Condensation in Zenons

scowlsandgrowls · 10-05-2006, 18:44

After rain there is a small amount of condensation at the bottom on the headlamps which after time disappears.

My dealer says that this is normal but if it becomes excessive then it is not.

Is what my dealer saying correct or is the dealer just trying to avoid a warranty claim?

If Ok at what point does the condensation become abnormal?

**GAFF** · 10-05-2006, 23:00

I did notice a bit in mine at the start but havn't really noticed it since. I could be wrong but I would have thought there shouldn't be any, its a sealed unit. I'd be interested to hear of any updates with it.

Stuart Warren · 29-06-2006, 13:56

It may have something to do with the fact that Xenon lamps are gas filled (when lamps are on the gas burns giving the blueish tinge). Perhaps when the humidity outside the lamp gets to a certain level the gas in the lamp causes the condensation.

Am not certain but just a thought.

cheezemonkhai · 29-06-2006, 14:09

I wouldn't have thought there should be any liquid in there.

The gas in the light 'bulb' won't have any water in it, or shouldn't so you shouldn't get air in it.

I'm assuming you mean the housing, but even so I'd still be supprised. If you get an arc lamp from a cinema projector wet it will explode, so I would be double checking with another dealer on the sly if you can.

Chris.G · 29-06-2006, 14:26

Thought there was a recall / fix for this ???

octaviarsman · 29-06-2006, 15:34

It should be a sealed unit like mentioned before. I dont have any condenstation in mine, but my car doesnt live outside during the night.

The zenons on my bmw sometimes had a little misting condensation when they had been on for a bit when it was cold outside.

Never had anything excessive though!

I would be tempted to ring Skoda Customer service and tell them you arent happy and you want it sorting - if they agree then you dealer should just do the job

dstev2000 · 29-06-2006, 20:42

I don't think there should be any moisture in the lamp unless a seal has been compromised. Do you have any chips/cracks on the plastic cover that could let rain in?

The xenon gas discharge effect won't cause any sort of condensation either.

Have you tried a search of the forum to see if this has come up before?

If the condensation is at the bottom of the light fitting it might also affect halogen lights too.

scowlsandgrowls · 30-06-2006, 23:07

I don't leave the car outside - I garage it and its only 3 months old.

I did contact skoda uk as the dealer said it was normal I wasn't convinced. Their reply was:

With regards to condensation on xenon headlights, misted up headlights
> (without visible condensed water drops caused by moisture ingression)
> are natural and permissible from the viewpoint of the headlamp design.
>
> The vent holes in the headlight body provide natural ventilation during
> operation. However, the speed and the time of demisting depends on the
> current atmospheric pressure, the temperature and the relative humidity
> of the environment.

Organist · 01-07-2006, 10:14

Having hasd a xenon Hid equipped car before, I would suggest that this is quite normal. This is mainly because the lamp source does not get nearly as hot as an incandecent lamp in a conventional headlight. Remember that an Hid lamp consumes less than 35 watts, and is much more efficient at turning the electrical input into light and not heat. Therefore there is less heat in the lamp unit to evaporate the condensation. You could just check that the rubber vent tubes at the back of the headlamp are not pinched though. This would not allow such efficient equalisation within the lamp unit with regaqrd to temperature and humidity etc.

Lummox · 01-07-2006, 22:05

There is a recall on some headlights to cap the front vent hole.

scowlsandgrowls · 01-07-2006, 23:47

how does one know which headlights are being recalled?

Lummox · 02-07-2006, 13:17

Open your bonnet. In the corner of the headlight there may well be a rubber bent pipe, or at least a tube that sticks out.

Have a look up this tube with a torch, if its blanked its ok. If its open it should be sealed up. But your dealer will be able to tell you if its due the recall.

10-05-2006, 18:44	#1
scowlsandgrowls Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SOUTH EAST UK Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Condensation in Zenons After rain there is a small amount of condensation at the bottom on the headlamps which after time disappears. My dealer says that this is normal but if it becomes excessive then it is not. Is what my dealer saying correct or is the dealer just trying to avoid a warranty claim? If Ok at what point does the condensation become abnormal?

10-05-2006, 23:00	#2
GAFF Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 5,770 Thanks: 25 Thanked 65 Times in 63 Posts	Re: Condensation in Zenons I did notice a bit in mine at the start but havn't really noticed it since. I could be wrong but I would have thought there shouldn't be any, its a sealed unit. I'd be interested to hear of any updates with it. __________________ GAFF Briskoda Ireland Events, Meets & Pictures.....Race Blue Octavia MkII vRS.....Old Octavia MkI vRS

29-06-2006, 13:56	#3
Stuart Warren Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Condensation in Zenons It may have something to do with the fact that Xenon lamps are gas filled (when lamps are on the gas burns giving the blueish tinge). Perhaps when the humidity outside the lamp gets to a certain level the gas in the lamp causes the condensation. Am not certain but just a thought.

