Wet headlights

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Frontporch, Sep 10, 2025 at 10:16 PM.

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  1. Frontporch

    Frontporch Active Member

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    Seems as though both my headlights have excessive condensation inside the lens. I recently polished them so it became more obvious. I have had the 2012 for less than a year it definitely had some front end damage
    Can someone tell me if this lens is OEM? IMG_9548.jpeg

    any suggestions for good replacements or things to do to keep these in service?
    IMG_9549.jpeg
     
    #1 Frontporch, Sep 10, 2025 at 10:16 PM
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    The car ought to be out of service soon enough so I'd be saving up for engines and brakes .
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Sep 10, 2025 at 11:26 PM
  3. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    Drill a 1mm hole in the back of each (top of reflector) so the water can evaporate /
    Decades ago it was almost mandatory for all the cars I had....
     
    #3 StarCaller, Sep 11, 2025 at 12:20 AM
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  4. Frontporch

    Frontporch Active Member

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    Are you a gen3 hater?. I will get to those when the time comes. Right now no shaking, no oil burning, no fluid loss. May last longer than expected.
     
    #4 Frontporch, Sep 11, 2025 at 8:11 AM
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    What’s the miles?

    see aftermarket head lights (non LED) on Amazon for about $115 USD, and genuine Toyota on Amayama are around $300 USD.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Sep 11, 2025 at 8:40 AM
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2025 at 8:57 AM
  6. Frontporch

    Frontporch Active Member

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    I think right around 190k
     
    #6 Frontporch, Sep 11, 2025 at 8:42 AM
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  7. Frontporch

    Frontporch Active Member

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    Come to think of it don’t some headlights have a vent with a short rubber tube?
     
    #7 Frontporch, Sep 11, 2025 at 9:28 AM
  8. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    They absolutely do have a rubber tube with a 90 on it connected to a little vent tit maybe plugged
     
    #8 Tombukt2, Sep 11, 2025 at 11:10 AM
  9. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Make a little adapter for your AC vacuum pump to lil to run pump 20 min
     
    #9 Tombukt2, Sep 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM
  10. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    I checked my 2011 headlights this morning. Yours are like mine. I still have the OEM headlight lenses, so yours appear to be OEM.
     
    #10 Brian1954, Sep 11, 2025 at 12:35 PM
  11. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Don't drill a hole at the top where water can get into it.
    There is a leak at the seal, somewhere.
    Using a vacuum pump would help, it will take a while though.
    pulling the bulbs out and using a flexible stick with a rag secured to it so you can move it around
    and get as much of the water out as possible, then leaving the bulbs out until it dries.

    Then seal along the edge where the clear part mates to the black part will keep the moisture out.
    Unless there is another leak somewhere.
     
    #11 ASRDogman, Sep 11, 2025 at 1:42 PM
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  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    See you can get oversized, long stalk, cotton swabs, might be good for that. The link recommends them for "gyncecology", but hey...
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Sep 11, 2025 at 2:35 PM
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  13. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    This is gold for the archive!!!
     
    #13 Grit, Sep 11, 2025 at 10:51 PM
  14. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    How did you not include egr cleaning?!!!
     
    #14 Grit, Sep 11, 2025 at 10:53 PM
  15. bettergolf

    bettergolf Active Member

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    "How did you not include egr cleaning?!!!"

    Well Mendel is asking the miles for a moisture in the headlight problem, so....give it time!
     
    #15 bettergolf, Sep 12, 2025 at 8:00 AM
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  16. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    At 190k - it already has. ;)
     
    #16 ETC(SS), Sep 12, 2025 at 8:12 AM
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  17. Frontporch

    Frontporch Active Member

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    I came here with headlight issues and now I need a head gasket? I am not saying it won’t happen but I am not going to worry as there are no indications of any issues yet.

    I did replace the master cylinder and cleaned the eGR cooler so those are covered

    I was considering diving into the gasket while it is still in tact so I don’t have to worry about the cylinder head issues that might arise from an overheating
     
    #17 Frontporch, Sep 13, 2025 at 11:08 PM
  18. Frontporch

    Frontporch Active Member

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    I ordered a pair of headlights and some led headlights bulbs to give those a try. I do hate not repairing the oem headlights but I would like to limit downtime
     
    #18 Frontporch, Sep 13, 2025 at 11:15 PM
  19. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    He is still in his honeymoon phase, let him enjoy it while it lasts.. only a brake booster wallet flush so far... he may start having a wandering eye after ms hybrid battery cheats on him and starts flirting with sodium man... I heard she had a short term fling with lithium guy a couple of years ago... she got "burned" with that guy...
     
    #19 rjparker, Sep 13, 2025 at 11:35 PM
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  20. Frontporch

    Frontporch Active Member

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    Not sure how to reply here. I know there isn’t much love for this generation but seems like most of the problems creep up around 200k miles which for a lot of cars is a good long life.
    Personally, after driving gen 2s for 5 or 6 years I find the gen 3 to be so much more refined. It feels like it has more power, gets better gas mileage and is much quieter and easier on the eyes.
    I am going to try and stay on top of this car as best I can. No regrets yet
     
    #20 Frontporch, Sep 13, 2025 at 11:50 PM
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