If driving with fogged or dirty car headlights sounds like a good idea to you, then be prepared for the unexpected whenever you hit the road – or a tree – at night. That can spell a serious incident. The longer moisture and other goo is left to sit inside the headlamp casing, the more likely the lights are to burn out. Burnt-out bulbs can also spell a ticket from police if you’re on the road before you notice a light is out of commission. Ultimately, however, fixing the small problem of fogged headlights is a simple affair.
When car headlights go bad
Water will discover its way into the inner recesses of your headlights, reports Popular Mechanics. Cooler temperatures produce the miracle of condensation, and all your car’s surfaces will be subject on the wet touch. That exact same cool moisture gets into the headlamp mechanism, which is vented to compensate for pressure differences so that cracking does not occur. Typically this is not an issue, however; the morning sun burns off the moisture. But if it doesn’t – let’s say your auto is parked in a shady spot or parking structure – some action may be necessary.
Fogged car headlights, prepare to be banished
If you are a Grey Poupon-style auto owner, then just turn on the headlight defogger. But let’s assume you are like the rest of us.
Right out of the gate, search for a Technical Service Bulletin for car, says Popular Mechanics. This handy little doc will unveil possible upgrades, such as whether there’s an upgrade to your factory headlight fixture, which is probably cheap and no frills.
Is there an upgrade? If not, it’s easy to check this on your own. Do not worry about a couple of droplets. A car trip with headlights for a couple of hours should provide the necessary heat for evaporation – and please… please… be sure to drive two hours Each time condensation occurs, even if it disrupts healthy sleep patterns. It’s a good excuse to take the scenic route. Take out the fixture if there’s lots of water in there. Watch for mud, wasps and spiders while you are in there clearing up. Dump out any water and bug genocide backwash, and swab it all down with alcohol. Then let it dry in a well-ventilated place, preferably with some sun, for a couple of hours. Last however not least, park your automobile facing south from now on for maximum sun exposure in the northern hemisphere, says Popular Mechanics.
Further reading
Popular Mechanics
popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/repair-questions/how-to-prevent-foggy-headlights
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