[PeteS]

I was driving my car for the first time today in heavy rain and I noticed that both headlight assemblys were getting fogged up quite a lot from inside. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[Patrickv]

Do you have xenon or regular lights?
I have seen some comments on different models this is due to the open construction of headlights.... And the fog goes away when driving...

 

[PeteS]

Do you have xenon or regular lights?
I have seen some comments on different models this is due to the open construction of headlights.... And the fog goes away when driving...

I have xenon lights. I was driving mostly at low speed in town. Maybe the fog goes a way at higher speed when the lights are really needed...

 

[Andytech]

Open construction??

 

[Patrickv]

The back of the lights are not completely closed up...
Meaning there are some holes


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[Andytech]

Odd - Surely this would cause a condensation build up?
Whilst you're here Patrick; Could you explain the approach light problem that I keep hearing about. I'm collecting my car on Friday and want to see if it's been fixed.

 

[London_2012]

I noticed my headlights fog up when I first washed it. I have the regular headlights. Does that mean that the headlights could get dirty on the inside or even shorten the life of the bulbs?

 

[PeteS]

I checked my lights today immediately after having driven in heavy rain on a highway and they were quite a bit fogged up. The fog went away within an hour or so when the car was parked under a roof. I’m going to ask my dealer about this when I take the car back to have the engine heater installed next week.

 

[Andytech]

I know we can all expect teething problems with the first edition of a new car. No doubt the approach light problem will be fixed by a software update. The speaker resonance problem is fixable. But the fogged up headlight thing seems to be a design error. A potentially expensive one at that.

 

[Patrickv]

For what it's worth....
I have not seen that issue yet
Do have the xenon lightning......

And besides that.. Do believe I heard mention of this "problem" with the v60 and that is by design.. And not breaking anything...

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[Andytech]

Its just me getting nervous before I collect my car on Friday...I just want it to be perfect

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[Patrickv]

Fully understand and you won't be disspointed is my guess
Have the car for a good 1,5 month and love it


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[jens-peter]

Just out of curiosity, how could you tell that there were fog in the headlights while driving?

I can see why it would come when the car is parked, but would the heat from the lights not remove the fog, when driving?

 

[PeteS]

Just out of curiosity, how could you tell that there were fog in the headlights while driving?

I can see why it would come when the car is parked, but would the heat from the lights not remove the fog, when driving?

I checked the lights immediately after stopping the car with lights still on. The fog was mainly on the sides of the assemblies and clearly the heat had removed fog directly in front of the lights. First time I noticed this there was so much fog that I think it was indeed partially blocking the light beams.

This morning in light rain there was no fogging. Probably this is a problem only in extreme conditions, but I’m still a bit concerned the light assemblies could get dirty from inside. I’m going to make sure to always have xenons on when driving in rain so that no moisture should built up directly in front of them.

 

[jens-peter]

I checked the lights immediately after stopping the car with lights still on.

Ah okay, I have been out in heavy rain, but I just wanted to go inside when we arrived I'll try to remember this, and look at the headlights the next time.

I’m going to make sure to always have xenons on when driving in rain so that no moisture should built up directly in front of them.

From my understanding, the headlights (xerons and rear lights) are automatically on, when the window wipers are running. I'm sure I read that in the manual, because the first time I was out in heavy rain I was unsure if the lights were on or not, but they should be activated with the wipers.

 

[Patrickv]

Yep.. That is correct..
If you have the lights on auto and the wipers switch on the lights also power on...

 

[PeteS]

I talked to my dealer today. He’s no technical expert but he said this is a design thing similar to some other Volvos. There are some holes both on top and at bottom of the light assemblies to drain out moisture. During heavy rain some water could get inside through those holes. As xenon lights don’t get very hot, fog may build up. He said the lights need to be checked if there’s visible water inside the lights (quite obvious) or the fog doesn’t disappear as this would indicate that the holes are blocked.

Today in moderate rain there was no fogging. I'm beginning to believe this is no big deal. I'll still discuss it with the service guys later on when I have the engine heater installed (which is postponed a few weeks).

 

[Kev]

A note on page 358 of the owners manual says the lights may temporarily have condensation on the inside of the lens. It also says this is normal and the lights are designed to withstand this. It says that condensation is normally vented out of the lamp housing when the lamp has been switched on for a time. :shy:

 

[john693]

Hi ive just had my headlights on my 2012 V40 replaced due to the same problem, there is a TG guide for the dealers to put vents into the rear of the lamp assembly this however made it worse. mt headlamp lens was glass now ive got perspex does anyone else have glass