Headlight condensation

I noticed today that the inside of the glass of one of my headlight units is covered with condensation, anybody know what the fix is? Is a faulty seal, or possibly the opposite (ie is there a drain that's blocked)? Am I right in thinking it's easy to remove the whole unit to have a look?

Very easy to remove the unit, using the provided tool, gain access through the inner wing after removing the bung, turn the nut 1/4 turn and the headlamp unit slides forward. When replacing make sure the unit is dropped into the guides properly, other wise if you use headlamp washers it pumps the water everywhere[ ] garyw

The headlights are vented. There is a very long vent tube from each headlight that runs to the bottom of the bumper cover. If you ask your OPC I bet they will tell you this is normal. What is strange, is that it is just one headlight. Cayenne owners also have the same isssue. You can see the vent tubes in this Boxster picture. 996 is the same. The tube is black on one side and clear on the other. [/IMG]

Thanks both (and Hi to sunny California). I'll have a fiddle with it.

Coincidentally, this issue is apparent on a 996 (both headlamps) which I am in the process of buying. Is this something I should be particularly concerned about? Are they sealed units which will require replacement?

Had the unit out today, and had a good blow through what appeared to be a blocked drain hole. Time (and a bit of warm weather) will tell whether that's a fix, bro. Good move to be planning to join the 996 fraternity - although if you're not going to use it daily I'd be more tempted by a 993. If you're serious about the 996 look out for RMS leaks. Fancy me giving you car advice.

Are you sure that's where those tubes come from? I found a drain hole in the headlamp unit, but I couldn't find the other end of the tube attached to it.

The vent tube is incorporated into the male and female electrical plugs for the headlights. This is the design for a pre-MY2002 996, which is also used on on all 986/Boxsters. The vent tubes were eliminated for the MY2002 996 due to the new headlight design and a different vent design. Porsche Cars of North America issued a service bulletin on the condensation issue on April 6, 2001, for both the Boxster and 996. I do not have a copy. I will ask my Porsche mechanic friend for a copy I have put yellow lines to the vent system. If someone wants copies of the pictures then do so now, as I am at my limit for picture hosting.

Toolpants, you are amazing! I'm just worried now that the hole I was happily blowing through (in the base of the unit) is entirely irrelevant. I guess I could either get it out again tomorrow (it's late here), or wait to see whether some warmer weather shows that I've sorted it. I did have a mad idea of putting a hair drier over the glass, but that's probably a silly idea (or I guess I could just bring the unit into the house for a bit) Thanks again, Mike

You could bring it into the house and put the plastic headlight in the oven. And bake it. Like a cake. Might come out like a melted plastic mess.[8|] There are 2 round pins at the bottom of the headlight - with a hole in the middle. These are the locating/guide pins for sliding the headlight into the fender/wing. Those holes are blocked off and have nothing to do with the vent. You should just turn on the headlights and go on a long drive and see if the heat drives the moisture out. Or, I guess you could remove the headlight, the back cover like you were going to replace the main bulbs, then the turn signal bulb. You then have an opening to blow in hot air with a hair dryer and an opening for it to escape. Still, it is strange it is only on one side. And they say a Boxster is a hairdresser's car.[ ] Jeff