CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

so i bought cleared 03 headlights off the BM for my car and now that it has been moist forever here in canada since there is no sno.. the light housings have a tun of moisture in there. and i'm worried it's going to pool up and stain the mirror reflectors???

kinda pissed right now.. gonna have to remove the lights and re-silicone everything since last guy didn't do it right.

but my question is should i do this asap, or will it not affect the reflectors and just pool up on the front lens?

Jmoney6

Check the seal around the back plate, access to the bulbs. I had horrible moisture on my bmw headlights, I took them apart 3 times and could;t figure it out, until a friend of mien noticed the previous owner left the gaskets out. 3 dollars later the problem was fixed.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

are the gaskets on the housings themselves? or on the light connector thingys. you may be on to something there

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

i just went outside and noticed the seals are on the light connectors themselves so when i switched to the 03 headlights i didn't forget anything so it seems.. my guess is it's just not sealing well around the lens to the back housing. I thought i was smart putting extra silicone around the housing but it seems i missed a spot or something.. maybe it just failed in some spots i dunno.

just gonna pull them out re-seal whatever i can. check everything and hope for the best.

azeezp13

iTrader: (4)

same thing happens to me every time i wash my car. moisture builds up but it goes away after i keep the headlights on for a bit.

try throwing some of those silica desiccant packs that come from shoe boxes. I tossed it in from where the hid bulb connects to on the bottom of the headlight where it stays hidden. i think it's helped me a bit.

Jmoney6

I'm not 100% sure how the acura headlights are. Not to state the obvious but theres a hole somewhere. Plug the hole solve the problem. I would take the entire light out, plug all the holes except for the smallest one. Dip the housing in soap water and connect a compressor hose with a nossle, use very light air pressure. Where theres bubbles theres a hole.

Jmoney6

If you don't have a compressor air duster should work

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

i used to get that when i used the bay carwashes, so i stopped and the moisure stopped. I left my DRL bulb out for air flow to dry it out.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

its been super super moist out as you know gnuts so this only happens when it's lie 90-100% hunidity outside so it's not all the time but still is a piss off to me as I like everything to function perfectly.

i've already taken the front bumber off 4 times so this is just gonna have to be one more time. what would life be without problems... boringgg lol

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

Do not seal up every hole on the housing. There are a few breather holes for a reason.

Pull the rubber seal out from the high beam hole and let it air out. Dont let the water sit there, it will settle to the bottom of the housing, right where the ballast is.

krazykrnboi

i bought brand new 03 headlights.... got them exchanged once and they still get moist... almost wondering if its just 03 headlights... it get moist alittle but goes away after a few minutes

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

civic the ballast is under the headlight housing and is in a metal sealed unit. it sees more piss and vinegar than any part of the car that's really the least of the worries.

i went over the light housings with a fine tooth comb prior to install... i know i sealed everything, maybe ur right tho krazykrnboi maybe it's just the way it is... i really hope not tho, cause that'd be a real piss off but as long as it leaves no evidence inside the housings I see no reason why it's a big issue...

after mine dried up i looked at them closely today and there are no droplet marks or any water staining anywhere, which was my main concern.

some things u just gotta live with and this may be one of em, unfortunately

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

While you have the headlight out, throw some silicone where the wires exit the ballast. I've had 3 ballast go since i've owned a CL. That seemed to help moisture from killing the ballast.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

i don't turn my headlights on unless it's night time, which i believe is why mine have lasted thus far. ever time u turn it on ur using the ignitor which i believe is why they all die. just't don't use them unless u need them. that's what the Daytime running lights are for so yea. i don't turn them on daily.

my trans went 2xs on my car tho, so my car's gotta be good for something! lolll

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

The seal on the ballast is shit. You can see the circuit board where the ignitor comes out of the ballast.

richardparker

iTrader: (7)

I think your right.
I think they dont even have no type of silicone if I remember right.
It's been awhile since mine were cracked

pdipon

what else can you use to get the mostiure out of the housing??

YeuEmMaiMai

12 years and 118K later my headlights are still fine. I leave them on all the time in the winter.

If you are getting moisture in your lamps, check the seals between the acrylic and the housings as water will typically penetrate from the TOP. It is very rare for water to work up from the bottom unless it is being forced in via a capillary action or under pressure. The headlamp housingss are well protected from spray and are unlikely to get wet from the bottom sides or rear...

Also do you have your rubber strips on your units? if those are missing from the top then water can get in behind them



(the long strip at the top left and right side)

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

The headlight housing is not sealed tho anyways so if its really moist out it will get in their.. Thehousing has a lil vent tube at the back anyway to rid any moisture that does get in their anyways...


I try and stay away from tinkering with my car now, tho it seems inevitable most of the time. My focus right now is on mountain biking and getting exercise. The car has had my undivided attention for the last three years. I love her to death... But it is a car.. I cannot keep stressing of minute things like fog building up that goes away when I turn the headlights on.

My main concern was it would mark the inside of the housing lens which could be seen after it dried off. However this is not the case and is why I really don't care anymore about the whole thing. No offence to anyone, I'm just a lil tired trying to achieve perfection wit my car cause its inevitable that another problem comes up, or someone hits my car or something. So perfection is a worthless cause IMHO as I am finding out its too much of a pain in my ass to maintain such status lol...


No one else knows my car has a flaw tho. That's what really matters lol. Perception

YeuEmMaiMai

^ I know they are not sealed but you should not be seeing any condensate in there. the vent holes are small and in locations that are not likely to get water into them. That's why i asked you if the rubber was intact on your lamp. it prevents water from getting driven into the housing from the front

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

Yes it's in tacit but I bought these from a member on here cause they are 03 headlights with the single lens removed and therefore have been pulled apart etc. I thoroughly examined everything when installing... Even siliconed the whole lens to the housing just to make sure. But I must have mised something. To be honest I cannot remember the last time I saw the moisture in their. Maybe I just don't look anymore. I dunno.

YeuEmMaiMai

^It's all good, just trying to help you out...