The headlight is sweating from the inside - what to do. Why do headlights sweat? What to do so that car headlights do not sweat? What to do so that the headlight does not sweat

- There were demons - we do not deny it. But they self-destructed.

Georges Miloslavsky "Ivan Vasilievich is changing his profession"

Generally speaking, absolutely all headlights and other car lights are a priori leaky. It cannot be otherwise: when heated, the temperature inside any headlight can easily change by 100 degrees! From minus 35, achievable in winter even in Central Russia, to 60-70 degrees in the included headlight in the summer, in the sun. In addition, the back of the headlight is located in the engine compartment, where, as a rule, it is quite hot. At the same time, the air in the headlight naturally expands, and therefore, exchange with the external environment is indispensable.

Where there is contact, there is always the possibility of fogging. For example, if a cooling headlight sucks in moist air - say, at a sink, then the transparent cap (it used to be a diffuser) has the right to become somewhat cloudy according to the laws of physics. Well, if the headlight has defects, then it is much more likely to fog up. The once beloved Volga of one of the authors began to attract attention by the fact that the headlight glasses behaved differently - one is more transparent than the other. Soon everything became clear: during a visit to the service, one diffuser fell off by itself!

Is sweating dangerous? Undoubtedly. It distorts the light distribution, which interferes with both the driver (the illumination of the road drops) and other road users (they are blinded).

At the same time, increased humidity inside the headlight housing destroys the coating of the reflectors. Well, there is nothing to say about the electrician: water and contacts will never reconcile.

If the headlight is working, then, in general, there is nothing to be afraid of. The fogging will disappear as quickly as it appeared. The headlight, as we have already noted, “breathes” - cheap designs have a downward-pointing tube, and more modern cars use special breathers with small filters for ventilation.

But in any case, any lighting devices are protected from accidental moisture. If, of course, they are correct.

Fog lamp Kia cee "d. Two breathers are clearly visible. One for each section.

Fog lamp Kia cee "d. Two breathers are clearly visible. One for each section.

And what malfunctions can contribute to fogging? Everything is simple here: most often the ventilation is simply clogged with dirt. Headlights with cracks also "walk on their own." Separate cases of fogging are associated with non-professional disassembly / assembly of the headlight.

In such cases, there is only one advice. Repair the headlight until the tightness of all joints is achieved so that only regular "breathers" remain. If not, then the headlight must be replaced. No desiccant in the form of silica gel or pieces of diapers will help a faulty headlight.

And yet, how dangerous are drops of water that have fallen into the headlight? We set up a simple experiment: using a syringe, we pumped 20 ml of water into the optics of the editorial Largus - this is quite a lot. They lit the headlights, waited, then turned them off - well, yes, the caps became cloudy. Light distribution has become ugly. However, after a couple of days, after a relatively short run, the effect disappeared: the water safely escaped into the atmosphere. Which, in fact, was required to be proved.

Of the useful tips on anti-fogging, we will mention, perhaps, only one: be careful about washing the engine compartment under pressure. A strong jet can rip off the “breathing caps” and cause trouble, after which you will have to tinker with the headlight or replace it altogether.

Tell us in the comments if you had to deal with fogging of lighting devices and how you dealt with this phenomenon.

Fogging headlights is a problem that you just need to get rid of, because. it not only violates the aesthetic appearance of the car, but also threatens with danger while driving at night.

How does condensation form inside the headlight?

When you use the car in cool weather, after turning off the headlights begin to cool, the pressure inside decreases and moist air begins to enter through the valves. With a decrease in air temperature, moisture condenses on the inside of the headlight glass, most often this occurs in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe radiator grill, in the high beam area. This type of fogging of the headlights is not a problem, since usually the moisture disappears fairly quickly. However, there are other cases when the condensate does not evaporate, forming drops and even smudges on the inside of the headlight - this problem must be solved as soon as possible.

Why does condensation form?

There can be several reasons for the formation of condensate inside the headlights. We list the most common ones:

With time valve caps slip and get lost (this often happens with Toyota cars manufactured since 2001), as a result of which moisture can penetrate inside the headlight;

Problem headlight designs- Initially, the headlights come from the factory completely sealed, i.e. with a closed air space inside. If the design of the headlight is made with an error, then during operation it will capture outside air, moisture from which will condense on the inner walls;

- damaged headlight surface- this can happen during an accident or during careless operation of the headlight; the cause of the appearance of condensate can be not only a "fistula" on the surface of the headlight, but also a barely noticeable microcrack;

- clogged ventilation ducts can also cause fogging of headlights;

- bad bulb fit can cause a gap through which moisture enters the auto-optics structure;

incorrect operation or hydrocorrector failure- quite rarely, but it happens that during the malfunctioning of the hydraulic corrector, the liquid enters the headlight and condenses in it.

