Condensation in rear lights

[Jeeves]

Mine’s got it. I kept a microfibre cloth in the LHS of boot for cleaning the cameras. Went to get it out after alll the heavy rain it was sipping wet. I’ve got a leak and I’m convinced that’s the cause.

 

[Durzel]

Mine are really bad now:

View attachment 502795

They were like this when I was at the Bristol SC yesterday, but I was told this is "normal", as the lights are vented. To my way of thinking, having water running down and pooling inside the light units is far from normal.

Interested to know how this ultimately got resolved for you (if it did). I've noticed one of mine get misted up (March 2020 delivered car), when I pressure wash (not hard) the car. It's nowhere near as bad as yours so if Bristol SC have batted you back then I have no chance.

This has happened twice now, the first time it was just misting and it had gone of its own accord by the morning. The second time, washing the car yesterday, the bit at the top of the below photo where there are micro-droplets is still present. Hoping the sun shining on the car will get rid of it, but not optimistic.

The drivers side tail light does not show any signs of misting at all, so I don't buy the whole "they're vented units they all do this" argument.

 

[hingus2000]

I have bad condensation in my left tail light too. I added it to an upcoming mobile service appointment and a message from Tesla seems to suggest they will fix it on the spot.

 

[Durzel]

How bad is yours though? From what I've been led to believe the bar is pretty high, and maybe even SC dependant.

 

[darkNstormy]

Had my M3LR just over 2 months now and Bradley came down to do the snagging. He must be getting very good at this as he finished his first job early and got to me 2 hours ahead of schedule. Took him about an hour to change the rear left inner light that had a little lake inside it, the boot liner, and a rear seat belt that was put on the wrong way round and therefore twisted. Just been to the car wash to test the new light and no water inside it.

 

[Plagued]

Here's my rear light before it was replaced.
As you can see the condensation was bad enough to drip and it did not clear at all, so was permanently like this.

 

[Durzel]

Here's my rear light before it was replaced.
As you can see the condensation was bad enough to drip and it did not clear at all, so was permanently like this.

View attachment 566622

Has the replacement light been free of the same issues?

 

[Durzel]

Mines disappeared in the sun, but should I assume it's going to come back every time it rains?

 

[CMc1]

Mines disappeared in the sun, but should I assume it's going to come back every time it rains?

That would “indicate” as working as expected, so I wouldnt let SC know that if you’re hoping for a swap.

 

[Durzel]

That would “indicate” as working as expected, so I wouldnt let SC know that if you’re hoping for a swap.

Will keep an eye on it I guess. To be honest I haven't been checking it in the rain, and driven it in the rain yet either. It has happened twice when I've washed the car though, and only on that one side.

 

[Plagued]

Has the replacement light been free of the same issues?

The replacement has had some misting, but nowhere near as bad and it clears.

 

[MrBadger]

Misting of rear lenses (along with B pillar cameras) was a widely reported problem come last Oct/Nov and many instances were simply dismissed as 'within spec'. We had a B pillar and rear lens agreed to be changed by Tesla, but when it came around to it, we were in the midst of a heat wave and Tesla wouldn't do anything without additional photos over and above what had already been supplied. It didn't make any difference that at prior service visit they saw rear lights with their own eyes and agreed it was too much damp, they seemed to reset the service schedule and start with fresh assessments.

tl;dr If taking car to service for rear light to be swapped, make sure its not after hot weather and dried out.

 

[Durzel]

Yeah I feel like mine, if it does come back, is going to be one of those annoying ones where it lasts long enough for me to notice and be annoyed by it, but disappears before I can get it to a SC.

 

[PipPip]

My left rear was quite fogged up for a couple of months. Much to my surprise when I cleaned the car yesterday I noticed it has cleared up. Somewhat reassuring that it can clear up over time.

 

[stonecoldrmw]

I'm booked in for a mobile service visit to sort mine. Left tail light.

 

[Louis0w]

I had rear left light replaced in February via mobile service. Began as condensation but progressed to distinct water droplets forming that would not evaporate. Service confirmed this was not acceptable and were happy to replace. Rear right light also had condensation but nowhere near as bad as left; service said that was “within tolerance” so didn’t replace - it’s now disappeared. Clearly its influenced by the season and weather conditions - but I’d also recommend careful and light use of pressure washer around the light clusters in particular.

 

[navt]

Here's mine. n/s tail light. Mobile service appointment tomorrow.

 

[Durzel]

@navt Presumably that never goes away, even in the sunshine etc?

 

[navt]

@navt Presumably that never goes away, even in the sunshine etc?

Nope. O/s is fine though. Fingers crossed they replace the unit.

 

[navt]

Here's mine. n/s tail light. Mobile service appointment tomorrow.

View attachment 567060

Ridiculously impressed by mobile service. 5-minute job and the unit was swapped out. Can you imagine the resources tied up if this was a SC fix?