ever since i went to the '99+ style headlights i've had a steadily increasing moisture problem in both of them. they are both OEM, bulbs properly installed and rubber boot secured. i don't know where the moisture is coming from. i can use a pressure washer to clean the car and spray directly at and around the headlights and i see no leaks, but when it rains, snows, or is foggy with lots of moisture in the air the headlights get foggy and start to accumulate drops on the inside of the glass lens. i have no idea where it's coming from and i'm looking for any input on how to fix this. is this going to be a re-seal project? i've read about taking the headlight out and putting it in the oven to soften and pry apart the lens, but what do you re-seal it with? or is there something i can do before taking it all apart that isn't so drastic?
help?

 

Since I have a 2000 runner, I am not sure if I could be of any help. But when you bought the OEM parts, was there a gasket for the glass headlamp? I could have sworn I had seen a gasket between the glass and the whole assembly when I changed out my bulbs last month.

Or you could use some RTV to seal it up. When I was in the NAVY, we used RTV to seal up all kinds of lights that went onto the birds (planes & choppers). Since I was stationed on a carrier, all those tail lights, wing tip lights got soaked all the time but never inside the light itself. There was no moisture build up either. The thing about RTV though is that you really have to give it enough time for the damn thing to cure. I am no sure how patient you are. Hope this helps.

austin

 

thanks austin,
when i swapped the headlights, it was from a '99 4runner to my '98, so they weren't new parts, it was the entire assembly all in one piece so i didn't fuss with any gaskets or anything. to be honest, this post was just to get some info for later on. i won't be attempting this soon since it's highs in the single digits for the next week here. just gathering input about potential fixes and where to look for problems.
i'll check them out in better weather and perhaps put a bead of rtv around the lens where it meets up to the rest of the headlight and see if that fixes it.

 

Do you have the seal between the bulb and the wiring harness?

 

i know i have the rubber boot that goes over where the bulb sits and the wire harness goes through. or is there another gasket or seal in there? if so, i do believe i'm missing something.