2010 headlight lenses clouding

[Keldon]

I have a 2010 Sport that's only two months old and when I look at my headlights at night they have areas of cloudiness and have some little weird crackly or squiggly lines in the plastic, almost like little branches. Can some of you check yours to see if they're still crystal clear or if they are also showing some of these problems? Just wondering if I should have them replaced or if this is a problem inherent with the Fusion headlight lense. Thanks!!

[hondaconvert]

I have a 2010 Sport that's only two months old and when I look at my headlights at night they have areas of cloudiness and have some little weird crackly or squiggly lines in the plastic, almost like little branches. Can some of you check yours to see if they're still crystal clear or if they are also showing some of these problems? Just wondering if I should have them replaced or if this is a problem inherent with the Fusion headlight lense. Thanks!!

 

 

Mine are still crystal clear after exactly one year. I'd go back to the dealer and insist on a fix.

[Keldon]

Mine are still crystal clear after exactly one year. I'd go back to the dealer and insist on a fix.

Thank you hondaconvert. I'd like to hear from some others before going to the dealer. I actually checked some Fusions on my local dealer lot last night and ffound many with the same problem, those little squiggly or crackly lines. You can only see them at night when the lights are on. Its easiest to see them when the brights are on.

[Moosehead]

From the manual (page 60 on the version you can download at https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/owners_manuals/default.asp : )

 

 

Lamp assembly condensation

Exterior lamps are vented to accommodate normal changes in pressure.

Condensation can be a natural by-product of this design. When moist air

enters the lamp assembly through the vents, there is a possibility that

condensation can occur when the temperature is cold. When normal

condensation occurs, a thin film of mist can form on the interior of the

lens. The thin mist eventually clears and exits through the vents during

normal operation. Clearing time may take as long as 48 hours under dry

weather conditions.

Examples of acceptable condensation are:

• Presence of thin mist (no streaks, drip marks or droplets)

• Fine mist covers less than 50% of the lens

Examples of unacceptable moisture (usually caused by a lamp water

leak) are:

• Water puddle inside the lamp

• Large water droplets, drip marks or streaks present on the interior of

the lens

Take your vehicle to a dealer for service if any of the above conditions of

unacceptable moisture are present.

Edited September 20, 2010 by Moosehead

[Keldon]

From the manual (page 60 on the version you can download at https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/owners_manuals/default.asp : )

 

 

Lamp assembly condensation

Exterior lamps are vented to accommodate normal changes in pressure.

Condensation can be a natural by-product of this design. When moist air

enters the lamp assembly through the vents, there is a possibility that

condensation can occur when the temperature is cold. When normal

condensation occurs, a thin film of mist can form on the interior of the

lens. The thin mist eventually clears and exits through the vents during

normal operation. Clearing time may take as long as 48 hours under dry

weather conditions.

Examples of acceptable condensation are:

• Presence of thin mist (no streaks, drip marks or droplets)

• Fine mist covers less than 50% of the lens

Examples of unacceptable moisture (usually caused by a lamp water

leak) are:

• Water puddle inside the lamp

• Large water droplets, drip marks or streaks present on the interior of

the lens

Take your vehicle to a dealer for service if any of the above conditions of

unacceptable moisture are present.

 

 

Thanks Moosehead for the info., but what I'm experiencing isn't trapped moisture, its more like stains from moisture. The service mgr said the stains definitely aren't supposed to be there and they are replacing both units under warranty. However, he said the little crackly lines are present in most Fusions after awhile, due to excessive heat buildup from the projector bulbs. Turn on your brights at night and look closely in the upper corner of the housing, not in the direct line of light, and you will see the lines I'm talking about. They're very odd-looking, almost like tiny tree branches. He told me to keep an eye on them after I get my new ones and if they get larger they would replace them again.