Winter Headlight Icing

[ZigZag]

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?

I doubt this would be much of a problem in AZ. I know you guys do get some winter there but it isn't like the great plains. That isn't to make fun at all. I know that parts of AZ get lots of snow and I have been there. But a lot of the country gets a lot more snow.

Sponsored

 

[ZigZag]

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.

This is exactly what I am talking about. Conceivably it could be heated but I don't know that it would be necessary.
Key things that would make this better is of the plastic were UV stabilized, scratch resistant and removable so that they can be easily cleaned. But it would have to also snap in tightly so that it doesn't fall of on the road or trail.

If I had the ability to fab something like this, I would do it. I know there are companies that do have the capacity to do this (Diode Dynamics, are you listening?) but maybe the development cost would make the product prohibitively expensive.

 

[AFD]

This is exactly what I am talking about. Conceivably it could be heated but I don't know that it would be necessary.
Key things that would make this better is of the plastic were UV stabilized, scratch resistant and removable so that they can be easily cleaned. But it would have to also snap in tightly so that it doesn't fall of on the road or trail.

If I had the ability to fab something like this, I would do it. I know there are companies that do have the capacity to do this (Diode Dynamics, are you listening?) but maybe the development cost would make the product prohibitively expensive.

Since there's really nothing in the way of notches for such a bezel to lock into, I was thinking maybe a rubber O-ring around the outer lip would allow for a tight enough pressure-fit.

Basically something similar to the round headlight covers below (LINK), maybe with less of a convex curvature, but not completely flat and having an inset groove in the outer lip to hold the O-ring in place (like the Pentastar oil filter housing groove for that O-ring) and then maybe 2 or more V-shaped notches in that lip to allow for some compression so it can fit into place with outward pressure holding it there.

With all the countless aftermarket Jeep manufacturers and automotive lighting specialists out there, I'm honestly surprised that someone hasn't already made such a temporary "winter/snow" headlight cover for the JL. Diode Dynamics, Baja Racing, Rigid, etc all make similar protective covers for their own lamps at very reasonable prices, so product development shouldn't be too outlandish for a company like that. In scale, they could potentially be made cheap enough that a customer could buy several sets of these in case one falls out, gets cracked or scratched up too badly.

 

[paffemt]

I went the Heated Oculus route. My OEM headlights and fog lights became useless during a couple snow storms. I installed the headlights during the summer. Finally when it starting getting cold, I checked the headlights after arriving at work and the LEDs were lit on both headlights (small LED at bottom of headlight to indicate heating is active) and the lenses felt warm. Now that I‘m ready, we can probably forget about snow this year. I bought a new snow blower last year and never had the opportunity to use it.

 

[orangemachine]

i use the rubber end of an old spatula that i cut off and clear the icing conditions on my headlights, since i think they are too recessed in on the grill. I do stop when headlights are snow or ice covered

 

[orangemachine]

i use the rubber end of an old spatula that i cut off and clear the icing conditions on my headlights, since i think they are too recessed in on the grill. I do stop when headlights are snow or ice covered

 

[jeepdabest]

I installed the Mopar LED Headlight Heater part number #867-5309. It works great until the temp dips below zero. It will also heat your washer fluid.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

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.

Just to remove the grill, problem solved!!

 

[ZigZag]

I installed the Mopar LED Headlight Heater part number #867-5309. It works great until the temp dips below zero. It will also heat your washer fluid.

I would rather have the iced up headlights, thank you.

 

[TrailMax]

I installed the Mopar LED Headlight Heater part number #867-5309. It works great until the temp dips below zero. It will also heat your washer fluid.

Is that Jenny's Jeep?

Sponsored