How to deal with condensation inside the headlight?

Be sure to dry the headlight with hot air, if this is not done, the moisture remaining inside the structure will continue to provoke evaporation;

Seal all joints of the glass and the body with a sealant, so you can easily get rid of all microcracks;

Check the fit of the bulbs to the body, as well as the presence of a rubber or plastic gasket (the absence of a gasket can cause fogging);

We check the presence of "fistulas" and microcracks on the surface of the headlight - lower the headlight into the water and observe the appearance of bubbles - the place where they appeared must be sealed. If there is a small crack on the surface of the headlight, you can use a transparent tint film, its adhesive base will close all the holes through which air can enter the headlight

If there is a fairly large crack on the surface of the headlight, a complete replacement of the part will be required.

What headlights to buy?

When buying a new headlight, the main thing is not to make a mistake with the choice. Ixora Auto recommends purchasing parts from trusted brands such as parts from Hella. The production of headlights is the backbone of Hella's 20 years of activity, and today Hella car headlights set the standard for high-quality and long-lasting car optics. You can buy Hella car headlights, as well as get professional advice from specialists in the Ixora Auto online store, as well as by calling the free hotline number.

Any automotive optics has a special ventilation system and it is through such channels that water easily enters the headlight. To quickly eliminate fogging of optics, it is necessary to do regular drying. To do this, it is recommended to open the car hood for 30 minutes after washing the car. But if the optics of your car sweat for a long time, then this may be a signal that your headlight is faulty. In this article, we will try to figure out why headlights sweat and what to do to resolve this issue.

How to improve the headlights in a car, I advise.

So, what makes the headlight sweat?

• The plastic case of automotive optics has cracks or its integrity is broken.
• The sealant connecting the glass surface of the headlight to the housing has collapsed.
• The tightness of the wiring is broken.
• Small cracks on glass;
• The ventilation channels that circulate air masses in the headlight are clogged.

We must not forget that all these malfunctions can lead to only one thing - the tightness of automotive optics will be broken. But depending on the source of fogging on the inside of your headlight, there are different ways of what to do in this situation.

What can happen if your headlight fogs up from the inside.

• If moisture constantly accumulates inside, then this can lead to the creation of the so-called “lens effect”. As a result, the efficiency of side lighting can be drastically reduced, which will complicate the control of the machine (especially at night).
• The presence of moisture has an extremely negative effect on contacts. They oxidize, which in turn can lead to failure of electrical wiring.
• Water falling on a hot surface inside the headlight can destroy the reflector.
• Moisture can lead to corrosion. And soon this rust will cause the metal parts of your headlight to darken and lose their functionality.
• Constant moisture inside the headlight will significantly reduce the life of the bulbs.

What to do if your optics constantly sweats, and why this happens - only the master will tell you in this matter. This requires certain skill and equipment. For example, it is simply impossible to find small cracks on the glass surface of a headlight without special equipment. Therefore, quite often the best option will be if you go to a car repair shop or service center.

But if you want to understand for yourself why the car's optics are sweating and fix this problem, then use the following tips, which can be very useful to you.

How to eliminate fogging headlights with your own hands

Before you decide to start looking for the source of why your headlights began to fog up, wash your car optics well, and then dry them well as well. Then, if they are available, it is necessary to clean the ventilation ducts. Most often, for most modern car headlights, access to the ventilation ducts can be under the hood or under the bumper. If you clean the channels, and the fogging of the headlights continues, then you need to remove the optics from the car. After all headlights sweat from the inside, and it is impossible to fix this problem on a car.

The sequence of your actions should be as follows. First you need to remove the battery terminals, then disconnect the wiring from the headlight itself, disconnect the fasteners that secure the headlight to the car body, and remove the optics. Thoroughly clean the housing from dirt, check if the sealant at the joints has collapsed, make sure that all joints are intact. To identify the presence of microcracks, you can use a magnifying glass.

Removed optics must be dried very carefully. It is necessary to pull the light bulbs out of the sockets and also dry them well. It is better to use a hair dryer for this.

