Classification:

Reference:

Date:

EL03-031k

ITB03-051k

March 27, 2017

HEADLAMP FOGGING
This bulletin has been amended. The APPLIED VEHICLES section has been revised, and a brief description of
headlamp assembly bulb types has been added. No other changes have been made.
Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

APPLIED VEHICLES:

2011-2017 Infiniti – All models

SERVICE INFORMATION
Occasionally customers may notice water vapor or fog in the headlamps.
The following information, illustrations, and flow chart are provided to help you in determining if an incident for
water/condensation in the headlamps is normal or not.
Infiniti’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not cover physically damaged (cracked or broken)
headlamps.

All current headlamp assemblies are vented to the atmosphere (not sealed).


This is necessary to allow for expansion and contraction of air from temperature "variations" (warmer or
colder) without damage to the headlamp.



Moisture in the air sometimes "travels" into and out of the headlamp assembly through these vents.



Certain environmental conditions may cause moisture to condense.



The fogging/cloudiness should disappear over time when the headlamp is in a dry environment.

Infiniti Bulletins are intended for use by qualified technicians, not 'do-it-yourselfers'. Qualified technicians are properly trained individuals who have
the equipment, tools, safety instruction, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. NOTE: If you believe that a described condition may apply to
a particular vehicle, DO NOT assume that it does. See your Infiniti retailer to determine if this applies to your vehicle.
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Fog may temporarily form inside the lens of the headlamp assemblies based on environmental conditions or
sudden temperature changes (such as in a car wash, or parked on a cold, sunny day). This is normal. See
Figure 1.

Head lamp
Grille

"Cloudy"
condensation (fog)
Lens area

TP030533

Figure 1: Example of normal condensation, ok
NOTE: This condensation can appear anywhere on the outer lens, typically at its coldest location.

Head lamp
Grille

Water droplets
or pools

Lens area

TP030534

Figure 2: Condition may not be normal
If the moisture trickles, drips, or pools, it may not be considered normal and the headlamp assembly may have
a water leak path. See Figure 2 for an example.
If large drops of water collect inside the lens, refer to the flow chart on page 3 to find the next step to take.

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ITB03-051k

SERVICE PROCEDURE
Should a customer note water in a headlamp assembly, please use the following flow chart to determine if the
condition is normal or requires lamp replacement.
Visual inspection: Does the
headlamp show any puddles, runs
on lens, or large (larger than 3 mm
diameter) droplets of water?

YES

NOTE: If there is any physical
damage (cracked or broken),
replace the assembly. Physical
damage is not covered by
warranty.

YES

Replace headlamp assembly.

NO

NO

Within the headlamp assembly that has
condensation, is the light source or “bulb”
a Xenon or Halogen type (non-LED)?
See page 4 for bulb type descriptions.

Is there an accumulation of
water puddled in the bottom of
the headlamp which is 10 mm
or more in depth?

When applicable: Replace only
headlamp housing. Reuse any bulbs,
sockets, harness, ballasts, etc. as
available in service catalog.

NO

LED-only headlamp assemblies, when
turned ON, will not generate enough
heat to dissipate normal condensation.

YES

Pull vehicle into service bay.
Turn on the headlamps. Monitor the
condensation in the lamps for 10
to 20 minutes.

Is condensation area
on lens clearing?

NO

 Refer to the Electronic Service
Manual for headlamp housing
replacement.

YES

 Refer to the Warranty FRT Manual
for claims coding
when applicable.
NOTE: Not all headlamp
assembly replacements are
covered under warranty.

DO NOT replace
headlamp assembly.
Inform the customer the following:
 All headlamps allow some
moisture (water vapor) inside
through vents which prevent
physical damage due to pressure
buildup when headlamps are
turned on.

 Warranty part return of the
assembly will be requested.

 Certain weather conditions will
cause water vapor to become
visible on lens.

 Any parts found physically
damaged (cracked or
broken) will be charged
back to the dealer.

 Condensation will clear on its own
as the environmental conditions
change.

 Any parts determined as
“no defect found” may be
charged back to the dealer.

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ITB03-051k

Headlamp Assembly Bulb Types and Identification
NOTE: Headlamp assemblies can be a combination of the bulbs described below.

Halogen bulb
Halogen bulbs use a conventional filiment that produces light when electricity is passed through it.
This type of bulb can be identified as follows:


Has an internal filiment inside the bulb.



When turned OFF the filiment may briefly glow as it cools off.



No external Control Module or HID Control Unit is needed to operate them.

Xenon bulb
Xenon bulbs do not use a filament. Instead, they produce light when a high voltage current is passed between
two tungsten electrodes through a mixture of Xenon (an inert gas) and certain other metal halides.
This type of bulb can be identified as follows:


Has no filiment, but instead has two opposed electrodes that are housed in a capsule the size of a pea,
and then is enclosed inside a secondary glass bulb.



When turned ON, will illuminate immediately and then over the period of several seconds continue to
brighten until it has reached its maximum rated output.



When turned OFF, no afterglow will be present.



Has an HID Control Unit; usually attached to the headlamp assembly.

LED (Light Emiting Diode) bulb
LED bulbs are semiconductor devices, which illuminate when forward bias electric voltage is applied.
This type of bulb can be identified as follows:


Has no filiment or electrodes as described for Halogen or Xenon bulbs.



When turned ON, the bulb reaches maximum rated output immediately.



When turned OFF, light output immediately stops; no afterglow present.



Has a Control Module; usually attached to the headlamp assembly.

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ITB03-051k