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Headlamp Housing - Condensation

jomuehlbauer

By jomuehlbauer
in Troubleshooting & Recalls

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MotoMedic
MotoMedic

When I removed my headlights and mounted my HID ballasts to them, I didn't see any vents or openings. In fact the round cap to access the bulb has a rubber gasket to make it seal when closed.   If t

EastCoast HD
EastCoast HD

Skeet, I think your on the right track.   I know I probably sound like a broken record by now, but I'll repeat what I've been saying all along.   The headlight housings require a proper venting

jomuehlbauer
jomuehlbauer

Also, new to the site. Here is my truck so far.   Crew cab, standard box, SLT, 20% tint on front sides, 20% over factory in rear slider.   This week - 6" oval side steps and color matched GM mud f

Posted Images

VMaxtastic Enthusiast

VMaxtastic

Posted
Posted

This actually went away on mine. Perhaps it is just moisture inside from when they were built..

  • 2 months later...
BGriffin9 Enthusiast

BGriffin9

Posted
Posted

Has anyone found a permanent fix to this or seen resolution by replacing the assembly? My 2015 HD is having this problem now too. This truck is turning into a headache too soon

  • 2 weeks later...
Dropsix Enthusiast

Dropsix

Posted
Posted

Woke up to a nice sunny morning today (picked up my brand new truck yesterday), and there was condensation in the headlights. I guess it was just the morning humidity this time of year.

 

I also snapped a pic yesterday and it seems that the LED's on the passenger side didn't come on. Next photo, they were on. Go figure

  • 1 month later...
GMVT14 New Member

GMVT14

Posted
Posted

New here and joined because of this issue. Does anyone know if the dealership will still replace the defective headlight if HID's have been installed? I put in a Morimoto kit and the passenger side headlight has a lot of moisture in it but the drivers side is fine. I had to drill through each bulb access cap to run the wires but they are sealed with a grommet.

redwngr Senior Enthusiast

redwngr

Posted
Posted

Has anyone found a permanent fix to this or seen resolution by replacing the assembly? My 2015 HD is having this problem now too. This truck is turning into a headache too soon

From GM Bulletin:

 

Lamp Condensation

 

A distinction is made between a lamp with condensation and a lamp with a water leak. Condensation appears in a lamp as very small droplets of water, a fine mist, or a white fog on the inside of the lens. It occurs when the air inside the lens reaches the “dew point.” This is the temperature at which the humidity in the air is cooled enough to become liquid. The most prevalent time of the year for fogging to occur is in the spring and fall.

 

Most exterior lamps on GM vehicles are designed to expel accumulated vapor through a vent system. Although the vent system operates at all times, it is most effective when the lamp is on and the vehicle is moving.

 

The amount of time required for the lamp to clear may vary from two to six hours. Customers with short commutes will experience a longer time to clear the lamp.

 

If these conditions are noted, advise the customer that replacing a lamp assembly may not correct this condition.

 

Typically, the condensation is located primarily in the lens corners (near the vents) and does not cover more than half of the lens surface. (Fig. 5) The condition should clear of moisture when the vehicle is parked in a dry environment, or when the vehicle is driven with the lights on.

 

F05-lamp-fogging.png

Fig 5

 

Water Leak

 

A water leak is evidenced by numerous drops of water in various sizes, collecting on the inside surface of the lamp lens after the vehicle has been exposed to rain or a car wash. (Fig. 6)

 

A water leak condition will cover more than half the surface of the lamp lens. In addition, there may be an accumulation of water in the bottom of the lamp assembly. This condition will not clear when the vehicle is parked in a dry environment, or when the vehicle is driven with the lights on.

 

F06-lamp-leak.png

Fig 6

 

Lamp Service Tips

 

When diagnosing or repairing a lamp for condensation or a leak:

• Do not replace lamps for fogging.

• Do not modify the lamp housing, such as drilling holes.

• Do not use the incorrect bulbs for the application, which may damage the housing and connector.

• Cold water in a car wash on a hot day may cause headlamp fogging.

• Use care when removing and installing lenses to prevent damage to the housing and mounting tabs.

 

For example, on the 2014-2015 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 trucks, when removing and installing the tail lamps, do not apply excessive pressure to the lamp lens using your thumbs. Use your palms to pull or push the lamp. Applying too much pressure on the lens can cause the housing to crack behind the reflector field of the lamp.

 

When servicing any exterior lighting assembly, be sure to transfer electrical connection seals to the new part. They are often on the body side of the harness connection, but may have stayed on the part being replaced. If not transferred to the new part, the connection may corrode due to water entry.

