Water in Headlight

[OverlandMethod]

Recently after rains one of my headlights collects water inside it while the other stays dry.

You can see the condensation built up inside the passenger side headlight in the pictures below while the driver's side headlight is clean.

Any ideas what could cause this or how to fix?

 

[Nuke]

Hopefully you are within warranty, as the headlight modules are expensive! Sadly, even the bulbs are not replaceable, as is the trend on many vehicles.

 

[EOD Guy]

Def worth a trip to the dealers for a warranty claim, as Nuke said "Expensive"!

There is probably a crack/split/fracture in the assembly and when the light is on and heats up the air inside the housing and is forced out........ when the lights are off, and the housing cools down, it creates a vacuum drawing moisture into the housing. Almost impossible to get all the moisture out and then seal the fracture.

 

[Nuke]

Let us hope it is a manufacturing defect, not external damage...

 

[EOD Guy]

I have had luck with drilling an inconspicuous vent hole, putting the assy in a carboard box with a 100 watt light bulb, letting it sit for a week or so, after the moisture was gone, I applied clear RTV around every seam/joint and the hole I drilled. Sometimes it worked and sometimes I had to let it bake for months. I tried using an oven on low heat once, but that ended up warping the housing and ending up getting another one off ebay.

 

[Nuke]

I have had luck with drilling an inconspicuous vent hole, putting the assy in a carboard box with a 100 watt light bulb, letting it sit for a week or so, after the moisture was gone, I applied clear RTV around every seam/joint and the hole I drilled. Sometimes it worked and sometimes I had to let it bake for months. I tried using an oven on low heat once, but that ended up warping the housing and ending up getting another one off ebay.

Possibly put it in a sealed container along with some desiccant? For the roughly $1500 they cost, worth a try. However, as mentioned, hopefully not damaged, and under warranty...

 

[OverlandMethod]

I was gonna take it in later in the week until I got a headlight malfunction error.

This thing is cooked.

Going first thing Monday morning.

 

[EOD Guy]

Hopefully it'll be covered under warranty.

 

[APIOQM]

I couldn’t comprehend how that would not be covered under warranty. Undoubtedly a manufacturing defect.

 

[Nuke]

I couldn’t comprehend how that would not be covered under warranty. Undoubtedly a manufacturing defect.

Struck by a stone or other road debris?

 

[APIOQM]

Struck by a stone or other road debris?

You would see impact damage if that were the case. If there isn’t impact damage, how can Toyota prove that it isn’t a defect?

 

[OverlandMethod]

They checked it out. No arguments, ifs, or butts. Covered under warranty 100%. Service rep ordered a new unit and he said they should have it this week. Maybe even tomorrow.

P.S. The high beam is flickering like a dying light bulb. The rep said that they don't even know or care what's causing the leak.

 

[Nuke]

I am amazed the part was readily available...

 

[EOD Guy]

I'd ask if you could keep the old headlight as a souvenir, cut down and modified it would make a great wall hanger!

 

[OverlandMethod]

I am amazed the part was readily available...

Totally. I was thinking they'll most likely cover everything under warranty but then I'd have to wait a month or three on the part. But next day? For a major Land Cruiser part? Hopefully I'm not jinxing it.