Moisture in the headlights 2002

Shadetreeme · #1 11-23-2004, 09:15 AM

I replaced my headlight bulbs and am having trouble with moisture getting inside. The headlights don't have any cracks or have not been dropped. I had removed all the moisture before I used 3M weather strip ashesive on the dust covers. I replaced the dust covers. And Days later STILL the moisture has made its way back! I have more moisture inside the driver side Lens than the passenger side. Due to the air intake vent. Any suggestions?

bermis519 · #2 11-25-2004, 11:46 AM

I have the same problem with my headlight on the drivers side. It's full of moisture. There is a little hole on the back of it thats open. I'm almost sure there was some kind of a rubber stopper on it and it fell off. I took it off the car and brought it in the house to dry out. Then I put silicone over the hole and I haven't had a problem since.

Let me knw,
mike

Shadetreeme · #3 11-29-2004, 08:43 AM

bermis519
Thank you for your input. I will try this ASAP.

Shadetreeme · #4 01-05-2005, 04:01 PM

Blow dried the moisture out. Saw the rubber plug it is still in tact in both lights. I 3m adhesived it in just in case any air leakage in both lights. After THREE days it started little by little now full blown moisture again! I am convinced the moisture is coming in through the the wire harness. I will try to plug up the tiny holes of the harness that don't have wire terminal in them. Maybe that will work.

blazee · #5 01-05-2005, 04:12 PM

May be a dumb question, but are you sure you put the new headlight in tight. It may be a different style for 02 but my 96 has a lock ring that holds the bulb and the harness in place and if you're not careful it will go on crooked and feel tight but still allow moisture in.

Shadetreeme · #6 01-05-2005, 04:18 PM

my 02 has the 3 bulbs that are press and twist in. None of them are miss aligned. and on the outer housing there are three dust covers that I replaced and have recently started to use 3M plastic rubber adhesive. to seal the dust covers to the back of the light housing. Are you saying that the bulbs are air tight when set correctly?

blazee · #7 01-05-2005, 04:43 PM

First let me say that I am not familiar with the new generation impalas, mine is a 96. It has one bulb on each side 9004s which have the bright and dim in one bulb and yes they seal when installed correctly (discovered that when I got moisture for putting the lockringon crooked.

That being said all headlight assemblies, regardless of the car, must be air tight to prevent moisture. The moisture is caused by condensation resulting from a temperature difference between the outside and inside air. When you replace the headlights air gets in the assembly, this air contains water vapor, when the headlight is on the temperature on the outside is cooler, when the warm air inside contacts the cooler surface it deposits it's water vapor in the form of moisture, this is normal and can't be avoided, BUT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MOISTURE TO BE SEEN OR CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS.

Your problem is a result of an assembly that is not air tight. Yours does what I described above But being that it is not air tight new air(containing more water vapor) comes in to the assembly and the process is repeated depositing more moisture,....and then again and again....until eventually there is so much moisture that it coulds the housing.

Shadetreeme · #8 01-05-2005, 04:51 PM

Thanks for the post. My Hi lights are 9005 and Lows 9006. both individually twist in mount. Then dust caps close each chamber. I will take them apart tonight and try the process again. Maybe I will have luck. I have not had any type of damage in the front end of the car. Thanks again for your insight.

Shadetreeme · #9 01-07-2005, 02:38 PM

I have removed the moisture in both headlights one last time. To see if I didn't insert the bulbs correctly. So far, so good, for now. I'll let you know. My next solution will be a Sledgehammer.

blazee · #10 01-07-2005, 03:10 PM

Good Luck! If that doesn't work you can always buy some stylish aftermarket ones.

Shadetreeme · #11 01-07-2005, 03:16 PM

Any suggestions to a site?

blazee · #12 01-09-2005, 04:28 PM

Not really. you can just do a search and should be able to find some. That is a little extreme though there shouldn't be any reason that you can't get yours working right again.

Shadetreeme · #13 01-10-2005, 02:06 PM

It has to be a defective light housing. I have noticed some little spaces that go from the front of the light to the back within the light housing. It couldn't possiblely get pressurized with those little spaces not sealed. These spaces are really in there. I can't seal them. I will contine to look for an auto salvage yard deal.

blazee · #14 01-10-2005, 06:31 PM

Before you buy any, look and see if they are made like yours. I could be wrong I am not real familar with the setup on the newer ones, as I said I have a 96, but I have owned and worked on lots of cars and I have absolutely never heard of any headlight system not being airtight.
I would hate for you to waste money because I gave you bad advice.

Impala_Chick_2002 · #15 01-11-2005, 01:33 AM

I have a 2002 impala, and I have the same problem. I purchased a new headlight altogether, it cost me 68 dollars, not bad considering the oem parts normally are over 200, and the part I got is barely used and oem. I also got some new hub caps for it. The ones that you see on new impala's, the cop cars. I got new plate holders, and I am working on a tint job.
I hope that your problem stops. I was worried about corosion, and that.

IMPALA CHICK 2002

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