There is something wrong when things get blurry—likewise, your vehicle’s headlight. Imagine the strain that it will put on your headlight, and of course, you, as a driver, experience frustrations.
That is because your vehicle’s headlight is being swayed by fog due to condensation. Aside from providing lesser light coming from your headlights, the assembly is at risk – it can be corroded over time. Did you ever wonder why fogs homed your headlight? What are the things you can do about this?
What causes the car’s headlight to fill with water?
The primary suspect for causing your headlight to fill with water is condensation. Condensation is a process wherein the physical state of matter changes which, in this case, is from water vapor (gaseous state) in the air to water (liquid state). This is what you see up in the sky, clouds. But regarding your car’s headlight, it can be seen as fog, moisture, or a cloud-like thing inside it.
Vehicle headlights produce heat when in motion, and cars are no exception. Hence, it is most likely that your headlight will be filled with water due to condensation. The science behind it counts like this. On a condition that the outer lens cools down rapidly than the air present inside the headlight, condensation arises.
Manufactures purposely featured cars with ventilation to avoid condensation. Yes, proper ventilation is the key! However, things are not always adequately ventilated. You are now starting to see fogs conquering your headlight, especially when the sun is just beginning to rise after your car is parked nightlong.
Other features of your headlight housing are that it comes with vents at the top and the bottom. These vents are for managing the pressure. If not, things might get scary. Aside from the heat, improper ventilation, and the pressure that causes your car to fill with water is the damage itself.
The damage we are referring to is the cracks in your headlights. It may be in the headlight seals or the housing. This is self-explanatory; if there is a crack, water peeps in!
The location where you park your car is also a factor in why your car’s headlights condensate—making your vehicle’s headlight don’t vent well. A shady, cool, humid parking area should be the cause.
What happens if water goes in your headlight?
If water gets inside your vehicle’s headlight, frustrations start to wave. First and foremost, if this happens, it can turn your headlights into foggy and toned down. Who would want a headlight that can compromise your visibility when driving at night? It is a total disaster.
The water trapped inside can dim the light emitting from your headlight’s bulb. It can also create blind spots when driving. Aside from this, if the water inside your headlight is unattended, it can corrode the assembly. Not in a one-time effect but as time passes by.
After this, you, the person behind the wheels, can be collateral damage. The effects of the water inside your headlight are a chain of command. From the headlight itself up to your end, the driver. And even the passenger or a person you are with inside the car.
Just imagine if you are traveling and driving on a moonless night. The dark is starting to succumb to your sight. However, headlights are your hero. They provide lights to us when driving, but with water inside it, things can get worse. If this is the case, you might be vulnerable to accidents.
How to fix it?
This part is where things are starting to feel better. Fixing your headlight due to water trapped inside feels so great. As the compromises due to the concern are no longer viable. Fixing is the right way, but how to fix it?
Fixing this is a no-brainer. It is as easy as eating. To address the condensation present in your car’s headlights, start the car’s engine and turn on your headlights. This way, it can generate sensible heat to evaporate the fog inside.
Another way is also to let the sun touch your car. Sit your car outside, and as the sun rises, the temperature goes up, and eventually, the condensation will dry up. You can also go for a drive but be advised to drive safely. This method permits the air present to go along in the vents, which the mechanics are similar to how a defroster scorched your windshields’ car.
It is helpful to check blockages in your headlight’s vents as it might be the problem. Make an assurance that the vents are free from any insects trapped, debris that rammed, or any materials that could cause the airflow of your car to be blocked. If you have the means to use compressed air to clean your vents thoroughly, you may do so.
If there is still an apparent amount of water, you can remove the headlight housing and dry it manually. Let the water gets off outside it. And after getting rid of the water, clean and wipe it with standard rubbing alcohol. You can do this several times to reach the perfect results. Patch everything up and let it dry under the sun or in a warm area.
💡 However, if you notice that the problem persists every day, it might need replacement. For this, you leave it to the professionals to do the work.
Conclusion
When water fills your vehicle’s headlight, it can cause to dim the lights that it emits and compromise your vision when driving, particularly at night. This is happening because of condensation, and some might be due to cracks and making water peeps inside.
It can be in the form of fog, moisture, or a cloud-like thing inside the headlight. Heat the car’s engine and the headlight by turning it on to fix this. You can also go for a drive or clean it manually.
If you still have questions or comments, type and send them.
Your headlights should not be blurry, and if this is the case, something is wrong. Know the science behind it, the effects, and the right things to do to fix, this one.