If during inspection you find small leaks at the junction of the optics with the body of the headlight itself, then such places can be restored with exactly the same sealant. In case the tightness is damaged more significantly, it is best if you:

1. take apart the headlight
2. completely clean the joint from the old sealant,
3. this place needs to be degreased,
4. apply new sealant
5. fasten the parts of the headlight.

In addition, it is necessary to carefully go through all the joints and connections of the block headlight with sealant. Particular attention should be paid to the place where the wiring passes into the headlight

After you have completed all of the above steps, dry the headlight thoroughly, wait for the sealant to fully cure and install the headlight back on the car.

If large cracks are found on the optics, then it is necessary to replace such a part with a new one. Often, when a car owner decides to repair large damage himself, on his own, this will not lead to the desired result. Most often, after a short time, the optics will start to sweat again. It must be remembered that the best option for eliminating fogging of automotive optics can only be a complete replacement of failed optics with new optics.

Sometimes the reason why the headlight fogs up from the inside , may consist in the fact that the tightness of the docking terminal connecting the “turn signal” to the headlight is broken. Then the best option would be if you treat this place with a sealant.

Do not forget that after you remove the headlight, you need to clean the ventilation channels. The whole reason for fogging headlights from the inside can only be this. Take a thin wire in your hand, “conjure” over the block headlight for half an hour and the problem will be fixed.

Video - fogging headlight repair

Good luck on the road!!!

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Hello dear readers-motorists! Consider the problem of the headlight sweating, what to do in such cases and why this happens.

Many of you have experienced the problem of fogging car headlights. With this phenomenon, the brightness of the headlight worsens, and the appearance of the car becomes untidy. The reflective planes of the headlight deteriorate, the conditions for safe driving worsen.

1. Depressurization:

• leaky fastening of the body and glass of the headlight unit;
• the headlight lamp socket is depressurized;
• rubber anthers on the rear cover of the headlights have lost their elasticity;
• cracks on the glass and in the headlight housing itself.

2. Moisture is sucked into the headlight through the ventilation of the headlight space when the headlight cools rapidly.

The headlight is sweating what to do

In practice, anyone who encounters this problem has to solve this issue radically, buy and install a new headlight, and this costs a lot of money. Well, the headlight is sweating, what should I do? Is it reasonable?

The point is not that they feel sorry for them, but that it is in vain to throw away the money earned by overwork is at least unjustifiably wasteful.

And if you do not lose faith in yourself, then it is possible to correct this unpleasant factor yourself. Check all four points of possible depressurization. Find the place of penetration of moisture, and if there are cracks - eliminate. Only first you need to check the headlight for tightness.

How to check? We lower the headlight into a container with water with glass down, without immersing the breathers, look where the leak occurs and take measures to eliminate it.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW8iUr2lWUI

Headlights sweat after washing

Boyle-Mariotto's law states: If the temperature and mass of a gas are constant, then the product of the pressure of this gas and its volume is also constant.
In the case of a headlight, at a constant temperature inside the headlight, air does not leave it and does not go inside.

Experiment this physical law on an empty plastic bottle. Close the lid while warm and place in the freezer. After a few minutes, take it out and see if it shrinks.

It is the same with the headlight, when the temperature changes, the air pressure constantly changes in it. It does not shrink like a plastic bottle, but the law works and the movement of air masses is intense.

The headlights are not hermetically clogged; ventilation valves (breathers) are provided in their design to suck in air and bleed it.

When the light bulb is turned on, air circulation begins inside the headlight as in a normal room, the heated air rises, the cooled air goes down.

Heated and enlarged air is bled into the upper breather, and when cooled and pressure is reduced, it is sucked from the lower breather. In this way, the internal air is purged and ventilated. In the breathers, air filters are installed that slightly protect against moisture.

Moisture that has entered the headlight through the breather, with good ventilation, will always quickly ventilate and the headlight will always be clean.

So, if you don’t have cracks in the headlight housing and the breathers perform their function properly, slight fogging can still occur during washing. Especially if the temperature difference is large.

But this can be avoided by turning off the headlights before washing and letting them cool down to ambient temperature.

Methods to prevent fogging inside the headlight

Many automakers place a silica gel bag in the headlight space. It actively absorbs moisture, protecting the glass from fogging.

Many, especially those who are specifically involved in the preparation of jeeps to overcome the ford, carefully seal the headlights, and the breathers are brought above the level of the headlights by means of hoses.

It is also possible to output the headlight purge from the breathers to the intake manifold line.

Another way was invented by the Japanese company Nitto, they came up with filters for ventilation valves that allow air to pass through but not water to pass through.

