Do Headlight Covers get Fogged Up?

[TomoHawk]

was just wondering if you get condensation under the headlight covers? If so, there is the potential for it to get on the plastic and mess up the way it projects?

thx.

[Zrush]

Originally posted by TomoHawk

was just wondering if you get condensation under the headlight covers? If so, there is the potential for it to get on the plastic and mess up the way it projects?

thx.

Yes I get condesation under the covers, but it does dry up and hasn't affected my covers (yet). The real pain is when it rains and you get water under there and you have to remove them to wipe off the headlight buckets. I try and not get caught in the rain but sometimes it does happen.

[TomoHawk]

I was thinking that drain holes would fix the fogging problem. Having a hole in the front edge would force air in there while driving. One in the top rear edge would let air circulate.

a drain at the back would let accumulated water drain out, assuming none gets splashed in from the wheels and it has a way to drain to the ground.

There should be a way to put some holes in that are less or not noticeable. You might even cover the hole with a Z badge, like the rear wing vents. Just make sure they don't whistle when you go.

[EScanlon]

The main reason that your headlights are getting fogged up is that the area around the headlight bulb itself is open.

There is no splash guard around the bulb lens to the "scoop" portion of the headlight opening. As you drive along the mist from the front tire splashes in front of the tire which then gets sucked up to the front part of the fender and hence into your headlight scoops.

Add that your headlight cover has a couple of drain holes and you are causing a small vacuum INSIDE the headlight scoop area. This further sucks in the water.

How can you fix this?

Look closely from underneath the car, just in front of the front fender support where the headlight scoop attaches to the fender.

Have someone shine a flashlight around the headlight bulb and you'll see the light! (no pun intended, but what the hell.)

You could seal this with duct tape, but be careful as you don't want to inadvertently affect the position of the headlight bulb in relation to the car's general axis. You'll end up with misaligned headlights (Vern, there's a squirrel in that thar tree!). Also, make sure you don't make it impossible to access the alignment screws, should you bump it a bit.

The other way is to either get some foam tape around the opening. Problem with this method is that there isn't much to stick it to.

I reduced the problem I had with this by wrapping a 2" wide piece of squeege blade rubber (check with a window washer, that's where I got mine.), that in turn is zip tied around the tube of the headlight scoop, so that there is about 7/8" protruding past the tube of the scoop. Look closely and you'll note that when you mate the scoop back to the front fender / headlight assembly, it just barely touches against AND around the complete headlight bulb / ring assembly and gets very close or if possible touches the inner fender support.

You CANNOT seal it to be pressure proof, so the best you can do is to limit the amount of air to be pushed through it. By sealing the back you eliminate the major source of air.

The very front portion of the cover is the only spot you should need a drain hole. Typically this is at the seam between the two ends of it, but it shouldn't be a requirement now. If you do leave a small gap, realize that air and water can get pressured into it by the force of the air against the front of the car.

With the OEM covers, there IS a hole in the gasketing around the cover. The difference with those headlight covers and the standard ones you can get from VB & MSA is that the OEM's actually fit on the OUTSIDE edge/lip of the sugarscoop. The aftermarket ones are expected to rest INSIDE the edge of the sugarscoop. That's why they have an edge gasket.

Personally, I would not leave a gap, and WOULD seal the back portion as best as I could.

2¢

Enrique

[TomoHawk]

Enrique,

On my 280, there is a plastic splash protector behind the light assembly. I tried squirting some water in there when washing the car, and no water came through. It loks like a big PITA to get off. Mine is all cruddy & briittleand I'll be needing a new one sometime.

You might be talking about some other model car.

Good point tho.

[thefastestz]

Mine fogg up...but if haven't notice it affect the performance of the headlamps. (Well my headlamps are always REALLY dim anyway so maybe that's why.)

Plus it drys very quickly.

Regardless i've never found it much hassle to remove them for cleaning and such.

[Alfadog]

The shape of the headlight covers does affect the headlight projection, even without the fogging up. But it is pretty minor, and I guess you could just take off the covers at night if you were travelling a long distance. About the fogging - you COULD try some of that anti-fog interior glass Rain-X - although I'm not sure if it is OK with plastic. It might completely ruin your covers... so READ THE LABEL!

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for anyones actions that may have been motivated by my words.

[EScanlon]

DO NOT USE RAIN-X INTERIOR FOG!

I used some in my Acura, and the only way I finally got it off the windshield was to have the windshield replaced.

Don't try to drive into the sun with this stuff on, you will NOT see through the windshield.

All you are going to wipe on is a horrendous snot film. It smudges and catches dirt and dust, God forbit you smoke in the car.

Using it for Headlight covers? I would stick with their original Rain-X formula for EXTERIOR surfaces (YELLOW BOTTLE).

Regarding the 280, it is very possible that by then they added a splash pan underneath the headlight scoop. In the 240's that is not the case.

It is a PITA to get up there to work those things.

Enrique