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Condensation inside Headlights

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Old Jun 29, 2003 | 03:47 PM
  #1  
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Question Condensation inside Headlights

Does anyone out there have a easy way to remove the condensation from inside the headlights? I have an 88 F-150 and noticed that both headlights are full of condensation. I have never had this problem before but earlier this year I took a trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and it was still very cold up there and when I returned to Virginia I first noticed the condensation. There are no cracks or anything that I can see in either one of them.
 
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Old Jun 29, 2003 | 04:33 PM
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Condensation inside Headlights

I just drilled a small hole at the bottom of the lens. Maybe just smaller than an eraser on a wood pencil. If you drill make sure its at the bottom on the sloped part of the lens on the sides away from the grille. First of all what i did was took the head light assembly out of the truck and took the lens off the assembly and used some 3M rubbing compound on the outside of the lens exposed to open air to remove the yellowing build up on the lens. Then put the lens back on the headlight and then reinstalled the headlights. The hole will allow the condensation to escape. As to now i havent had any condensation in my lights and they are clear as when they were new
 
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Old Jun 29, 2003 | 05:11 PM
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Condensation inside Headlights

about drilling the hole in the headlight, Virginia State Law prohibits any drilling in the headlight assembly of any vehicle besides Emergency Vehicles. They have been having problems with street racer putting red and blue strobes in their headlights. If you drill the hole, it will fail inspection, I know, I've been through this with my other vehicle.

-Joe
 
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Old Jun 29, 2003 | 05:18 PM
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Condensation inside Headlights

I have thought about removing each light assembly and rinsing them out with something like rubbing alcohol or something similar but I am not sure that it won't destroy the reflective materiel on the back of the assembly. Either that or find a source of very dry air and blow it in there through the hole the bulb fits into.
 
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Old Jun 29, 2003 | 05:29 PM
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Condensation inside Headlights

I read somewhere about rigging a vacuum pump to pull a vacuum in the headlight, then make sure the seal at the capsule is good. He said it cured his problem.
 
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Old Jun 29, 2003 | 05:38 PM
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Condensation inside Headlights

That is a thought. I have two good refrigeration vacuum pumps that will pull 29.5" of vacuum.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2003 | 11:49 AM
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Condensation inside Headlights

It's not condensation - it's rainwater coming in thru a hole created by a rock chip. If you drill a hole, do it on the BACK side so air (& water) pressure don't keep it from running out. 1/8" should be big enough since the water should always be clean.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2003 | 12:02 PM
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Condensation inside Headlights

Hey Steve, can you replace the bulb and seal the lens back with something?

Stan
 
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Old Jun 30, 2003 | 12:06 PM
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Condensation inside Headlights

The bulb comes out the back for replacement, but it's not the bulb. '87-up trucks use plastic lenses glued to plastic housings, with halogen (H-5, I think) bulbs inserted in the back and held by that black lock ring. You have to remove the whole headlight housing to drill the hole, so the bulb will be out anyway. Look it up here.
 
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Old Jun 30, 2003 | 11:41 PM
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Condensation inside Headlights

i found that to clean glass on the front is Ammonia house hold type , put it in slosh it around , dump it out ( will kill grass and then comes back very thick ) then rinse with water and let dry !! worked real good for me
 
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Old Sep 2, 2009 | 06:11 PM
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Condensation inside plastic headlight 1989 F250

Condensation inside plastic headlight, 1989 F250. Rainwater gets in, discolors lens. Does anyone know of a conversion kit to dump the plastic globe & lens for a real glass headlight? To fit a 1989 F250? I think it wouldn’t be too hard to fit a glass headlight in the assembly if I had a dead duplicate in my hands to cut up and investigate the possibility, the wiring plug end would have to be changed too. Any help out there?<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
 
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Old Sep 2, 2009 | 09:56 PM
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I just bought new ones from JCW I think. NPD and LMC also have them. Ebay has them for like 40 bucks a pair.

Don't use amonia based cleaner on them or anything plastic. That can damage the lense etc. If the headlights are in really bad shape then the amonia could clean the up some.
 
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