Lights misting / fogging up / vapor / condensation / water

[Kwoka]

Hi All

Picked up my GTI yesterday and it's a great car. However i noticed that when i came home from driving in the rain that my front headlights were all misted/fogged up. Was wondering if anyone has that problem and is it anything too serious? I have the xenons headlamps. Thanks

[Maverick]

Hi All

Picked up my GTI yesterday and it's a great car. However i noticed that when i came home from driving in the rain that my front headlights were all misted/fogged up. Was wondering if anyone has that problem and is it anything too serious? I have the xenons headlamps. Thanks

It should be fine, take some photos and keep an eye on it but it should clear up and only under some rare circumstances will it occur after that.

[maca]

Certain Mazda's (RX8 in particular) have this problem in their taillights. Doesn't this mean moisture is getting in somehow?

[Troy Boy]

Yes I have the same problem with my Pirelli. Is this a unusual or common for MKV and perhaps MKVI

[maca]

Yes I have the same problem with my Pirelli. Is this a unusual or common for MKV and perhaps MKVI

I haven't had an issue with either sets of my Mk5 headlights, or either sets of my taillights.

[mobster]

GTI front headlights misting/fogging up

I also have the xenons on a mk6 but haven't had this problem. she is usually garaged at night so no frost. I'd talk to the service dept about it.

[Corey_R]

I'd do what Maverick has suggested. Take a photo of it, and then wait and see whether it crops up again.

Since this is a brand new car, this could just be condensation buildup from the moisture that was in the air during manufacturing, or during the long ship journey, etc. It does not seem unreasonable to me that the heat produced from using the Xenon's for the first time would cause the fogging up, especially due to the wet and cold weather we're having right now.

If the issue keeps reoccuring, then fine. But I think anyone who calls or suggests to call the dealer at this point is jumping the gun

[MIRSAD]

Something about fogged headlights from that German website:

Google Translate

[sharkablue]

Only had GTI for 5 days and there are already issues....

As the title states.

I have noticed that my rear left light cluster with the indicator and brake lights has water vapor in there. I was thinking that it was just due to a cold morning a couple of days ago, but it has not disappeared.

I have emailed my dealer and Im going to organise a time to have the light cluster looked into.

Has anyone else had this happen?

Really not impressed.

[hooba]

Wow, reading the title of the thread I was expecting something more serious or at least a number of issues.

Sorry to hear about it, however going by the the nature of the problem it should be a real easy fix. How's the rest of the car? Does it put a smile on your face?

[AdamD]

I have noticed that my rear left light cluster with the indicator and brake lights has water vapor in there. I was thinking that it was just due to a cold morning a couple of days ago, but it has not disappeared.

It's possible that a small amount of water leaked past the seals when the car was being washed and detailed pre delivery?

As far as I know the tail light clusters are sealed self-contained units; the dealer may just replace the entire cluster for you if the seal is faulty. I wouldn't be too concerned.

[sharkablue]

Wow, reading the title of the thread I was expecting something more serious or at least a number of issues.

Sorry to hear about it, however going by the the nature of the problem it should be a real easy fix. How's the rest of the car? Does it put a smile on your face?

Yes it does. However having water droplets on the insides of my lights just makes the excitement wear thin. on a 50K car you do not expect water droplets to be forming anywhere near electrical components.

So as far as im concerned, it is rubbish and needs to be replaced.

Very annoyed by it.

[Corey_R]

As the title states.

I have noticed that my rear left light cluster with the indicator and brake lights has water vapor in there. I was thinking that it was just due to a cold morning a couple of days ago, but it has not disappeared.

I merged your thread into an existing thread on the same topic. Please try and use the existing threads. If you can't find an existing thread, please at least give your thread a useful and meaningful name which relates to the specific topic/problem/issue. I appreciate that you've just spent considerable money on a new car, but this isn't a personalised service where everything is about the customer - it's a community forum, and as such things need to be organised.

Anyway - as you can see from the responses previously in this thread, sometimes due to whatever reason with new cars, moisture can be within the "sealed light enclosures" on new cars. Take a photo and record the date, and if it continues or comes back, then go to your dealer and show them the photo and the taillights (if it still has the vapor by the time you get to them). However, it's likely that it will "burn away" and not return.

[sharkablue]

I merged your thread into an existing thread on the same topic. Please try and use the existing threads. If you can't find an existing thread, please at least give your thread a useful and meaningful name which relates to the specific topic/problem/issue. I appreciate that you've just spent considerable money on a new car, but this isn't a personalised service where everything is about the customer - it's a community forum, and as such things need to be organised.

Anyway - as you can see from the responses previously in this thread, sometimes due to whatever reason with new cars, moisture can be within the "sealed light enclosures" on new cars. Take a photo and record the date, and if it continues or comes back, then go to your dealer and show them the photo and the taillights (if it still has the vapor by the time you get to them). However, it's likely that it will "burn away" and not return.

Thanks for that Coreying. I noticed this on Saturday and now its Tuesday and it has not disappeared or seemed to have changed. I have been driving around alot at night, so the lights have been on. Which I would have thought would have heated the interior of that light cluster up and the water droplets would disappear.... they havent.

Im thinking of even getting a hair dryer and leaving it aimed at the light cluster for a good 30mins or so to see if this changes it.

[Corey_R]

I'd be careful of leaving a hair dryer pointed at it for 30 minutes. Sunlight on a semi-warm day would be enough... if it doesn't clear up on its own, then get a dealer to look at it.