Passenger side headlight condensation

[Gavins]

Hi, I have 2008 hybrid model, the passenger side headlight has some condensation inside unit. I cant figure best option to fix this, any suggestions? Also any instructions for removal of said headlight

 

Thanks in advance

 

Gavin 

[Michael Brown]

Hard luck, I too have that problem on my 2007 Hybrid, same side. Not done it yet but I am told take out the bulb and put a hair drier up to the hole and it should dry it out. Let all know how you get on. I cannot do mine at the moment, waiting for a new Inverter being shipped from Japan.

 

[Gavins]

thanks Michael, was thinking along same lines however taking out bulb doesn't look straight forward

 

Sorry to hear about invertor, that can't be cheap!

[Catweazle]

I also have the same issue, same side....bizarre!

[Michael Brown]

15 hours ago, Gavins said:

thanks Michael, was thinking along same lines however taking out bulb doesn't look straight forward

 

Sorry to hear about invertor, that can't be cheap!

No  it's not cheap, but without it the vehicle is worthless. I paid £9,500. for it last August. A new Inverter costs £5,200.24p and that's without the fitting and set up. So I have taken a bank loan out, paid up front  for the Inverter, so now awaiting for its arrival from Japan. I hope when fixed I will get many years of happy motoring.

[Maclacoste]

Hi , Re condensation inside the o/s headlight unit. -  I had a similar problem on my 2008 Alphard's offside headlight unit. The easy fix, was as suggested using a hair dryer.

My suggested method, which worked this morning:

1.Remove the large blanking cap over the o/s headlight aperture. It's about 75mm wide unscrew and don't drop it. There is  rubber seal ensure its in one piece. You can get condensation in the cap so wipe it out. This provides a vent out for the warm air you are about to put in.

2. I then connected a piece ( 15'' length) of standard water pipe hose to a funnel.

3. Now remove the o/s mainbeam lamp assembly - easy twist anticlockwise, I think, take out carefully, it should still be connected to the wiring still.

4.Insert the hose into the mainbeam aperture now left open by removing the lamp.

5. Use the hair dryer to blow warm air into the funnel which flows through the hose to the light assembly.

6. Water will evaporate off the assembly glass. I alternated from blowing the air in via the hose to carefully warming the outside glass with the hair dryer where I could see condensation. Took about 30 mins overall. Don't put too much heat on the outside glass just be aware of how long you leave it on for.

 

I watched the condensation disappear. 

 

Hope this helps, and it is far easier than taking the headlight out. 🙂

 

 

[Gavins]

thanks Paul, ill give it a go

[Maclacoste]

Update, one further modification was required to eliminate the small amount of reoccurring condensation. This is due to all the moisture not fully leaving as although it disappears initially it re-condenses as all the moist air hasn’t fully circulated out of the whole light assembly yet.

The mod is to take the large 72mm blanking cap out again, which was removed during the described process, and insert/drill  a hole in the cap on the top edge about 1/4” diameter in size. After a day it should finally all disappear for good - mine has. Hope that helps.

[Gavins]

havent got round to doing this yet but noticed need to take the plastic cover off in picture, how do you remove

[Maclacoste]

Directly down past the AC junction on the right there is a blanking cap over the dipped headlight section, it has fins on the edge. Just turn and remove.