Winter Headlight Icing

[ZigZag]

I know that there have been many threads on hear about the icing of the (LED) headlights in snowy driving conditions. I have personally experienced this myself many times. It is annoying and possibly unsafe in a variety of ways. But I didn't start this thread to complain.

I am wondering if anyone has seen or thought about a clear Plexiglas or Lexan or something that could be applied to the headlight opening to keep the snow out. The problem is that the shape of the headlight bezel causes ice buildup and if there were not an opening but rather a cover it probably would not happen. I have thought many time about buying a sheet of plastic at the hardware store and improvising but have not done it. Has anyone tried it? How did it work?

If I had the capacity to make this a product, it would have to be removable so that you could clean both side of the plastic. Maybe snap in to the opening.

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[Testut]

My 2016 Jeep GC (with Halogen lights) has such a set up and it is subject to icing over the lens. My gut feeling is that a cover would not work. If icing is a problem where you drive, I'd suggest heated lenses as the ideal solution.

 

[bugnuker]

Interesting, I never knew this was an issue. I'm heading into my first winter with my Wrangler.
I have the LED's and they seem a little warm when you put your hand in front of the beam. I am guessing this is not enough warmth to overcome the wind and cold during driving.

With that said, I have to assume that heat is the only answer here. Is there no aftermarket heater elements you can put in the assembly?

 

[GtX]

Is there no aftermarket heater elements you can put in the assembly?

There are heated headlight available for those who have this issue.

 

[Windshieldfarmer]

I have experienced this problem once…during extremely hard, wet snowfall. In that situation even my Diode Dynamics SS3 Pro fog lights became covered…and those things run hot. I suspect traditional halogens would had also had problems in that situation also…they have for me in the past.

In cold weather with snow I’ve never had a problem because dry snow doesn’t stick to cold head headlamps.

Candidly, I don’t think there is a good solution. Perhaps an application of a ceramic coating on the lens might help a tiny bit.

 

[AFD]

I am wondering if anyone has seen or thought about a clear Plexiglas or Lexan or something that could be applied to the headlight opening to keep the snow out. The problem is that the shape of the headlight bezel causes ice buildup and if there were not an opening but rather a cover it probably would not happen. I have thought many time about buying a sheet of plastic at the hardware store and improvising but have not done it. Has anyone tried it? How did it work?

If I had the capacity to make this a product, it would have to be removable so that you could clean both side of the plastic. Maybe snap in to the opening.

I've suggested this idea myself a few times, but still haven't seen anyone making such a product.

Just a clear poly-carbonate cap that snaps into the headlight recess, essentially making it flush with the grille. In addition to being easier to clean off snow/ice, it would likely keep any from building up in the first place.

My only concern with this idea is the amount of diffraction or light scatter you'd get (if any) from having another lens for the light to shine through. Wouldn't think it could be any worse than what you'd get from the light trying to shine through built up snow and ice, though.

 

[Robertyoke]

How about getting a second set of windshields squirters aimed at the headlights like BMW and MB. You could get really creative and heat the fluid like gm does on its pickups, just use some caution as that's how a few trucks went poof up in smoke before they recalled them. GM used an all electric heater of some sort maybe use metal tube running past the exhaust manifold.
Just throwing it out there.

 

[sailscall]

It’s been happening for years. This pic was taken 3/1/2015 on the front end of a 2010 BMW 535i GT. I traveled from DC to WNY via I70, 76, 79, and 90. Ice happens. This doll had adaptive LED headlights.

 

[Flip]

It’s been happening for years. This pic was taken 3/1/2015 on the front end of a 2010 BMW 535i GT. I traveled from DC to WNY via I70, 76, 79, and 90. Ice happens. This doll had adaptive LED headlights.

Do you not have a jeep you could have drove in that awful weather?

 

[Wbino]

Spray Rain- X on the headlights.

 

[Flip]

Spray Rain- X on the headlights.

 

[sailscall]

Do you not have a jeep you could have drove in that awful weather?

My point was that Wranglers aren’t the only ride with LED lights getting iced up. I bought my first Jeep in 2021. The pic was taken in 2015 as noted earlier. I run what I brung that day. I made it home safe and sound and never white knuckled. I live in Buffalo so I’ve had some experience driving in snow and ice. One of my best snow rigs was a 2007 BMW 325i RWD 6MT with snows on the corners.

 

[ZigZag]

Spray Rain- X on the headlights.

I have tried that. It didn't work. The ice connects in the cup formed by the headlight bezel and eventually covers the whole light. This has happened to me on my evening commute of less than 20 miles.

 

[ZigZag]

It’s been happening for years. This pic was taken 3/1/2015 on the front end of a 2010 BMW 535i GT. I traveled from DC to WNY via I70, 76, 79, and 90. Ice happens. This doll had adaptive LED headlights.

I understand that LEDs don't produce the kind of heat that halogens or HID do. If you have experienced the problem specific to a Jeep JL, you know it is different. I have driven in blizzards for many years and generally have no fear (great respect but no fear) because or my wide variety of experience. I have driven in mountain blizzards and plains blizzards. Literally thousands of miles. The JL headlights ice up worse than anything I have imagined. The inset of the headlights catches the snow and the buildup isn't so much on the headlight lens but collects on the side and covers the entire opening. This is because it has nowhere to go. Unlike your BMW (very nice) where although it freezes up it also can go around.

 

[ZigZag]

My 2016 Jeep GC (with Halogen lights) has such a set up and it is subject to icing over the lens. My gut feeling is that a cover would not work. If icing is a problem where you drive, I'd suggest heated lenses as the ideal solution.

This isn't really the same. The GC headlights are not recessed into a bowl. The cover might ice up also, but I think it might not be as bad.

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