29-06-2006, 14:09	#4
cheezemonkhai Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 14,723 Thanks: 91 Thanked 412 Times in 383 Posts	Re: Condensation in Zenons I wouldn't have thought there should be any liquid in there. The gas in the light 'bulb' won't have any water in it, or shouldn't so you shouldn't get air in it. I'm assuming you mean the housing, but even so I'd still be supprised. If you get an arc lamp from a cinema projector wet it will explode, so I would be double checking with another dealer on the sly if you can. __________________ Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.

29-06-2006, 14:26	#5
Chris.G Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London Posts: 1,206 Thanks: 30 Thanked 27 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Condensation in Zenons Thought there was a recall / fix for this ???

29-06-2006, 15:34	#6
octaviarsman Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: preston Posts: 215 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Condensation in Zenons It should be a sealed unit like mentioned before. I dont have any condenstation in mine, but my car doesnt live outside during the night. The zenons on my bmw sometimes had a little misting condensation when they had been on for a bit when it was cold outside. Never had anything excessive though! I would be tempted to ring Skoda Customer service and tell them you arent happy and you want it sorting - if they agree then you dealer should just do the job

29-06-2006, 20:42	#7
dstev2000 Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Back in the Green Posts: 3,842 Thanks: 38 Thanked 152 Times in 138 Posts	Re: Condensation in Zenons I don't think there should be any moisture in the lamp unless a seal has been compromised. Do you have any chips/cracks on the plastic cover that could let rain in? The xenon gas discharge effect won't cause any sort of condensation either. Have you tried a search of the forum to see if this has come up before? If the condensation is at the bottom of the light fitting it might also affect halogen lights too. __________________ MY08 L&K: Black-Estate-Diesel-Sunset Glass-MFD2-W8 Interior light-Colour coded door strips-LED sidelights and Puddle lights-VAG-COM fettled-Lovely! SWMBO's: MY08 vRS TDI - Standard

30-06-2006, 23:07	#8
scowlsandgrowls Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SOUTH EAST UK Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Condensation in Zenons I don't leave the car outside - I garage it and its only 3 months old. I did contact skoda uk as the dealer said it was normal I wasn't convinced. Their reply was: With regards to condensation on xenon headlights, misted up headlights > (without visible condensed water drops caused by moisture ingression) > are natural and permissible from the viewpoint of the headlamp design. > > The vent holes in the headlight body provide natural ventilation during > operation. However, the speed and the time of demisting depends on the > current atmospheric pressure, the temperature and the relative humidity > of the environment.

01-07-2006, 10:14	#9
Organist Briskodian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southampton, England Posts: 700 Thanks: 9 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Condensation in Zenons Having hasd a xenon Hid equipped car before, I would suggest that this is quite normal. This is mainly because the lamp source does not get nearly as hot as an incandecent lamp in a conventional headlight. Remember that an Hid lamp consumes less than 35 watts, and is much more efficient at turning the electrical input into light and not heat. Therefore there is less heat in the lamp unit to evaporate the condensation. You could just check that the rubber vent tubes at the back of the headlamp are not pinched though. This would not allow such efficient equalisation within the lamp unit with regaqrd to temperature and humidity etc.

01-07-2006, 22:05	#10
Lummox U18 Automotive Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 21,805 Thanks: 22 Thanked 658 Times in 554 Posts	Re: Condensation in Zenons There is a recall on some headlights to cap the front vent hole. __________________ Unit 18 Automotive Services now open Servicing, repairs, modifications you name it we do it. Cupra console bushes at special price, PM for a very competitive quote.

01-07-2006, 23:47	#11
scowlsandgrowls Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SOUTH EAST UK Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Condensation in Zenons how does one know which headlights are being recalled?

02-07-2006, 13:17	#12
Lummox U18 Automotive Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 21,805 Thanks: 22 Thanked 658 Times in 554 Posts	Re: Condensation in Zenons Open your bonnet. In the corner of the headlight there may well be a rubber bent pipe, or at least a tube that sticks out. Have a look up this tube with a torch, if its blanked its ok. If its open it should be sealed up. But your dealer will be able to tell you if its due the recall. __________________ Unit 18 Automotive Services now open Servicing, repairs, modifications you name it we do it. Cupra console bushes at special price, PM for a very competitive quote.

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