Humidity inside lights
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Navarre Florida
Humidity inside lights
Anybody experience humidity "fog" inside the front light enclosure (like if a seal were broken)? I picked up my new DSOM C6 
on a VERY foggy FL night and noticed a couple of hours after driving through a lot of rain that the inside of the light casing had a small amount of "fog" (about 20%).
Thanks for your help
Rick
on a VERY foggy FL night and noticed a couple of hours after driving through a lot of rain that the inside of the light casing had a small amount of "fog" (about 20%).Thanks for your help
Rick
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Glendale CA
Originally Posted by RickMz
Anybody experience humidity "fog" inside the front light enclosure (like if a seal were broken)? I picked up my new DSOM C6 on a VERY foggy FL night and noticed a couple of hours after driving through a lot of rain that the inside of the light casing had a small amount of "fog" (about 20%).
Thanks for your help
Rick
on a VERY foggy FL night and noticed a couple of hours after driving through a lot of rain that the inside of the light casing had a small amount of "fog" (about 20%).Thanks for your help
Rick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 1,295
From: Bluffton, SC
Whether we like it or not, these lights are designed to allow condensation to form on the inner lens surface. According to GM, the moisture will burn off within 30 minutes of headlight use and has no effect on the brightness. Every dealer has received an FAQ sheet explaining this.
I don't know why the lights are designed like this, but it is normal and every C6 will form condensation under the headlight lenses.
Stan
I don't know why the lights are designed like this, but it is normal and every C6 will form condensation under the headlight lenses.
Stan
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Brett Foote
☠☣☢ Semper Ebrius ☢☣☠
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 83,301
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII Veteran
St. Jude's Donor '06
GM really only had two choices:
1. 100% sealed, which will eventually leak and, when it does, will result in permanent moisture buildup. This also makes aiming of the headlights with a flush-monted unit nearly impossible.
2. Vented which prevents permanent moisture buildup and is the most durable over the long run.
GM took option 2. Just as all other manufacturers with projection lenses behind clear covers do.
1. 100% sealed, which will eventually leak and, when it does, will result in permanent moisture buildup. This also makes aiming of the headlights with a flush-monted unit nearly impossible.
2. Vented which prevents permanent moisture buildup and is the most durable over the long run.
GM took option 2. Just as all other manufacturers with projection lenses behind clear covers do.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Glendale CA
I went to dinner at my parents today, and without any prompting, he told me that a good friend of his went to look at the new Corvette. The one comment my father's friend had was that the lights were completely fogged up. He got the "it's normal" explanation from the dealer, and then expressed his dismay and left. My father's friend is an accomplished engineer and program manager at a defense firm, thus being very familiar with problems like this. When a person like him is put off, I would think you may be dealing with a public perception problem, regardless of whether function is impaired or not. People aren't diggin' it.
He'll probably end up buying the car anyway. Ironically, my father mentioned that they should be backfilling them with nitrogen.
He'll probably end up buying the car anyway. Ironically, my father mentioned that they should be backfilling them with nitrogen.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Originally Posted by I X L R 8
I told you guys so.
the mitsubishi 3000gt had the same problem.
GM did not account for the problem Mitsubishi solved.
This will be an ongoing problem.......
the mitsubishi 3000gt had the same problem.
GM did not account for the problem Mitsubishi solved.
This will be an ongoing problem.......
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,010
Likes: 1
From: SE Idaho
St. Jude Contributor
Originally Posted by TEAShea
Isn't the outgassing necessary?
The turn signal and high beam bulbs should burn at around 200+ degrees F. As for the outgassing from the plastic, it depends on the plastic.
Some manufacturers have recalled cars to place a resistor inline to decrease the voltage to the bulbs, which decreases their temperature, thus, decreasing outgassing.
As for a nitrogen filled headlamp assembly, it would be ideal. However, I would hate to ever replace one. It would have to be sealed a lot better, have sealed glass areas where the bulbs enter in the rear, and then be manufactured to take the shocks and vibration a headlamp assembly takes when driving down a road (especially, those roads in the northern states). I can conceive of no reason why it cannot be done, I just can't fathom what the price would be for manufacturing...and replacement.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,106
Likes: 2,511
From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
Originally Posted by Scissors
GM really only had two choices:
1. 100% sealed, which will eventually leak and, when it does, will result in permanent moisture buildup. This also makes aiming of the headlights with a flush-monted unit nearly impossible.
2. Vented which prevents permanent moisture buildup and is the most durable over the long run.
GM took option 2. Just as all other manufacturers with projection lenses behind clear covers do.
1. 100% sealed, which will eventually leak and, when it does, will result in permanent moisture buildup. This also makes aiming of the headlights with a flush-monted unit nearly impossible.
2. Vented which prevents permanent moisture buildup and is the most durable over the long run.
GM took option 2. Just as all other manufacturers with projection lenses behind clear covers do.
Scissors, You are 110% correct - anyone who has ever owned an 80's or 90's Ford product knows this from experience when they "sealed" their headlamp modules and used a plug-in halogen socket w/ gasket - they took a rock, etc. and then the lens "leaked" air and moisture formed, sometimes water even puddled
The easy "fix" was to vent it yourself w/ a small drill bit to the bottom of the module
and let the water drain out 
I have seen some "C5r" exposed lamp kits that seemed to have vents of some sort, built in, hmmmm
