any humid air.

I've refitted the headlight and grill as it's starting to rain and I need the car later but if the condensation reappears, then I'll remove it again when I have the time to leave it to dry in the airing cupboard.

Thanks