Why your cheap eBay headlights leak....

yosh2000 · Mar 6, 2009

i currently have a set of OEM headlights taken apart in preparation for my HID retro. i answered a post of a guy that had eBay headlights that were getting condensation (shocker, i know...). well, i took them apart tonight and took some pics between the two...and you can decide which ones are OEM and which ones are eBay. You can also know at least two reasons your headlights leak. Personally, i believe it has to do w/ the difference between the 6th and 7th pics versus the 10th and 11th pict...

anyways, on to the pics.... e*ay (i'll skip the mods from editing....) lights...

OEM lights....

preXrunner · Mar 6, 2009

Yeah... definitely the reason why it leaks. Need more ADHESIVE.

Sykotic336 · Mar 6, 2009

you can always apply around the headlight lol but then it wouldnt look clean

yosh2000 · Mar 6, 2009

^ but you missed the point of the OEM lights having good adhesive. my educated guess is that is where all the condensation gets in on these lights, there is nothing to stop it from coming in at that leakpath. trust me, i work w/ mechanical seals as a profession, that is the primary leak path!

Organic Mechanic · Mar 6, 2009

I've got some Ebay "JDM" crystal headlights.

they look fantastic, but yes, they did had some condensation in the drivers side.

But that being said, I live in Minnesota, and it gets cold as hell here, like -50F type cold sometimes. In addition, I don't have any of that sloppy goo on my lights. They look just like the factory ones, but are black and clear, instead of chrome and amber.

I cured the problem by running the headlight on a trip to the family, which lasted about 90min, to get the housing all warm and toasty, I then sprayed some "canned air" electronics duster inside of the housing to remove any moisture.

haven't had a problem since.

yosh2000 · Mar 6, 2009

that sloppy goo is what prevents the oem lights from leaking though. it is obvious that it adheres to the plastics well and therefore creates a good seal.

disciple X · Mar 6, 2009

so... the solution to the leaky lights is more sloppy goo...

dak-rt-2a-XR · Mar 6, 2009

mine look nothing like that. You got a crappy set

i did a silicone bead all the way around them and my fogging problem disappeared

yosh2000 · Mar 6, 2009

disciple X said:
so... the solution to the leaky lights is more sloppy goo...

if your talking about oem quality sloppy goo, then yes. in otherwords, you need quality sloppy goo (see sealent), not some cheap stuff that doesnt grab hold of the plastic.

SickRedXRnr · Mar 6, 2009

so is it only those 3 bolts on the ebay lights to take the clear front off? Gunna tackle it tomrorow i believe. Seems to me the two guys in china making these lights are complete oposites. Passenger side light guy goes to work sober and ready to work, but driver side light guy goes in DRUNK AS HELL and doesn't know what assembling a light means.... but anyways... just 3 screws and thats it?

yosh2000 · Mar 6, 2009

3 screws and the glue, thats it!

dj_lucas840 · Mar 6, 2009

damn i got a set of black lights bout 3 yrs ago and ive never had a prob with them still sealled as good as the day i got them! looks like the finish on the outside has worn a little but that all still like them over stock! now the fogs driver side have replaced one of them once and now both of them leak but they the oem ones!

xrtaco06 · Mar 6, 2009

my dads 93 corolla had the same problem on one tail light. also bought from ebay. we put some black cement tape. worked great.

Kailua-X-Runner · Jan 4, 2010

that sux... i just bought some OEM black heads on ebay 3 days ago... just waiting for them to come in... imma check the seal around the lights... and if its not good, imma go ahead and goop it on... better to tackle the prob before it happens... better safe than sorry... mahalo for all the info ... good thread

KETCHUP · Jan 4, 2010

damn, that sucks. did u get the moddin done though?

Venomous_X · Jan 4, 2010

haha, my "cheap" ebay lights never leaked but maybe thats also because I sealed them with an extra bead of silicone :wink: there was a reason those headlights were only 150 bucks, while oem costs 400. :rock: Im back to rockin oem equipment and still no leaks....:adore:

Kailua-X-Runner · Jan 5, 2010

well hopefully i get them in tomrw... im for sure gonna at that extra seal

Kailua-X-Runner · Jan 8, 2010

well im hella mad... i installed mine and the very next morning i had moisture on the driver side clear lens... and im down here in SOCAL... so now i gotta go and get the more sealant... i know its just the 3 screws for the lens... but is that the reason or is it coming thru the bulb areas???

yosh2000 · Jan 8, 2010

as long as you have the o-rings in the bulb areas, its the sealant....didnt believe my post did you?!!

also, do you have a PNP kit? is the back of headlight properly sealed around that area as well. that could be a source of the leak as well...buts its most likely the crappy sealant.

Kailua-X-Runner · Jan 9, 2010

Eyelids: has anyone painted their eyelids on the headlights? IMO i want the eyelids to look as flush and natural as possible? and i know the eyelids have a liil edge off the headlights.

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Why your cheap eBay headlights leak....

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