Condensation inside headlight - 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette

Ricart Automotive Group Why Does Water or Moisture get Inside my Headlight
This link may be helpful ...
If the wetness is bad ... it usually means there is a seal problem somewhere ... especially if the problem shows up after driving a lot in the rain.

We'll if you are replacing bulbs and they work when you put them in but burn out quickly, that symptom along with condensation inside the lens surly indicates a moisture problem meaning somewhere there is a bad seal in the headlight lens assembly.

you are talking aftermarket headligth covers? , the head lite itself cant not be taken appart, your best bet is to drill a small hole in the lower part ofthe headlight so moisture can be release, this will help but in the long run you'll need to replace it

you dont,they are a complete unit,you have to buy the whole glass.

Condensation is deemed to happen if ambient temperature is lower than inside the headlamp and humidity inside of headlight is too high.
From a headlight design perspective, you cannot lower ambient temperature. Not much can be done with temp inside headlight either. However, humidity levels on the inside can be reduced. Most designs usually have 2 or 3 air vents to keep humidity below condensation threshold levels.
This might sound complicated, but the phenonomen is exactly the same as windows in a winter home and humdity levels inside. Too much showering, and bathroom window fogs up. Venting will reduce condensation.

You might wonder why headlamps are not designed to be 100% air tight, so that no humidity enters? Well, that would be in an ideal world with no heat losses in bulbs. As the headlights goes through continous warm-cold-warm-cold cycles as you turn light on and off, the air and plastic will expand and retract. This creates pressure changes, which will move a slight amount of air in and out. So instead of forcing the air to be inside, air is moved through controllable passages, so that minimum of road dirt will enter.

If condensation disappears within a week. Moisture can have been sucked up in high pressure wash. This should normally dissapate within a week by itself.

If condensation amount stays constant, then there is crack(s) in headlight that lets in water. This can be siliconed, depending where the crack is, or a replacement headlight should be considered.

seal it with some clear silcolone.

condensation is because theres no ventilation tube on the headlight, drill a 1/4 hole underneath each end of the headlight and problem solved.

your headlights are leaking water inside, and with the heat from the bulbs it condenses into fogginess,let me give an idea! if you have access to the bottom of the light, drill a hole that the water can drain.
that might work.!

G

I have a Montana and the headlight on these vans are always fogging up inside and collect water from condensation. Most of us Montana owner's drill two 3/8 hole on the side of the headlight to allow air to circulate. That fixed the problem and no more fog or water. When you drill the hole find a spot like close to the bottom corner and look to see if the spot is clean, which would indicate that dirt and water from the rain don't collect there.
Good luck and hope this helps.

Okay if you have condensation in them now take out your headlight housing and your bulbs. Let them sit in the sunlight until the condensation has evaporated and use a glass cleaner to clean up any spots. Then get some clear RTV from an auto parts store or Wal-Mart maybe 2 or 3 tubes and seal all the around the headlight housing. If you have projection style headlight the rubber boot on the back can let in moisture if not properly sealed. Make sure this has a tight fit and if you notice a hole use some of the RTV around it. Repeat this procedure with the other side. I hope you have good luck with your project!