Foggy, dirty car headlights make driving at night an iffy proposition. Decreased vision is a recipe for night-driving danger. Not only that, however if condensation and grime are allowed to sit inside a headlight for a long time period, the possibility for headlight failure increases. This increases the likelihood of getting a “fix it” ticket from your friendly neighborhood state trooper. Ultimately, nevertheless, fixing the small problem of fogged headlights is a simple affair.
Fogged car headlights are unavoidable
Popular mechanics indicates that National Aeronautics and Space Administration technology has made this startling discover: water will enter the headlight assembly of your vehicle. If you live in an area that experiences cooler temperatures, your auto is going to get wet. Cool air gets in via the factory vents, which are there for pressure equalization so the plastic doesn’t crack. Generally, when morning temperatures rise, the moisture inside the headlights evaporates. But if it doesn’t – let’s say your automobile is parked in a shady spot or parking structure – some action may be necessary.
Foggy car headlights, prepare to become banned
If you’ve a fancy auto, just hit the headlamp defogger button. If you aren’t fancy, do it like the rest of humanity.
Right out of the gate, search for a Technical Service Bulletin for your car, says Popular Mechanics. This document – if there is one for your car – will give details on available upgrades, for instance one that will replace the cheap headlamp fixture that comes from the factory.
If there is no upgrade to pursue, get down to DIY basics. If there’s only a small amount of condensation inside the headlight fixture, leave the headlights on while you drive for a couple of hours. Driving to that place your dog has been telling you about is a good idea now. If there’s more water in there than a few drops, applying for the headlight fixture may be a good idea. Watch for mud, wasps and spiders while you are in there clearing up. Dump the water and critters, add some rubbing alcohol to the housing to clean the surfaces, then let the whole thing dry for a couple of hours within the sun before re-insertion. Last but not least, park your car facing south from now on for maximum sun exposure within the northern hemisphere, says Popular Mechanics.
Additional reading
Popular Mechanics
popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/repair-questions/how-to-prevent-foggy-headlights