 

Use of Non-GM Lamps

 

Many aftermarket companies manufacture lamp assemblies that look very similar to the original equipment (OE). Non-OE lamps may be installed on vehicles as part of a collision repair.

 

If these lamps are holding moisture or the bulbs are inoperative due to corroded electrical connections, they are not covered by the New Vehicle Warranty. Check for the GM trademark on the part label. (Fig. 7) Not all lamp assemblies currently have the trademark, but future assemblies will contain the trademark on the label.

 

Parts without the GM trademark are not eligible for replacement under warranty.

 

F07-lamp-trademark.jpg

Fig 7

Skeeter McSkeet Senior Enthusiast

Skeeter McSkeet

Posted
Posted

I picked up a 2015 SLT last weekend. I've had the bottom row of LED's fogging up on mine as well on both sides. It's been anywhere from 50 degrees and somewhat sunny, to rain with cold/mild temps, as well as freezing temps the last few days. Just thought I'd say the issue is still ongoing. It dissipates fairly quickly from what I can tell. Unless damage to the lights occurs, I'm not too too concerned. Still pretty shatty to have this problem on these trucks with what they cost, as others have already noted.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Stex Senior Enthusiast

Stex

Posted
Posted

Moisture in headlight, Oh, GM says Situation normal, all jacked up...should go away in six hours or maybe not...and do not worry you will not be able to see at night on a dark road, situation normal. GM solution: please drive only on lighted roads and do not look at your head lights. Next customer for service please.

  • Like 1
Skeeter McSkeet Senior Enthusiast

Skeeter McSkeet

Posted
Posted

Moisture in headlight, Oh, GM says Situation normal, all jacked up...should go away in six hours or maybe not...and do not worry you will not be able to see at night on a dark road, situation normal. GM solution: please drive only on lighted roads and do not look at your head lights. Next customer for service please.

From what I've read so far, that seems like the SOP, sadly. I haven't had horrible issues at night, but they haven't been stellar either as far as vision is concerned. I wish there was an HID option on the 15's.

 

 

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henrypbui Enthusiast

henrypbui

Posted
Posted (edited)

Wow, that service bulletin is pretty ridiculous. Over time this will corrode our headlights and wiring in the control modules of the LED board inside it. I noticed it happening on mine too. I have owned it for less than a month and it happened.

 

If you are reading GM Rep, PLEASE PUSH THIS UP AS THIS IS NOT SMART FOR THE ELECTRONICS OVER TIME, it could be a year, or probably after warranty. But this seems like a major problem with GM as all generations of GM trucks I see do not have the correct lights on more often than not, lights not working, high beams for low beams, wrong marker lights working for signals, cross wired low beams acting up with signals, etc as opposed to all the other manufacturers of cars and trucks with the proper lights mostly working no matter what year or model it is for what the light is intended for.

Edited by henrypbui
  • 2 weeks later...
jamin87ss Senior Enthusiast

jamin87ss

Posted
Posted

Thought I'd join this mine had condensation the night I picked it up, made note I guess they plan on replacing, maybe I should say don't lol

LongrangeLauber Senior Enthusiast

LongrangeLauber

Posted
Posted (edited)

So I read through the thread and it doesn't seem like there is a permanent fix to this issue. Ive had my 14 Silverado for a month and just installed HID's this past weekend. Everything was great until I looked at my headlamp earlier and noticed the passenger side high beam had really bad fogging. Pulled the lamp and put a blow dryer to it thinking it was maybe because I didn't have the correct size o-ring on my hid bulb. Not the case. My low beam on the same side I just noticed water droplets as well. Opened both up to air out overnight. Even pulled my projector housing. I bought my truck end of Nov 2014, Been sitting on dealer lot since July 2014, and the headlight housing is dated March 2013. Maybe my truck got an early batch of headlamps.

 

c6b36b7a1c4bdf82dfb38db1f12b7ffc.jpg

 

Was wondering if anyone has gone the aftermarket headlamp route, Anzo USA, and did it solve the issue? I really like the look of the chrome trim/ black background headlamps they have. Maybe this will solve my issue...

 

1d379476c6e35a8e97cfb127ddc22b8a.jpg

Edited by rdnckhntr94
Ltzsheaves Enthusiast

Ltzsheaves

Posted
Posted

I went to my dealer today for my 2014 Silverado high beam lights having a terrible fog for a while now. They pulled up the bulletin for the fog/mist and left my high beams on for maybe a minute and the fog didnt go away so they will be replacing them when the new ones come in. Whether it fixes it I only hope so.

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