Condensation in matrix headlight

[Pappa583]

Been away working for a few week's and car has just sat unused in all the crappy weather. When I got in it to drive home noticed a bit of condensation on headlight lense but tbh with the 5 hour drive ahead just wanted home.

Absolutely lashed down with rain for mist of the drive home and yesterday when I got up I noticed it had misted quite alot inside.

I've checked it and no cracks or anything obvious. Was gonna try and get a cover off the back and get the hairdryer in to dry out? Anyone know of any breathers or seals to check? Is this a comman issue and easy fix as don't fancy having to buy a new headlight if this moisture causes it to fail £££ 🤔 😳 

Bit of an update to the post earlier. Been out and tried to see where I can get into the light to dry it out.... managed to get rid of it by just using the old hairdryer but just slowly heating it up from outside as I can't see how it's easily removed? Anyway cleared up but 20mins layer it seems to be misting up again 😱

Cheers paul

Edited September 30, 2022 by Pappa583
Gone but back already

[Stevey Y]

12 hours ago, Pappa583 said:

Been away working for a few week's and car has just sat unused in all the crappy weather. When I got in it to drive home noticed a bit of condensation on headlight lense but tbh with the 5 hour drive ahead just wanted home.

Absolutely lashed down with rain for mist of the drive home and yesterday when I got up I noticed it had misted quite alot inside.

I've checked it and no cracks or anything obvious. Was gonna try and get a cover off the back and get the hairdryer in to dry out? Anyone know of any breathers or seals to check? Is this a comman issue and easy fix as don't fancy having to buy a new headlight if this moisture causes it to fail £££ 🤔 😳 

Bit of an update to the post earlier. Been out and tried to see where I can get into the light to dry it out.... managed to get rid of it by just using the old hairdryer but just slowly heating it up from outside as I can't see how it's easily removed? Anyway cleared up but 20mins layer it seems to be misting up again 😱

Cheers paul

Hi the only way to get to the back covers is remove the headlight assembly, remove silly trim panel over the light which is held on with a twist clip, remove the two screws that secure the unit, pull out light so you can remove wiring connector and remove the unit, the ballasts are attached to the rear covers which need to be unscrewed  and pulled away from the connectors, then remove the covers and get going with the hair dryer, when reassembling coat the gaskets with silicon grease and put the thing back together.

Steve.

[Pappa583]

18 hours ago, Stevey Y said:

Hi the only way to get to the back covers is remove the headlight assembly, remove silly trim panel over the light which is held on with a twist clip, remove the two screws that secure the unit, pull out light so you can remove wiring connector and remove the unit, the ballasts are attached to the rear covers which need to be unscrewed  and pulled away from the connectors, then remove the covers and get going with the hair dryer, when reassembling coat the gaskets with silicon grease and put the thing back together.

Steve.

Hi Steve,

Tried yesterday, silicone at the ready, undone the 2 bolts but light wouldn't come out as the right inner corner was clashing with another bit plastic which stopped it coming forward,  and just didn't seem to have any movement in it? Only had half an hour spare before coming away for few days so will have another go tomorrow when I get back 👍

Cheers paul

[Stevey Y]

9 hours ago, Pappa583 said:

Hi Steve,

Tried yesterday, silicone at the ready, undone the 2 bolts but light wouldn't come out as the right inner corner was clashing with another bit plastic which stopped it coming forward,  and just didn't seem to have any movement in it? Only had half an hour spare before coming away for few days so will have another go tomorrow when I get back 👍

Cheers paul

Hi there is video for the light unit removal on you tube, just plumb in Audi Q7 matrix headlight removal its a 2017 model so it can't be that different as they only fitted these to 2016 up models the one I worked on was a 2015 with HID FISH EYE lenses.

Steve.

[Pappa583]

On 10/1/2022 at 6:48 PM, Stevey Y said:

Hi there is video for the light unit removal on you tube, just plumb in Audi Q7 matrix headlight removal its a 2017 model so it can't be that different as they only fitted these to 2016 up models the one I worked on was a 2015 with HID FISH EYE lenses.

Steve.

