In the evening and at night it is important for a motorist to have stable and high-quality light sources. In many cases, road safety depends on them. Indeed, at night, the car must be visible to other road users, and optical instruments must illuminate the path at the maximum distance.

However, there are problems with the light elements of the vehicle, for example, the lamp dims and the headlight sweats, what to do in such a situation, we will analyze it in steps. Most of these problems are eliminated independently in the garage.

Content

• 1 Why does condensate appear
• 2 Ways to get water into the lighting device
• 3 Elimination of the causes of warming
• 4 Use sealants and polish

Why does condensate appear

Do not neglect the problem of foggy headlights, as this leads to serious consequences:

• Moisture inside the closed cavity can destroy this appliance due to oxidation of the contacts;
• incorrect illumination can significantly increase the accident rate on the road;
• accumulated liquid due to its high electrical conductivity can cause a short circuit in the wiring, and then the main electrical devices and components will be damaged.

Распространенной причиной, why car headlights get fogged, является формирование конденсата, оседающего на внутренней поверхности светового прибора.

Particles of water vapor in the air, during contact with warm streams, are combined into droplets, settling on a transparent plastic. Thus, a liquid is formed from a gas that negatively affects the performance of the vehicle assembly.

Ways to get water into the lighting device

In some cases, the ingress of fluid occurs in other ways, for example, due to violation of the integrity of the structure. During operation of any type of lamp, heat is necessarily released, more so for incandescent bulbs, in a smaller amount from halogen or xenon elements.

When air is heated in a confined space, the gas expands; for this purpose, a check valve is provided in the cavity of the modern headlight. It allows you to bring excess volume out. For drivers who do not know what to do if the headlights mist inside, We recommend carefully checking the valve on the headlight.

Another cause of misted optics is the depressurization of the seams, according to which the cover is attached to the car body. This is due to the fact that the perfect fixation of the unit to the body is technologically impossible to achieve. Automobile companies for this parameter use special substances - sealants.

During the period of operation, these plastic materials lose their properties and are destroyed in some areas. Due to cracks and chips, water penetrates into the lighting cavity. Unfortunately, the domestic and inexpensive Chinese auto industry is subject to such “diseases”.

To quickly get rid of the depressurization of optics on cars of the Volga Automobile Plant, a can of sealant is suitable. It should have silicone in its composition. Having processed the problem area, the driver needs to wait some time for the substance to harden. After that, you can enjoy a good light.

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The most unpleasant situations when the headlight is sweating in a car happen when a plastic ceiling is damaged. In many cases, the slits have microscopic parameters that cannot be detected with the naked eye. However, they are quite enough to get moisture outside.

Trouble is eliminated in two ways:

• surface restoration with special sealants and polishing;
• complete replacement of the light unit.

In both cases, the work can be done independently, while you have to spend a lot on materials.

When fogging of headlights occurs during the operation of a car that is under warranty service, the car owner is entitled to free refund. To restore the functionality you need to contact the official dealers.

It should be noted that the problem is more common in budget models of cars, even among world famous auto brands.

Lack of tightness happens after accidents. Even a slight damage to the geometry of the body can lead to these consequences. It is necessary to check the fit of the ceiling to the body after a collision.

Elimination of the causes of warming

A popular solution is the use of dry heat. Motorist can get rid of the steam film on the inner surface of the headlights. However, the method is effective for one-time occurrences of condensate.

Headlamp heating with hair dryer

In this case, perform the following algorithm:

• dismantle the optical device;
• slightly loosen the fixation of the lamps and partially remove them from the socket;
• we turn on the dipped beam for such a period that the cavity warms up by drying the remaining moisture;
• turn off the light and return the cap to its place.

Usually the drying procedure takes several hours. Some drivers start a motor several times during an operation in order not to completely discharge the battery.

Use sealants and polish

The driver must inspect the problem area to identify the damaged areas behind the headlamp. Sufficient quality after restoration form sealants with silicone. They must be moisture resistant and thermally stable.

Sealant application for headlights

For example, colorless drug Runway performs its functions in the temperature range from -60 to +204C. The cost of an item for 85 g is a little over 100 rubles. The drug grasps in an hour, and the complete solidification of the substance takes place in a day. Excess can be easily removed with a sharp knife.

To identify microcracks in the sealing zones, special equipment is used, based on an optical, electronic or laser working element. Such devices are quite expensive and can be found only at service stations. As a preventive measure, you can use a sealant over the entire visible interface.

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The outer surface of the headlamp can collapse under the influence of external factors. In this case, there are invisible or visible cracks in the ceiling. In some cases, they can be found only in the presence of special equipment.

For resuscitation of an expensive electrical device, it is not always used to replace it with a new one. In some non-critical situations, the headlamp can be restored with your own hands. The most popular are two ways:

• Polishing application. On the grinder set soft nozzle. During processing, the settings should be set to maximum speed. It is believed that the edges slightly cling to each other, restoring briefly tightness. However, while driving on bumpy roads due to shaking, this method loses its effectiveness.
• Use transparent sealants. There is a wide range of materials on the market that have both moisture-proof and high optical properties. This substance is applied to the problem area and allowed to dry. The disadvantage of this method is sticking to the material subsequently dust and dirt. This reduces the efficiency of the headlights. Also, the effective use of such substances is quite low.

A more effective method is to seal the cavity from the inside. You will need to dismantle the optical unit from the seat. It is also disconnected from the electrical network and all technological fasteners.

It is desirable to entrust such a restoration to experienced professionals who dealt not with a single car model. After all, besides electrical components, there are also structural features associated with different manufacturers.

You can meet the recommendation to add a small amount of brake fluid in the cavity. This method is based on the fact that it has a high degree of hygroscopicity, moisture absorption. The negative side of the method is that simultaneously with moisture, dust and dirt are attracted. Such consequences have a negative effect on the transparency of the device. The film formed inside the headlamp in the future will prevent high-quality outdoor lighting.

Another way out of this situation is a sticker tint film. To ensure the sealing material suitable with maximum transparency. This method will not only prevent the current problem, but will also prevent the spread of possible future cracks and microcracks. We recommend using headlight protection on both optical devices. This will give them the same appearance and will not be very visible.

If none of the proposed restoration options is suitable, then a cheaper way is to search for the necessary spare parts in automotive disassembly. In many cases, optics last for a long time, so there is a high probability that you can buy a quality part cheaply.