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Racorman's avatar
Racorman
Explorer
Dec 01, 2015

Headlight Assembly Filling With Water Question

I’ve got a 2012 Itasca Class A and my right headlight assembly is slowly filling with condensation. I recently had my motor replaced by Ford and the dealership had to remove the entire front end panel to remove and replace the V-10. I’m wondering if they may have damaged the housing which could be allowing water to enter the housing and cause the problem.

My question is, has anyone had a similar problem with their headlights and any thoughts about the best way to remove the headlight assembly or perhaps just the clear lens?


  • DSDP Don wrote:
    "Racorman".....Your type of headlights have twist lock bulb sockets, just like a car, with a foam or rubber gasket. You need to look behind the light and make sure the bulbs have their gaskets and they're locked properly in place.

    This seems like a pretty good suggestion. Maybe since you just had the engine work done they didn't get the gasket back in place. How hard is it to pull the headlight assembly? Would be nice to be able to pull it out and use a hair dryer to dry out the inside of the headlight. Then put the bulb back in making sure it's sealed correctly. Hopefully that's all it needs.
  • When all else fails you can drill a small hole in the bottom of the lens to let the water out and air in.
  • That looks like late model Toyota Tacoma lenses.
    If you remove one you can get the part number and google it, that will point you in the right direction to find a replacement.
    I would take DSDP Don's suggestion to check the bulb gaskets, that might be the culprit.
  • I'm in the automotive industry and do a lot of custom work, there's a bunch of guys that like the inside of there lens painted, most of them you can remove by microwaving it, theres youtube videos out there that can show you how to remove and reinstall works pretty good.
  • I've had the same problem with my CRV, fortunately Honda finally replaced it under warranty. They figured the housing was cracked or a faulty seal between the housing and clear lens.
    I was able to get the condensation out initially by taking the bulbs out and parked the vehicle facing into the sun on hot dry day, but that was only temporary. If the water/moisture came in when a bulb and seal were out, this could be a solution, but if the moisture is coming in through a break in the housing, that's a different story.

    The clear lens is permanently bonded to the housing, so do not even try to separate the lens from the housing. If you can remove the assembly, check for obvious breaks or pressure test for leaks and seal if you find one. To test, seal openings and blow air in and spray water on outside of housing and lens.
    If it was broken during the engine repair, nicely ask the dealer if they will replace. You may have to google numbers on the lens or call Winnebago to see where they purchased the assembly.

    Ken
  • "Racorman".....Your type of headlights have twist lock bulb sockets, just like a car, with a foam or rubber gasket. You need to look behind the light and make sure the bulbs have their gaskets and they're locked properly in place.
  • If possible return it to the dealer where it was repaired. Otherwise you can try to dry it out by removing the bulb and using a hair dryer on low heat. It apparently has a leak or crack somewhere. Good luck.