MikeekiM

Hi all,

No accident, nothing unusual at all happened to my car... Yet this weekend, condensation started to form in my driver's side headlight

Any suggestions on the most cost effective way to take care of this?

Thanks all!

Mike

Razzi

same sheez happened to me, considering baking it and wipe with alcohol or something. clear it while im at it

thisisnotdave

Thats bad news for our cars, sorry to hear that, I know the pain of replacing headlights/ballasts.

Like Razzi said baking it is a good option, doesnt look that hard.

You should take it off when you have a chance and inspect it, you gotta take ur bumper off to do it, so it'll probly take 40 mins or so to take it off. If you decide to replace it, it'll run $150 for a good aftermarket headlamp or like $220 - $250 for an OEM.

MikeekiM

Thanks guys... Crap, I am upset at this...

So this baking process... Tell me a little more...

Man, I really don't want to take that d*mn bumper off again! What a PITA...

whudini3000

iTrader: (1)

The quick fix.... Take out your bright light bulb for 3 days and just go about your daily notion. Pop in back in and you should be set. I had this problem...and this solution worked out the best. You have to leave the bulb out for at least 3 days to make sure all the water has evaporated....

lates

thisisnotdave

Unless it rains again.

thisisnotdave

Search for it, also look in DIY at blacking out the headlights it has instructions on how to reseal it. An yeah the bumper is annoying, but at least it makes it that much harder to steal our headlights...

rob-2

Oem costs $120... http://www.carpartswholesale.com/who...l-9451338.html

thisisnotdave

How you now that OEM? If it doesnt specifically say Acura OEM im willing to bet thats a DEPO headlight.

rob-2

Ok, here $160 - http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...ll&ListAll=All

MikeekiM

My problem light is on the driver's side... Anyone have instructions on what I need to remove to get to the bulb? Man, everything is packed in pretty tight in there!

MikeekiM

Another request for instructions... If I order this, can someone provide installation instructions on the headlamp replacement? Thanks!

I'm likely going to go for the above solution first (removing the bulb for 3 days and letting the condensation evaporate)... But at $160, I won't be waiting long before I end up replacing it altogether...

And by the way, the link you provided is not for my year, so I searched for mine and here is the link for anyone interested in a 2003 headlight assembly:

http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...t&ListAll=Part

I forget, which is right and which is left (I know...stupid question, but I always forget whether it is from the perspective of facing the car, or "in the driver's seat"...)

Razzi

can i just hairdryer that thing for 2 hours?

whudini3000

iTrader: (1)

I tried that and the condensation moved over to my turning signal light! I also tried the white towel over my headlights while leaving the brights on...it worked, but did not get all the condensation out! So I then tried to take out the xenon light...but when I seen what I had to go through..i said heck no..lol and thats what spawned the thought of taking out the bright light. Its easier and it allows air to circulate through out the whole assembly thus evaporating all the water. The other methods actually do not remove all the water...just place it elsewhere.. Then on that hot sunny day....viola condesation in your headlight! Best part about it...when you take out the bright light...its almost unnoticeable

whudini3000

iTrader: (1)

also the risk or electric voltage was all I had to read for a deterrent for taking out the xenon light!

Calilove4L

just purchase a depo and seal it like there is no tomorrow

Razzi

bright light = high beam?

tientruong

Guys, Remember to fix it SOOON. or else your ballast will die.
I've had three ballast died on me,

I opened all three of them up and water poured out the most recent one! and the other two had water damages.
The reason this happens is because the ballast is UNDER the headlight assembly,
so condensation becomes water and it goes into the ballast as the temp becomes hotter during the day.

So i don't mount it under there any more, i just mounted it outside the headlight.

hairything

dude, you got to fix it quick man, I ignored the damn problem and it just screwed up everything.

I ended buying a ballast and a headlight unit which is about $350 to $370 for me. I had a crap job done on the reseal by a friend so I had to buy a headlight unit. I bought my parts from acuraautomotiveparts.org. Good luck with everything

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ight=headlight

ACTL03

dude bake it, don't buy new ones

whudini3000

iTrader: (1)

yes