Moisture condensed inside my Camry's headlight

[t0y]

Yesterday morning I washed my car, a late 2004 Toyota Camry, then I went out for the day and went back home in the evening. There wasn't rain or anything and the whether was just fine.

In the evening in the garage I noticed that the left headlight of my car got moisture condensed inside the headlight (see the image). I believe that there is some leak that make the headlight compartment is not vacuum anymore. In my understanding it should not happen in any whether condition. Am I right here? Is it covered by the warranty? Thanks for your info.

[DarkMastyr]

The headlight compartment isn't a vacuum in the first place... that'd make replacing bulbs one hell of a pain in the ass. In fact, you have vents so that your headlight doesn't explode from increased pressure when you fire up the bulbs and increase the temperature of the air inside. Your condensation is from a poor seal between the clear plastic part and the housing itself. You can take it apart and add extra silicone sealant, buy a new headlight, or start going to town with electrical tape around the part where the plastic and housing meet.

[t0y]

Thanks for your reply DarkMastyr. You are right that the compartment is not vacuum. It is disappointing that 1.5 year old car would do that Or is it common among camries?

I didn't get what you meant with

start going to town with electrical tape around the part where the plastic and housing meet.

What is electrical tape? Thanks again.

[DarkMastyr]

Well it'll happen on select cars and whether or not they were sealed properly from the factory. I'll see new Civics that have that condensation issue. Just a luck of the draw.

Your headlight is generally made up of two parts, the housing (black rear part), and the clear plastic (front). Where they meet up, you can just use electrical tape all around to help keep some of the water out. Sorta like a half assed attempt at providing more sealant. I do it on my headlights.

Electrical tape is... well it's electrical tape... you find it in your local hardware store. Generally used to tape up... electrical stuff like wires.

[t0y]

Thanks again DarkMastyr

I will mention this problem to Toyota service center when my next scheduled service is due (in about 2 weeks time). Hopefully they will fix the seal for me as part of the warranty.

[Mike Gerber]

If you have less than 36,000 miles on the car, and it wasn't damaged by a rock going through it or from an accident, then it should be covered under the bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Mike

[t0y]

I have done about 36k miles now and it wasn't damaged by a rock or anything. I must be the seal. But it is interesting to know how did you come up with 36k figure? The warranty on the car is either 100,000 kms or 3 years whichever comes first.

[Mike Gerber]

Sorry, I didn't notice you were in Australia. Here in the states, the Toyota new car bumper to bumper warranty is for 3 years or 36,000 miles.

Mike

[Edmo83]

Hey t0y,
try this
take out the bulbs, and use a blow dryer to blow air through the headlight. that should get rid of the fogging.
and if the fogging happens again, take out the headlight, bake it, take the lens and housing apart, remove the stock glue, and reseal it with silicon, then heat it up to seal it again.
If you want better instructions on sealing a headlight, search google for a good FAQ on Headlights Clearing. while you have it open you can take out the orange/yello diffuser for your turn signal, giving it a nice clear look, esp with a clean silver car, itd look awesome

G/L