Condensation in headlight...
Condensation is visible on the inside of the headlight, taillight, fog light, side marker light, front turn signal, daytime running lights, or third brake light lens.
Technical Background
Damp air settles on the inside of a cold lens, which creates condensation.
The headlight circulation system allows air from the outside to flow through the headlights. This open water-protected ventilation system (needed for pressure compensation) creates different climate zones in the headlight: very warm areas, where the lens is warmed up by the light, and relatively cool areas, where the lens is cooled down by the air flow.
Considerable differences in humidity and temperature between the inside and the outside of the headlights, even while driving, can lead to condensation. This is especially true in cold and wet weather, but it can also happen after a car wash, after steam cleaning the engine or the front end, with overnight temperature changes, etc. This phenomenon is more visible on lenses made of clear glass than on lenses with patterns. The moisture does not affect the headlight function (light performance) and does not lead to corrosion or other damage to headlight parts.
Production Solution
Not applicable.
Service
For headlights, the affected lens surface should be clear after approximately 10 minutes of light operation, although the entire lens surface may not clear. The clearing process depends on the outside temperature and the humidity.
In cases where water droplets have formed on the inside of the lens or water has collected at the bottom of the light assembly, check for leaking seals and/or cracks in the lens or light assembly. If no damage is found, use compressed air (less than 30 PSI) to clear the lens.
On light assemblies with LED lights, e.g. S6 daytime running lights, the LED lights do not emit enough heat to clear the moisture from the lens. Only the pressure difference of the ventilation system provides the air flow to clear the moisture on the inside of the lens. The design of the ventilation system on these types of lights will ensure the lens is clear after a few miles have been driven.
For Audi Q7, please see TSB 2028277 94 Moisture accumulation in headlamps for the installation of headlight ventilation valves. Do not replace light or lens assemblies for these conditions.
Warranty
Honestly, I could have put a goldfish in there and it would have lived quite happily. Removed that round plastic cover (see bulb replacement in the manual) and got the wife's hairdrier to blow warm (not hot) air into the headlight. It took about an hour to clear but, in order to prevent more condensation, I gave the outside of the light a quick blast with the hairdrier so that both sides could cool down at the same rate. Put everything back together and a day later, everything was fogged up again.
Repeated the above but this time, I left the cover off for a week and the condensation has now completely gone. It seems that the 'self-venting' is blocked somewhere and rather than taking the headlight out to diagnose, my bodged way seems to work. I have good mates who work at VW and they get quite a few Touaregs and Cayennes in with the same problem and now use my fix (while telling the valeters that the cover caps must be on tight if they are steam cleaning the engine).
Note, I put the cover back on when puddles are about just in case.
I thought I fixed the condensation in the drivers side headlight by expoying a crack in the slot where the headlight slides in but alas, after a week or two of zero condensation, it's back again in full force. Does anyone think it's the bulbs I'm using? Maybe they're too hot?
This is what I bought:
Thinking of just buying another headlight but after reading this thread, not sure. Thoughts? Ideas? Maybe try different replacement bulbs? I'm at a loss...





