Moisture in the headlight is a perennial problem. In the past, the issue was less noticeable with those old, glass headlights. With modern cars featuring plastic headlights, condensation in the headlight becomes visible much more quickly. Is it a problem if condensation starts to form in your car's headlights? Can moisture in the headlights cause your car to fail its MOT? If so, what can you do to remedy the moisture in the headlight? You can read all about it in this blog.
How does moisture get into a headlight?
Inside your headlight, there are hot and cool spots. The hot spots are where the glass is heated by the lighting or the engine, and the cool spots are where the driving wind cools the lamps. Due to the large temperature differences, as well as humidity and pressure, condensation can form on the inside of your headlight. When the headlight beams are turned off, air is drawn in from outside. This air contains water vapour, causing the headlights to fog up.
Can moisture in the headlight do any harm?
If there is moisture in the headlights, the red light from the headlights may be less visible to other road users. This can lead to dangerous situations on the road. It is therefore of great importance to find a solution for moisture in the headlights as soon as possible.
Will a car with moisture in its headlights pass the MOT?
If condensation in the headlight distorts the light beam, there's a good chance your car will fail its inspection. A good garage will check all the important lighting requirements during the MOT test. The headlight must be watertight and must not distort the light beam. If there's moisture in the headlight, you'll most likely have to dig deep into your pockets to pass the inspection.
Koplamp ontwasemen
It is not always possible to fix moisture in a headlight yourself, but there are several things you can try before going to the garage. We've listed the options for you:
Drying the inside of the casing yourself
The first solution is to dismantle the headlight housing and dry the inside of the housing. You can then reattach the housing to the car. However, this is only a temporary solution, as the condensation will simply return after a while. And no one wants to perform this ritual daily.
Drill a hole
Another solution to remedy moisture in the headlight is to drill a small hole in the lamp housing. By drilling a small hole in the housing behind the lamp's reflector, the water can drain away instead of condensing. This is an easy way to remove moisture in a headlight yourself. Moreover, it is also a long-term solution.
Check if there is a vent hole
Before you drill a hole, it is also wise to check if the headlights and taillights already have a ventilation hole (with an accompanying rubber hose). If they do, this ventilation hole is likely blocked, preventing condensation water from draining properly.
Place dehumidifier/moisture absorber at the back of the lamp
You've probably heard of those moisture-absorbing sachets you can put in your shoes to absorb odours and dampness. These are also called dehumidifiers or moisture absorbers. You can use these sachets very effectively to resolve moisture in your headlight. Place the sachets at the back of your lamp (behind the cover plate) and you should be free of the condensation problem within a few days.
Along the garage
If the problem is still not resolved with the tips above, we still recommend that you visit a good car garage. They will ensure that the moisture in the headlight is resolved and that you can safely take to the road again. If you still need transport while your car is at the garage, you can contact Adrem Car Hire. Whether you need a hire a car in Heerlen, in Maastricht, Sittard or somewhere else in Limburg – we are here for you.
