Cloudy Headlamps

[oldhamfan]

The headlamp glass on the whole units of both of my headlamps has started to go a little cloudy. Is there anything that will get them crystal clear again or is it just wear and tear, and I'll have to replace them?

It's a mark 4 Astra, 1999. Thanks!

[Bob906]

Unfortunately you will have to replace them as the clouding is caused by condensation inside the units, because of the age of the car either the glass is slightly cracked or the seals between the glass and the rear of the lamp units are perished, have a look round some scrap-car yards you might strike lucky unless you want new which can work out very dear.
Best of Luck

[oldhamfan]

Ah, never mind. Thanks for your prompt and helpful response.

[TonyBeeeee]

Are the lamps actually H4 lamps, which are removable, as opposed to sealed beam units? A car spares shop will tell you this if you are not sure what it means.

Yes if the headlamps have got condensation inside them, but have removable H4 lamps, then there is some reason moisture is getting in .... but they could be dried out. Maybe the lamps are not sitting correctly in the headlamp housings? Do the beam patterns look correct (level beam pattern immediatly in front of the car but which has a beam that rises at the left... unless its a foreign car with foreign dip pattern in which case it should rise at the right hand side of course)?

Are there supposed to be rubber seals behind the lamps that are missing? Try to get a look at a similar model to answer this last question. Maybe the seals are there but have not been fitted correctly?