Headlight Condensation

[life.wj3]

Hello everyone:

i just bought an S650 a week ago and I’m noticing the headlights are fogging up. I thought maybe there was a crack or something but the condensation is rather uniformed between both headlights.

Has someone here experienced this issue and if so, what’d you do to fix it?!

Thanks!

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[Skye]

The assemblies are vented. Condensation in the headlights is often a result, in certain conditions.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mus...He-8E1IQrQIoAnoECBsQAw&biw=1463&bih=742&dpr=2

 

[GrabThatBlue]

Same as mine. On both sides the condensation looks exactly the same. But that's only after a long drive. It has to do with heat and cold. It goes away eventually.

 

[TheACN]

When LED headlights were just becoming a thing, I bought a car with one and posted about the condensation on a forum. Everyone told me the headlights were defective. Took it to dealer, they didn’t know why it was happening either and contacted the manufacturer, who then replied saying that could happen on vented headlights.

You’re lucky you’re asking this question when a lot of people are now familiar with it.

 

[life.wj3]

The assemblies are vented. Condensation in the headlights is often a result, in certain conditions.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mus...He-8E1IQrQIoAnoECBsQAw&biw=1463&bih=742&dpr=2

Thank you, Skye!

Same as mine. On both sides the condensation looks exactly the same. But that's only after a long drive. It has to do with heat and cold. It goes away eventually.

Thank you! I figured it was by design because of the uniformity but it works on my OCD! lol

When LED headlights were just becoming a thing, I bought a car with one and posted about the condensation on a forum. Everyone told me the headlights were defective. Took it to dealer, they didn’t know why it was happening either and contacted the manufacturer, who then replied saying that could happen on vented headlights.

You’re lucky you’re asking this question when a lot of people are now familiar with it.

No kidding! This has never happened to a vehicle I’ve owed and when I knew of it occurring with friends, it always meant a cracked seal…

 

[GooberDH]

they didn’t know why it was happening either and contacted the manufacturer, who then replied saying that could happen on vented headlights.

Crazy how this never happened even down to -20F with windchill no matter the humidity to my 1999, 2004, and 2016 Mustang. They all had vented headlights, every car for as long as I can remember has had vented headlights. How else could they not break from trapped gasses at the various climates, altitudes, and heat radiated from the light sources. The other day my 2024's headlights were all clouded from condensation, it was about 16F. "Oh that's normal", ya ok.

 

[life.wj3]

Crazy how this never happened even down to -20F with windchill no matter the humidity to my 1999, 2004, and 2016 Mustang. They all had vented headlights, every car for as long as I can remember has had vented headlights. How else could they not break from trapped gasses at the various climates, altitudes, and heat radiated from the light sources. The other day my 2024's headlights were all clouded from condensation, it was about 16F. "Oh that's normal", ya ok.

Yep! Same sentiment here but they did fog up at the same time with the exact same pattern and they cleared up with uniformity as well, so I have to believe it’s by design…

 

[Westphal]

Crazy how this never happened even down to -20F with windchill no matter the humidity to my 1999, 2004, and 2016 Mustang. They all had vented headlights, every car for as long as I can remember has had vented headlights. How else could they not break from trapped gasses at the various climates, altitudes, and heat radiated from the light sources. The other day my 2024's headlights were all clouded from condensation, it was about 16F. "Oh that's normal", ya ok.

If your previous Mustangs all had regular headlights instead of LEDs, that would explain the difference, as the LEDs don't produce enough (any?) heat which would take care of the condensation.

 

[Gregs24]

Crazy how this never happened even down to -20F with windchill no matter the humidity to my 1999, 2004, and 2016 Mustang. They all had vented headlights, every car for as long as I can remember has had vented headlights. How else could they not break from trapped gasses at the various climates, altitudes, and heat radiated from the light sources. The other day my 2024's headlights were all clouded from condensation, it was about 16F. "Oh that's normal", ya ok.

Those cars all had halogen bulbs or HID units that generate a lot of heat so less chance of condensation.

Many cars had sealed lights until about 10 years ago but when the seals fail water gets in and cannot get out which causes a problem. Ventilated light clusters don't trap any water in and they will clear when the weather changes (this applies to all lights on the car not just the headlights)

The pressure differences are minimal no matter how hot or cold or high you are on Earth. Sealed incandescent bulbs were used on aeroplanes for years - in fact they still are in places - and they suffer much greater pressure differences

 

[GooberDH]

My old Mustangs never fogged even when the lights weren't in use, that's why I'm confused/frustrated.

 

[Gregs24]

My old Mustangs never fogged even when the lights weren't in use, that's why I'm confused/frustrated.

S197 had sealed glass headlights

Pre-facelift S550? Did they have glass headlights? Post facelift were polycarbonate for sure

All new cars do it so nothing to worry about

 

[GooberDH]

S197 had sealed glass headlights

Pre-facelift S550? Did they have glass headlights? Post facelift were polycarbonate for sure

All new cars do it so nothing to worry about

S197 or 1967? I haven't heard of any car using glass headlights in the last 40 years. My 1999 had vents, I can't see why Ford would unvent the lights 5 years later then go back to vented 10 years after that.

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