Hello folks, I have an issue that I hope someone out there can help me with. I searched around a bit and found good general information but I have a few very specific questions that hopefully can be replied to by you all.

I have condensation in my drivers side headlight assembly. Everything is stock in my '04 TL w standard transmission.

Recently I replaced the fog light and had a heck of a time reaching it. The condensation did not appear until a month or so AFTER I replaced the fog light (next to the head light). So my first question is did I cause this problem or is it a coincidence?

If I did not cause the issue then I guess I need to remove the assembly and look for the leak. Right? I'll search posts for this.

If I did cause the issue is there a trick that I may have missed when installing the new fog light?

 

The fog light bulb you took out of there had a cover did you put this back on with the new fog light? Lights are very sensitive to water its very easy to get water/condensation in a headlamp/tail light if its not properly sealed so id go over your install to make sure everything is installed correctly. I highly doubt it was just coincidence that this started happening shortly after u replaced the fog.

 

Hum, I do not remember a cover. I wonder if that disappeared when the clerk at Autozone pulled it out to get the number. I'll be going back under the hood tomorrow to take a look at both sides. Just to be clear this is the fog light next to the HID, not the fog light at the bottom of the bumper cover.

 

Here is more information for you all and another question.

So when I went back under the hood I found that the fog light I replaced was loose in its socket. So this was the cause of the issue.

Now I am trying to remove the condensation from within the head light assembly (before I CORRECTLY install the fog light) and am having challenges to say the least.

First I tried to blow air into the assembly through the opening for the fog light. This was not very effective since about one inch from the opening is the housing for the lens that the fog light sticks into. So basically I was blowing air into this small cylinder and not the majority of the assembly.

I am playing the waiting game now. The car is parked with the fog light not in position so there is (theoretically) air flow into and out of the head light assembly. I hope after a day or so the condensation will be gone. Any advice here?

 

silica gel pack

 

Great solution.

Is it possible to put one in the headlight without baking the headlight open?
If so, where through?

 

the open hole where he removed the bulb

 

If I stuff a silica gel pack in the hole for the fog light bulb I doubt that I'll be able to get it back out. The problem will be if I put it in the hole it will drop down an inch or two to the bottom of the assembly. Then I do not know how I'll get it out. Maybe I can put it on the end of a small clip and suspend it inside. But I will only be able to push it in about one inch before I contact the cylinder with the lens.

 

tie a string to it

 

Progress Update - So I had a difficult time to say the least eliminating the condensation from the headlight assembly. I wanted to get the car back together by dark so I did the reassemble with about 80% of the condensation removed. The next morning it was back.

I may wait a little before diving back in when I have more time. I suspect I am not installing the bulb correctly. In hindsight I do not recall the bulb locking into place tightly (as it was when I first when I removed the bad bulb.

Earlier in this Gil'sUA5 referred to a cover which I have yet to see. I never went to the other side to compare, my bad. So I guess this is truly my next step. Then back to removal of condensation and reinstall the bulb using whatever knowledge I gained by studying the other side.

 

Teflon tape wrap the bulbs!

 

do it right. just remove the headlight off the car, that way you can put a silica packet in, and remove it by turning the headlight upside down so it can fall out.

 

Careful tipping the headlight if there is a lot of condensation in there, chances are there could be actual little puddles in the headlight too that could make its way into the ballast opening and fry it.

 

OK, I'll bite. What is the easy process to remove the headlight?

 

Remove bumper, then remove headlight bracket (4 bolts), then remove headlight (4 bolts).

 

After reading all the good comments I believe I am going to wait until a less humid day to remove the bulb again. When I reinstalled the bulb the last time it was a very humid day. Living outside Atlanta I might need to wait until the fall.

One comments made still puzzles me a bit. "The fog light bulb you took out of there had a cover"

I do not remember a cover. As I said it is the fog light within the head light assembly, not at the bottom of the bumper that I replaced. Can anyone elaborate on this? Position, shape, anything? I still need to get to the other side to compare.

 

The bolts that secure the ballasts to the body are a pita.

 

I have an update. I called the closest Acura dealer which is a little north of Atlanta. I asked whether they take any special precautious when they change a fog light like putting the car in a low humidity area. They said that they take no special actions.

So I went back under the hood. I removed the bulb and spent the day removing the condensation from the headlight assembly. By the end of the day most of the condensation was gone. Next I reinstalled the bulb. It was very very difficult to get in. I thought I had it in 'pretty' tight. Tighter than before but I must admit I could move it very very slightly.

The next morning there was a lot of condensation in the head light again. Might there be some trick to get the bulb tightly in place?