Headlight Units

[AlanFC]

Owned our C3 for 2.5 years now and in that time (among a host of other problems) we have had the headlight units replaced on a regular basis (under warranty)due to the condensation build up inside them. Probably 4 times. Hate to think how much this will cost when the car is out of warranty.

 

Any one else had this problem?

 

Bizarre, when submitting post, gotan smtp error page saying password not recognised hence duplicate post...one for the techs

[wozza]

Ignore error messages forums are buggered we really need new one installing shame the admins arent around no more though :/

 

Tried emailing them etc with no luck.

 

And cant comment on the C3 thing just commenting on forums lol.

[Igloo_Vindaloo]

Owned our C3 for 2.5 years now and in that time (among a host of other problems) we have had the headlight units replaced on a regular basis (under warranty)due to the condensation build up inside them. Probably 4 times. Hate to think how much this will cost when the car is out of warranty.

 

There was condensation in one of mine when I collected it 2nd hand last year. The garage tried to tell me it was left over from a particularly thorough valet! They replaced the unit for me a few weeks later under warranty.

 

Tim

[wozza]

With a short warranty time on it left shoudl basically tell them if it does it again afterwards you have had it in so many times and they have still not fixed the problem. They should still repair it after warranty as its obviously something there not doing properly.

 

My C4 one of the headlights in now loose and the clips for it seem to have broken and im sure its the fault of them. It was fine then i noticed it the day after i got it home after it had been in for some warranty work.

[Guest CE05LDB]

The Fog Lamp on my brothers C3 was like that. Was going to get done on the 40,000 miles service but it was written off then

[macabe]

C3 1.6i 16v Exclusive Sensodrive 03 have had 3 nearside lamp units replaced, total misted up, have sent photographs to citroen uk asking why?, they and local dealer dont know??? (they say) , keeping a eye on as 3 years coming up,have replaced bulbs with high white units last 12 months, makes a warm dry lamp unit

[scottp]

Just a quick one on this, had my 53reg C3 1.4 16v HDi in for 62,500 service and one of the things they listed was "water in headlights - MOT FAILURE"

 

Found that this was due to the 2 garages that replaced my bulbs in each lamp hadn't replced the covers correctly. So for 3 months it's been building up. had to drain about a coffee cup worth of water from the bottom of the unit in one of them.

 

Now trying rice to absorb some of the moisture, will see how it goes.

 

Might be worth a try putting a silica gel pack (from a box of new shoes) in the back of each one.

[Guest GarthyB]

Just a quick one on this, had my 53reg C3 1.4 16v HDi in for 62,500 service and one of the things they listed was "water in headlights - MOT FAILURE"

 

Found that this was due to the 2 garages that replaced my bulbs in each lamp hadn't replced the covers correctly. So for 3 months it's been building up. had to drain about a coffee cup worth of water from the bottom of the unit in one of them.

 

Now trying rice to absorb some of the moisture, will see how it goes.

 

Might be worth a try putting a silica gel pack (from a box of new shoes) in the back of each one.

 

The silica gel would probably need drying out! Put in the oven and then placed into the light unit within seconds of coming out! Far too much hassle.

Stick some digestives in a sock and stick them in......they always get soggy when it's damp!

Seriously though...you're lucky that amount of water didn't get into the electronics that control the headlight levelling! It did on the wifes car and the headlight just continuosly tried to level upwards...till destruction.

One headlight change, D.I.Y and out of warranty later. Condensation gone and headlight pointing towards the ground.

[raveydavey]

The seals on the back of the headlights need to be 100% in place or they allow moisture in.

 

Had a bulb replaced during a service and two days later the headlight was fogged up - took it back to the dealer and they initailly denied all knowledge and then agreed to look at it. They fitted a new light FOC (car was just out of warranty) although I noticed when I went to pick the car up that my keys were attached to a job card with different vehicle details on (oddly a car that was still under warranty and parked outside on their used car pitch...)

 

Still, it got it sorted for me!

 

I've seen a few C3's with foggy headlights now

[Guest bribri]

The silica gel would probably need drying out! Put in the oven and then placed into the light unit within seconds of coming out! Far too much hassle.

Stick some digestives in a sock and stick them in......they always get soggy when it's damp!

Seriously though...you're lucky that amount of water didn't get into the electronics that control the headlight levelling! It did on the wifes car and the headlight just continuosly tried to level upwards...till destruction.

One headlight change, D.I.Y and out of warranty later. Condensation gone and headlight pointing towards the ground.

 

I have exactly the same problem with nearside headlight on my 03 C3 1.4 hdi. It contained a fair bit of water and the headlight levelling seems to be on all the time now. Could you please tell me how you rectified this, and did it mean any electrical work or just replacing headlamp unit.

Cheers,

bri.

[Nell]

I have exactly the same problem with nearside headlight on my 03 C3 1.4 hdi. It contained a fair bit of water and the headlight levelling seems to be on all the time now. Could you please tell me how you rectified this, and did it mean any electrical work or just replacing headlamp unit.

 

I had this problem with a another car, What I did was remove both covers and drive around for a while with the head lights on. The combination of fresh air and the heat the bulbs generarted cleared mine in no time!!. Obviously its important to make sure the covers are replaced tightly to form the seal. Cheers,

bri.