Watched that video on utube and the one bit i wanted to see is where he skips...... shows you him undoing the 2 bolts and pulling the light forward an inch before the video jumping past where he manages to get the light past the plastic bit you can just see.... ive screenshot the video which shows the fixing point of the light sitting on top of the plastic I can't get past..... either that or I'm too scared to smash the light altogether..... I have pulled the corner pretty hard to get it out but seems like I'm using alot of force to get it out and might struggle to linenit up and get it back in??

 Had another go yesterday and no way was that light coming out by just removing the 2 bolts. I even removed the cover accross the top of the grille to see what's below, only came out so far and hit a solid bit plastic which I couldnt see how i could remove it. But..... I did find the cause of the moisture ingress, no idea how but the light was cracked pretty badly on the inside edge, sort of behind the side of the grille....  No idea how this could be cracked, no damage on the front of the light lense and no signs of any damage on the grille, bumper, underside covers or any other plastics etc. Almost like someone has shoved something inbetween the side of the grille and the corner of the light and forced it over.....

i have Managed to get the light out just far enough to get the silcone nozzle in and seal the crack with plenty of  black silicone. Seems to be ok so far 🤞

[Stevey Y]

22 hours ago, Pappa583 said:

Watched that video on utube and the one bit i wanted to see is where he skips...... shows you him undoing the 2 bolts and pulling the light forward an inch before the video jumping past where he manages to get the light past the plastic bit you can just see.... ive screenshot the video which shows the fixing point of the light sitting on top of the plastic I can't get past..... either that or I'm too scared to smash the light altogether..... I have pulled the corner pretty hard to get it out but seems like I'm using alot of force to get it out and might struggle to linenit up and get it back in??

 Had another go yesterday and no way was that light coming out by just removing the 2 bolts. I even removed the cover accross the top of the grille to see what's below, only came out so far and hit a solid bit plastic which I couldnt see how i could remove it. But..... I did find the cause of the moisture ingress, no idea how but the light was cracked pretty badly on the inside edge, sort of behind the side of the grille....  No idea how this could be cracked, no damage on the front of the light lense and no signs of any damage on the grille, bumper, underside covers or any other plastics etc. Almost like someone has shoved something inbetween the side of the grille and the corner of the light and forced it over.....

i have Managed to get the light out just far enough to get the silcone nozzle in and seal the crack with plenty of  black silicone. Seems to be ok so far 🤞

Hi glad you found the cause of the water ingress whats already in there should disperse via the breather vent on the light and the silicone won't be letting any more in.

Steve.

[Pappa583]

On 10/4/2022 at 6:22 PM, Stevey Y said:

Hi glad you found the cause of the water ingress whats already in there should disperse via the breather vent on the light and the silicone won't be letting any more in.

Steve.

Short-lived sucess maybe? After the rain today the headlight has again misted up inside...... pretty disappointed 😞......

Gonna have to try and remove the light again but can't see how it comes out..... 😕 

Watched that utube video again and the bit I need to see is missing, don't know how he managed to get the light up and out, I was using a fair bit of force and it just didn't want to come out! 

Job for the weekend maybe and some more silicone 😳

[DavidUl]

Hi @Pappa583 I have a similar situation with my left headlight, did you manage to fix it? I have a person quoting $170 to reseal the whole unit.

[Pappa583]

3 hours ago, DavidUl said:

Hi @Pappa583 I have a similar situation with my left headlight, did you manage to fix it? I have a person quoting $170 to reseal the whole unit.

Yes, I sorted it, managed to find a tiny crack on the edge which must've been letting the dampness in. I just sealed it myself and haven't had any probs since. I couldn't get the light out though so good job I found the problem.

Don't know if 170 is a bit expensive but given a new matrix headlight will cost over 1000 i suppose it could be money well spent if you can't DIY it

 

Thanks paul

[Stevey Y]

6 hours ago, DavidUl said:

Hi @Pappa583 I have a similar situation with my left headlight, did you manage to fix it? I have a person quoting $170 to reseal the whole unit.

Hi I would take the re seal its a horrible job and requires a fair amount of specialist equipment allied to a world of patience.