Lights misting / fogging up / vapor / condensation / water

[Pepe]

Foggy Headlights

Corey, move this if you need to... couldn't find a specific post about this in anything Mk6 related in search.

On to the point...

With the beautiful weather last week, I've come back from holidays, driven my car for 2 days, then noticed both headlights fogging up on the inside of the lens' on the inner edge. Got about a 3rd of the way across the lens before eventually clearing up later in the day. I've never noticed this before, but this happened 2 days in a row last week.

So, anyone else noticed this on their Mk6 (mine's an R, so has the xenons)? If so, how'd you go with VW warranty on it? I'm sure if I RTFM, it would probably not tell me it's by design, so I assume a swapout of the headlight units would be necessary.

[T Go]

Happened in 1 of my headlights on my old Polo GTI after it rained heavily for the 1st time.
I took it back to the dealership and they replaced the whole unit under warranty.
It never happened again after that.

[Corey_R]

Corey, move this if you need to... couldn't find a specific post about this in anything Mk6 related in search.

Thanks mate. I've merged this thread with an existing one on this topic, and added it to the index thread. Most of the previous posts are about tail-lights or fog-lights, but the advice is similar.

Being that these are headlights though, I'd double check that the rubber caps which allow access to change the bulbs are still on firmly and haven't been dislodged by over-enthusiastic detailing or something
If that's not the case and if it were a new car, I'd say give it time for moisture to burn off. But since it's not, I'd say a trip to the dealer if it persists for too long

[Roddy]

Not on mine, thank goodness, but I have noticed on a two MK6's and quite a few MK5's the actual plastic of the headlight sort of 'fogging'...the plastic is going semi opaque in places. Looks a bit cheap. What would cause that do you reckon? Looked real close and it's definately 'in' the plastic...not on or under it.

Rgds
Rod

[Orrgazmo1986]

Foggy headlights golf r

Has this ever happened to anyone? Because of the amount of rain and wet weather we have been experiencing lately (Newcastle nsw) I came home today and noticed this.

[wai]

If memory serves me right, there is some mention of this in the owners manual.

I have a MY11 Caddy Maxi Life, and have seen this on my headlights.

[Kwoka]

Water leak in headlight

Hi Guys

I just want some advice on what course of action to take. Here's the story.

Two weeks ago while i was driving i received 2 error messages. One was telling me my drivers side light was out, the other to say the AFS isn't functioning properly. When i got home i noticed that there was water getting in the drivers side headlight as it was all fogged up inside.

My car was due to its 75k service. Booked and took my car in for service two days ago and advised them the problem with the headlight. They had to leave my car overnight to diagnose the issue. When i picked up the car yesterday they advised me water was getting in due to normal "wear and tear" of the seal and wanted me to pay 3k as i needed to replace the whole drivers side headlight including AFS module. When i heard the amount i thought it was just ridiculous. My car is out of warranty by 1.5 years so i would need to pay out of my pocket if i wanted to get it fixed by VW. I cannot believe they are blame it it on wear and tear. The car is meant to be weatherproof and i'm pretty sure the climate is worse in Europe and in it's home town Germany. Service guy told me it depends on each individual and how they look after the car. I told them i service my car on time, it's parked undercover all day, i wash and keep my car clean. They them begin to blame it on the car cleaning products damaging the seal, allowing the seal to erode away. I also haven't been in any accidents.

I'm just very dissatisfied with the wear and tear answer. If this happens due to "normal wear and tear", that means every 3-4 years they expect me to pay 3k which is unacceptable.

I am a loyal and avocate when it comes to VW. I have owned a VW ever since i knew how to drive. I owned a MK4 Golf for 8 years and never had any "wear and tear issues".

What do you guys suggest me do? I went to JKU site and i can get 2 headlights for 2.2k or the other alternative is go to a wreckers.

Please advise

[brad]

Ask them precisely what wear & tear they mean & how many other vehicles they've seen with it. Wear & tear implies a commonality among like types or something that you would expect to happen.

Also ask precisely what actions you could have taken to prevent the wear & tear and where in the owners manual it says to do this.

I'd ask them to escalate it to VW and I'd also contact VW Customer Care. While you may not get 100% contribution to the repair, you should get a substantial subsidy.

You might also have a look or talk to the ACCC regarding statutory warranty and what a reasonable person would expect a headlight to last.

[Kwoka]

Thanks for the reply brad!

I gave VW Customer Care a call yesterday they also advised me to go back to the service and get a full detailed report on what's causing the leak. Though they also advised me of "wear and tear". They said they would only assist if it is due to manufacturer issue e.g. seal wasn't put on properly etc.

[AdamD]

They said they would only assist if it is due to manufacturer issue e.g. seal wasn't put on properly etc.

Given that you've experienced moisture in the headlights since day one (yours is the first post in this thread, from 2010, the day after you picked your car up), there's clearly evidence of moisture getting into the headlight throughout the vehicle's life - since the seals were brand-new and before you started using special products to clean the car presumably. I'd be using that as evidence when next bringing the issue up with the dealer.

[klokan747]

I had exactly the same problem 6 weeks ago.

VW Castle Hill diagnosed the problem and told me the cost would be about $2000. They put together a report for VW Australia and went into bat on my behalf as my car is also 1.5 years out of warranty. In the meantime I replaced the AFS module (see other thread) for about $130 which fixed the AFS error but still I was worried about the how the moisture got in.

VW Australia finally came to the party and replaced the drivers side light in its entirety as a "good faith" gesture and gave me back my good AFS module.

Hope this helps, there obviously are a few failing out there after a few years so they surely know about it.

[Kwoka]

Given that you've experienced moisture in the headlights since day one (yours is the first post in this thread, from 2010, the day after you picked your car up), there's clearly evidence of moisture getting into the headlight throughout the vehicle's life - since the seals were brand-new and before you started using special products to clean the car presumably. I'd be using that as evidence when next bringing the issue up with the dealer.

Hi Adam, i also just noticed that i was the first to post in thread. I called up service centre and waiting for them to email me the diagnosis they did. I will have to call them again tomorrow.

[Kwoka]

I had exactly the same problem 6 weeks ago.

VW Castle Hill diagnosed the problem and told me the cost would be about $2000. They put together a report for VW Australia and went into bat on my behalf as my car is also 1.5 years out of warranty. In the meantime I replaced the AFS module (see other thread) for about $130 which fixed the AFS error but still I was worried about the how the moisture got in.

VW Australia finally came to the party and replaced the drivers side light in its entirety as a "good faith" gesture and gave me back my good AFS module.

Hope this helps, there obviously are a few failing out there after a few years so they surely know about it.

Hey klokan747, how long did the whole process take with vw australia etc? Did you contact vw customer care?

[klokan747]

I just went through my emails to check, the whole process took about 2 weeks to get an appropriate answer from VW. I rang Customer Care but they told me to go through the dealer at this stage which I did. The dealer took copies of my completed service log book and filed a report and request to VW Australia. Initially they said no but when I asked for their response in writing and the reason they were denying my claim they soon came to the party.

I cannot fault the customer service at all from Castle Hill VW in particular Shane Blackwood one of the service managers there. He took my concerns on board and went into fight on my behalf and didn't stop until I got a desirable outcome.

[Kwoka]

Just an update, VW are replacing my headlight free of charge after i contacted the service manager from VW North Shore.

Thanks to klokan747 for the help and advice!