[NCT] Condensation/fog on inside of headlight

Tusky

Howdy,

My NCT is tomorrow and one of my headlight bulbs was out. I bought a new one and replaced it myself.

But a few days later I noticed the light had gone foggy/milky white in colour. I tried cleaning the outside but it seems to be on the inside.

My best guess is some moisture got in when I was putting the bulb in.

Will I fail my NCT because of this? Is there anything I can do?

Cheers.

biko

Yeah it can fail on moisture inside light.
Remove bulb and put a hairdryer to the hole to dry light assembly out, then put bulb back.

joujoujou

Tusky wrote: »

[...]

Will I fail my NCT because of this? Is there anything I can do?

Cheers.

Yes and yes.

Use a hairdryer to blow the moisture off the lamp.

Tusky

Thanks for replies. Unfortunately I didn't have time to try the hairdryer method and fully expected to fail...but it passed!

The bad news is the guy said the headlight will have to be replaced. He doesn't think it's moisture - he reckons the new bulb stained it when it turned on...can that happen?

I've attached photos of both headlights for comparison. The "stained" one looked looked exactly like the other one before the bulb went in.

Wibbs

One maybe, but both? Odd. Looks like you/someone tried to polish the outside, so maybe that's what we're seeing?

Tusky

Wibbs wrote: »

One maybe, but both? Odd. Looks like you/someone tried to polish the outside, so maybe that's what we're seeing?

I tried to polish the outside because I wasn't sure what the issue was at first. It made no difference.

Atlantic Dawn

Can you be sure the issue is on the inside of the glass and not the finish on the outside? Were the lights matching the condition of the passenger side before you replaced the bulb?

Kimbot

Yeah thats inside from what I can tell. I have seen it a few times before on various forums and they generally recommend open up the light, clean with toothpaste (No idea why) and then stick it all back together in an oven etc.

Tusky

jonnycivic wrote: »

Yeah thats inside from what I can tell. I have seen it a few times before on various forums and they generally recommend open up the light, clean with toothpaste (No idea why) and then stick it all back together in an oven etc.

Any idea how much that would cost?

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Can you be sure the issue is on the inside of the glass and not the finish on the outside? Were the lights matching the condition of the passenger side before you replaced the bulb?

The two headlights (driver and passenger) were identical before I replaced the bulb. They were both perfectly clear.

Kimbot

Tusky wrote: »

Any idea how much that would cost?



The two headlights (driver and passenger) were identical before I replaced the bulb. They were both perfectly clear.

Well thats a DIY solution if your comfortable with it TBH. Another solution is to get a Longish duster and try clean it from the inside

pa990

youre gonna have to remove the headlight, and check inside.

or remove the bulb and see if you can reach in with a duster or something to try and touch the inside of the lens, to see if it wipes off.

Tusky

pa990 wrote: »

or remove the bulb and see if you can reach in with a duster or something to try and touch the inside of the lens, to see if it wipes off.

I'll give this a go. Wouldn't be confident enough to try remove the headlight itself.

Tusky

I managed to get a duster in and cleaned about 25% of the light. It's awkward work as the hole is small. It's definitely not moisture - it's some sort of white dust. Weird. The whole headlight would have to be removed to clean it properly but I'm just glad it's not permanent.

topnotch

I had a similar problem with foggy headlights, looked like moisture was inside tried hairdryer from outside. In the end did the old toothpaste trick i saw on youtube, worked a treat!

Alanstrainor

Old thread.