And so, we figured out the causes of headlight fogging, possible methods for eliminating this phenomenon, now we summarize and draw up a troubleshooting roadmap:

1. We remove the headlight;
2. We check the tightness of the bulb holders;
3. We carefully revise the ventilation valves (breathers);
4. We check the tightness of the headlight in a water bath (do not drown the breathers!);
5. If necessary, seal the cracks;
6. We dry the headlight;
7. We install in place.

For most car owners, the problem of fogging headlights from the inside is considered global. Even despite such apparent insignificance, fogging of any type of headlights (halogen, xenon fog, etc.) is considered a rather dangerous phenomenon that can lead to tragic consequences on the road at night. So, let's look at the most common reasons why a headlight sweats on a car, and talk about effective methods for eliminating them.

What causes fogging car headlights

When the cause of fogging of the headlights of the car from the inside is not established, and the driver does not know how to solve the problem, further movement in such a car with the onset of darkness becomes dangerous.

The headlights of a vehicle fog up due to the accumulation of condensate, which refracts the light flux and prevents it from completely passing through the glass.

This is exactly the case in which the headlights of the car shine with a diffused, and not directed and adjusted light; since most of the beam is converted into thermal energy, and its remaining miser is refracted, passing through drops of condensate, practically not illuminating the road. This problem needs to be fixed as soon as possible.

Additional trouble for the motorist is caused by dust that constantly accumulates on the surface of the headlights. In this case, there can be no question of fully moving by car at night, since after 2-3 km of the way you will have to make stops to clean them. Note that it will not work to completely remove moisture from the inside of autolights without disassembling them. Any attempts to remove condensation without disassembling the headlights will not lead to the desired result, since moisture will still remain inside the lighting fixture. And this is the real reason for the failure of an element of the lighting system. Below we will consider how to get rid of fogging headlights.

The concept of "warranty case"

A possible reason for the fogging of the front lighting devices in the car may be hidden in the non-observance of the technological sequence during their production or during installation. This is just the warranty case. If, during the operation of a newly acquired vehicle, it was repeatedly noticed that the headlights fog up, you need to contact the car dealership that sold the car to put it in for warranty repairs.

Note that a newly purchased lighting unit (rear or front) also has its own warranty period, during which the seller is obliged to replace the lighting device if it has been noticed to work incorrectly (including fogging). Warranty repair and replacement of headlights are not carried out in case of damage caused by the fault of the car owner.

Reasons why car headlights sweat

So, it's time to determine the causes of fogging headlights from the inside. To completely eliminate this unpleasant phenomenon, the inside of the headlight must be dry. Even a minimal amount of liquid will cause condensation to accumulate in the front lights of the car.

Consider why the headlight is sweating in the car:

If we consider the physical process of fogging optics from the inside, we can say that it is accompanied by the transition of a liquid under certain conditions from one state of aggregation to another. For example, in the case of a decrease in air temperature inside the headlight, the moisture in it tends to occupy the coldest place, in this case it is glass, which is covered with small droplets.

How to get rid of fogging car lights

Eliminating such a phenomenon is quite simple. The main thing is to know and perform a certain sequence of actions:

• open the lamp covers and pull them out a little;
• it is necessary to briefly turn on the dipped beam to warm up the optics, and then turn it off;
• leave everything as it is in a warm, dry box or garage overnight.

In the morning, the problem should completely dry up. But, if the formation of condensate was repeatedly noticed, you can get rid of it in another way. For example, warm up the entire glass surface of the headlight with a hair dryer.

As soon as it was possible to defeat the condensate, it is necessary to identify and repair all damage to the lighting fixtures with a special sealant. In addition, it is necessary to seal all loose joints and places where the optics fit to the vehicle body.

If cracks were found on the surface of the headlight glasses, they must be eliminated as soon as possible. It is quite possible that it will not be possible to independently perform high-quality repair of cracks and not damage the appearance of car lights. In this case, the procedure for tinting them will help to correct the situation, improve and protect the headlights. It can be done by a motorist of any level.

If the reason for the penetration of moisture into the car's lighting fixtures is insufficient sealing of their contact point with the body, in this case it is necessary to replace the gasket. However, it can be completely absent, and the sealing of the joint can be achieved due to the plastic properties of the material used to manufacture the lantern. As a rule, it is made of plastic, which over time completely loses its plastic properties, turning into a solid homogeneous material. So an effective method to eliminate fogging headlights in this case will be the complete replacement of their plastic parts.