Add me to the condensation in the headlight list

[Sam14GS]

This is one list I was hoping not to be on, I guess it was a matter of time.
I went out tonight and noticed a bunch of condensation in the right headlight.
Let the fun begin

 

[SilverSportNOLA]

I had both of mine replaced before end of warranty, one around 35K, the other around 48K. Then replaced the drivers side on myself a few months ago .... the next rain the other one began to fog but has not made itself into a fish bowl yet like the one I replaced.

Hint .... there is quite a lot of water that will still be in the light if you drill a drain hole at the bumper line ..... if you plan to do that and see if it help, remove your bumper and get the hole at the lowest possible point. Don't wait long to do so, the more the water sloshes around in there, the dimmer the reflected light will be.

 

[Sam14GS]

Does the whole bumper have to come off or just unbolt the top section so its off enough to get to the headlight assembly bolts ?

Also found this interesting video

 

[JacupV.]

If anyone has a set of headlights for a 2014-2017 GS that get water in them and they replace them I’ll buy the set that gets water in them. I need a set to rip them apart and do some custom work on the inside anyway. If anyone is in the Chicago area and wants to get rid of the ones that leak let me know. Mine leak also but I can’t take mine apart. I drive my car in the dark a lot and need my lights and this project is going to take a few weeks. I’m not exactly sure why everyone is getting condensation but that’s something I want to find out also with this project. I have a idea but I don’t think it’s it. I need another set to find out

Edit!! Please don’t drill a hole if you want to sell them. Drilling holes doesn’t help anyway. I’ve noticed on mine if I let water sit under the hood on top of the headlight I end up with moisture.. it’s one of the seals and I highly doubt it’s the perma seal on the lens where it meets the housing. Drilling a hole would make it 10x worse if it’s just one of the replaceable rubber gaskets.

 

[JacupV.]

Does the whole bumper have to come off or just unbolt the top section so its off enough to get to the headlight assembly bolts ?

Also found this interesting video

The whole bumper doesn’t exactly need to come off but it’s much easier if you do. It’s actually really simple to pull the bumper cover off. Youtube has videos of how to remove Buick headlights and bumpers.

 

[SilverSportNOLA]

But ..... it is best to take the whole bumper cover off, the bottom screw is not very easy to get at. That last video they gloss right past it.

It also helps if you didn't already have a group of stealership clowns replace them already and round out the torx head on two of the 3 fenderwell bolts on one side like I had .... how do they do that! Good thing after I got them out I had some trusty german VW parts to put back in their place.

As for the hole in mine, the mirror was fairly washed out by the time I did that so it was a useless 2.5 year old part. Mine are halogens, if they were HID I would try to repair them and catch it as soon as possible.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Some additional information on layout and both types of headlights styles.

 

[Sam14GS]

Thanks for all the info everyone ! I left the 2 access caps off this morning, already dried out. Can't work on it until this weekend.

 

[JacupV.]

Thanks for all the info everyone ! I left the 2 access caps off this morning, already dried out. Can't work on it until this weekend.

You can do a little experiment. It might even be just the seals around the caps that you pulled off. Take the top two and switch them. If the moisture fallows that’s your problem. You can even try swapping the lower access caps with the tops.

 

[Sam14GS]

It looks pretty straight forward removing the bumper cover, but I have a question about separating the bumper from the fender. After removing the screws in the wheel well and pulling the shroud away, does the bumper just unsnap off or is there another screw ? If it just snaps off, do I pull it a certain way or just pull it towards me ? I don't want to break anything lol 😉

Also, has anyone purchased an aftermarket ballast instead of OEM ? I have seen them for around $50 online. They even have the Hella label on them, but they are probably knockoffs.

 

[JacupV.]

Yeah just pull towards you where it meets the fender.

 

[SilverSportNOLA]

Just be careful when you pull ... there is at least one wire to disconnect, maybe more depending on how foglights and those GS vent lights are wired, if I recall the fog lights on mine were not an issue, but the other wire is for the air temperature probe. Be ready to disconnect as you are removing the cover.

 

[Mackiesback]

You would think if the Flex Seal guy can make a boat out of a screen door, we could find a way to seal these dang headlights.

 

[MN Regal owner]

Also, has anyone purchased an aftermarket ballast instead of OEM ? I have seen them for around $50 online. They even have the Hella label on them, but they are probably knockoffs.
[/QUOTE]

Regarding your ballast question, I had a heavyweight bout with one of my leaky HID assemblies last winter and had to purchase a ballast at Autozone - there were two parts listed on the website within ten bucks in price, both supposedly for my 2012 GS. Naturally I picked the lesser expensive part and after going through the effort of installing it learned that it was incompatible. In the end I ended up paying the stealership $400 for the GM equivalent only to learn that the voltage output of the aftermarket ballast was not within spec. Thankfully Autozone took it back but I always wonder if I had chosen the other part if my problems would have been solved right there. I cannot remember the spec but the GM tech told me the voltage output of the aftermarket ballast was too high, for what it's worth...

 

[MN Regal owner]

At the end of my story I simply ordered new Halogen based assemblies for both sides of my car, installed SilverStar Ultra bulbs and never looked back. It's been about 8 months and though my car doesn't look as cool without the LED DRLs I no longer have worries about condensation. The SilverStar bulbs do a fantastic job of lighting up the road especially on high beam, I don't miss the HID's and all their problems.

 

[Sam14GS]

Just be careful when you pull ... there is at least one wire to disconnect, maybe more depending on how foglights and those GS vent lights are wired, if I recall the fog lights on mine were not an issue, but the other wire is for the air temperature probe. Be ready to disconnect as you are removing the cover.

Thanks for the tip !
I installed those LED lights myself, added a connector just in case the bumper has to be removed


If anyone is interested in the LED install, here is the link
New LED lights in front bumper

 

[Sam14GS]

Regarding your ballast question, I had a heavyweight bout with one of my leaky HID assemblies last winter and had to purchase a ballast at Autozone - there were two parts listed on the website within ten bucks in price, both supposedly for my 2012 GS. Naturally I picked the lesser expensive part and after going through the effort of installing it learned that it was incompatible. In the end I ended up paying the stealership $400 for the GM equivalent only to learn that the voltage output of the aftermarket ballast was not within spec. Thankfully Autozone took it back but I always wonder if I had chosen the other part if my problems would have been solved right there. I cannot remember the spec but the GM tech told me the voltage output of the aftermarket ballast was too high, for what it's worth...

Here is the ballast that I found for $52.89 that I was talking about.
New OEM 14-16 Buick Regal Xenon HID Headlight Ballast - Factory Xenon
He also sells on eBay and has excellent feedback

As far as the headlight assembly goes, you did a smart thing with the non HID.
My plan B is to get non HID projector housings and add aftermarket HID to them. Easy to install and maintain.

 

[Sam14GS]

Finally got around to pulling the bumper cover and removing both headlights.



I picked up another access cover and drilled a hole in it so I can put air from my compressor (low pressure) to see where the leak is with soapy water



I sealed both of them with silicon. Used a syringe to get into the tight spots 😉

 

[Sam14GS]

Hopefully nothing gets past that seal 😛

 

[danwb40]

At the end of my story I simply ordered new Halogen based assemblies for both sides of my car, installed SilverStar Ultra bulbs and never looked back. It's been about 8 months and though my car doesn't look as cool without the LED DRLs I no longer have worries about condensation. The SilverStar bulbs do a fantastic job of lighting up the road especially on high beam, I don't miss the HID's and all their problems.

would you please list the part numbers and instructions on how you went about halogen based assemblies? thanks.