[Speedy Gal]

I just noticed last Friday there was condensation in my headlights. I remembered dealer told me when I took my car in for first service last Oct that they drilled holes to "prevent" condensation in headlhight.

Is this issue fixed it the 07 & 08 Elise? Does anyone know how to prevent it from happening. I have read some threats and they said just turn the light on and dry them out. Another other fix?

 

[BallerStatus08]

The holes should do the trick as far as I know, might have to make them bigger.

 

[swede]

My 07 gets condensation on the left side frequently.

TADTM

 

[frostylocks]

i have this problem too.

i have not done the greenwire mod to disable the daytime running lights. that will probably help.

i have noticed that it condenses more with aftermarket silverstar bulbs than with factory H7's.

i had installed better silverstar H7 types. one burnt out. replaced it with the factory one i still had just temporarily.

the factory bulb side fogs less than the better bulb side now. i presume cause of more internal heat generated from the better bulb? :shrug:

 

[Rhythmaker]

i have this problem too on my left side indicator housing. Drilling holes huh? Seems like it would make it harder to keep clean on the inside. Notice any issues with dust build up?

 

[RENDERMAN]

I don't get it...

I really don't understand how Lotus is tackling this problem. Condensation is a leak problem so how making a hole bigger helps condensation is beyond me. i say change the main seal and the three small rubber seals around the three bolts that hold the lens to the clam...

 

[Dave]

The headlights are unsealed (vs the sealed requirement for other cars in the USA.) In fact, Lotus had to attain a NHTSA exemption in order to import the car (along with no bumper.) Most of our cars get this fogging from time to time, and the best way I've found to quickly remove is using a blow dryer on the lens. More here under 111R. Just one of those annoyances we have to live with I guess.

 

[rcollum]

Condensation

My '07 Elise has this in both lights, all the time. I used to religiously use a blowdrier on them as soon as I got home. I did this for the first month and a half I owned the car. While it cleared the condensation after about 10 minutes, it fogged up just as much on the next trip.

I was at a Lotus get-together over the weekend, and I took care to look at the other 8 Elises/Exiges, and I saw no condensation on the others - just mine -

 

[Spudboy]

I really don't understand how Lotus is tackling this problem. Condensation is a leak problem so how making a hole bigger helps condensation is beyond me. i say change the main seal and the three small rubber seals around the three bolts that hold the lens to the clam...

The hole is really a drain hole, not a vent hole. It's designed to let water out. Unless you can somehow make a perfect seal between the housing and the clam, and purge the residual moisture from the housing, and figure out a way to allow for expansion when the bulbs heat the air in the now sealed housing, you're not going to fix it that way.

 

[Speedy Gal]

It's embarrassing to drive such a cool car with water in headlights

I guess there is no permanent fix.

 

[Speedy Gal]

i have this problem too on my left side indicator housing. Drilling holes huh? Seems like it would make it harder to keep clean on the inside. Notice any issues with dust build up?

It does get quite dusty inside the car; but it's an easy fix compare to condensation.

 

[RENDERMAN]

The hole is really a drain hole, not a vent hole. It's designed to let water out. Unless you can somehow make a perfect seal between the housing and the clam, and purge the residual moisture from the housing, and figure out a way to allow for expansion when the bulbs heat the air in the now sealed housing, you're not going to fix it that way.

Thank you sir.

I guess there is no permanent fix.

Make the best of it, You can always tell people you're the real James Bond

 

[Appleseed]

my 08 does it too, (with the factory bulbs)... just figured that it is something that we have to live with.. ...like the sidemarkers falling off?

 

[Speedy Gal]

Thank you sir.



Make the best of it, You can always tell people you're the real James Bond

Except I am a girl

 

[RENDERMAN]

Except I am a girl

Oops, Just say you're the blond in the movie "For your Eyes only"

 

[ransackman]

Drilling holes?! How Awesome is that, seems something Clarkson would do.
No weather seals?

 

[Doctor Headlight]

Hello Guy's and Gal's... Doctor Headlight offers a system that guarantees to remove 100% of any condensation or internal HID haze issues you might be experiencing inside your Lotus headlights. The job is backed by a written lifetime REPLACEMENT warranty.

 

[Illumiloti]

the best way I've found to quickly remove is using a blow dryer on the lens.

Confused. Do you mean to blow the hot air on the outside of the lens, basicly just heating the lens up, or blow air inside somehow?

 

[Abe]

Lotus ought to do a better job and thought they had already but for the record, condensation isn't all that uncommon. I know BMW has had issues with this for a long time now as well as almost every other manufacturer. :shrug:

 

[vincesf]

Has anyone come up with a fix for this?

vincesf