Originally posted by ElStry-pedBanana:
Originally posted by RogerB:
Wow. Three links, all full of BS.

What year is your car? That would help. The pre 98's are different than the 98+



Uhh... he's already taken care of?? and his is a 99 CSVT. The links, one in particular show exactly his three options. Reseal them by pulling them apart and then de-hazing them, deal with it, or buy new ones. There is nothing more to that.



The first link is to a post about fixing hazed headlights. Not moisture.

The second link includes no useful info, and some BS about drilling pre-98 headlights. Also a link to the de-hazing FAQ. Again, wrong problem.

The last link contains this bit of misinformation: "...this (condensation) will also cause yellowing and hazing, which inturn you will have to fix with a good plastic polish to remove and wet sand."

The same person also says that the seals on the headlight assembly are bad. (Correct) There's also a bit about cleaning them and resealing. (Also correct) So I take back my claim that it's all BS.

But, geesh, in the time it took you to search and post those three links, (2/3 of which were useless) you could have answered.

Worse, the misinformation is propogated, and bound to be passed on to the next round of newbies.

So, let's clear this up:

1. Condensation on the inside does not cause yellowing on the outside. Likewise, polishing the outside of your headlights will not cure water damage to the inside.

2. Pre-98 headlight assemblies are vented. If seals are bad, they might collect more water than usual, but a little condensation is normal under certain weather conditions. If water gets in but can't get out, check the vents first. They are little white "buttons" on the back of the housing, near the upper-outside corner of each housing. I tried sealing and such, and had no success until I figured out the vent was clogged. By then the headlight was ruined by water damage. Post 98s are different, obviously. I think the clear lens is easier to remove, and they are not vented.

Function before fashion. '96 Contour SE "Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998