SC300 Water Lights

December 23, 2005 10:25 AM

LexusSC300Filter: The headlight on my 1993 Lexus SC300 is slowly filling up with water. How can I fix this without buying a new light?

Is it possible to change the gasket on the light or is there another way to prevent droplets of water from forming on the inside of the clear plastic headlight surround. This only happens on one side.

I know that I could buy a new headlight assembly, but I'm hoping to not have to spend the $300+ dollars when the light functions well.

posted by richardhay to travel & transportation (4 comments total)

I had this on a Dodge Neon (ok, a different class of car) and took it to the dealer. The dealer said replacing the parts would be expensive and might not prevent the problem from recurring. Instead, and for free, he drilled a very small hole in near the bottom of the clear plastic cover. The droplets drained out, and you couldn't see the hole unless you were looking for it.
posted by Mid at 10:29 AM on December 23, 2005

Yep just drill a small hole in the bottom back side of the light housing, any water that gets in can get out. You might even want to see if there is a hole already in the housing that has just been blocked with gunk. The fogs on my van have a factory hole.
posted by Mitheral at 10:59 AM on December 23, 2005

All the composite headlights (opposed to the old school sealed beam type) I've ever known are "forever" parts, as in, they don't make replacement parts for them, only replacement headlights. It should be noted that some of the cheaper aftermarket headlights that pop up on eBay may FIT, but as I found out, don't always have matching adjustement and mouting hardware, which was a big thumbs-down for me. If Toyota makes a replacement gasket kit for your headlights, I'd be amazed.

Anyway, with that being said, it's possible (and popular, even, in the aftermarket tuner world) with a lot of headlights to separate the lens away from the rest of the housing, allowing you to clean/dry/paint/whatever the otherwise untouchable inside of the housing. A common trick for actually getting the lens off is to use dental floss, fishing line, etc. to gently saw away the old seal until the lens is no longer affixed (the hardest part is starting somewhere, especially if your headlight housing is more round , and lacks defined corners). After whatever needed doing inside is done, and all is clean and dry, using a steady, modest bead of RTV or other (clear, of course) silicone sealant, you create a new seal where the lens sits in the housing, then finally affix the lens back on firmly. Give it a day to cure at room temperature, and viola, a "rebuild" headlight.

I had a problem a year or two ago with condensation in one of my headlights, and did this very DIY myself, with no problems. No condensation now, and I saved myself $160 for a new headlight housing.
posted by porntips guzzardo at 11:12 AM on December 23, 2005

FWIW, our 1998 Volvo has glass lenses that are held in place with metal clips and are designed to be replaced in the event of damage. My 1995 BMW is, I believe, designed the same way. Cars with plastic lenses on the front in my experience are more likely to be modular units and not designed for repair.

IMHO, it would be worth asking the guy / gal who works at the parts counter of a Lexus dealer service dept. if the (presumably) glass lenses on your car are availalble as individual parts. If so, great - now you can start looking on eBay. If not, then you can get the part number for the assembly and start shopping around. If you're not comfortable with DIY stuff (mis-aimed headlights are a PITA for the driver, and dangerous for everyone else)

Oh, and maybe these guys can help. Good luck.
posted by ZakDaddy at 8:04 AM on December 24, 2005