Service

Technical Information

114/16 ENU

9415

9

Assessment of Extent of Fogging on Lighting Components (114/16)
Modifications overview:
Release

Date

Modification

1

05/16/2018

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First publication

2

05/27/2025

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•
•

Order types added
Test sequence added
Graphics adjusted

3

07/30/2025

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Information added under Work Procedure step 1

Model Line:

All model lines

Model Year:

As of 2006

Concerns:

The following lighting components:
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Cause:

Headlights
Side direction indicator
Front direction indicator light
Fog lights
Auxiliary headlight
number plate light
Rear light
Aux. brake light

Customers complain that lighting components are fogged up.
Particularly in cold outside temperatures (autumn and winter) and/or when air humidity is high (geographical
location, special climatic conditions), moisture can build up on the inside of the lens.

Information
Lighting components are not designed to be completely leak-tight due to the open, spray water-proof ventilation system (required for pressure compensation purposes).
A build-up of moisture on lighting components is not caused by a defect and does not reduce the light output
in any way. For this reason, if lighting components fog up, this is not a safety-relevant complaint and does
not necessarily justify replacement of the affected lighting components.
Approval for replacing lighting components and the relevant invoicing must be evaluated based on the
following pictures.

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Technical Information

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This Technical Information is designed to help you to assess the fogging and explain the situation to the
customer.
This is not a flat-rate release for the replacement of components. The decision to replace a component
must be made based on the information provided in this document. If you are not sure in some cases, we
recommend that you get in touch with a contact person with higher authority.
•

When replacing components that will be settled under warranty or goodwill, clear documentation is
absolutely essential and must be attached to the job.

⇒ The documentation will be checked if required during the PSA (Porsche Service Analysis).
⇒ Furthermore, we reserve the right to reject warranty claims if the instructions relating to documentation
are not observed.
Action:

Check ventilation of the affected lighting component and then evaluate the condensation.
For assessment purposes, fogging is classified in four levels:
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Step 1: Lighting component is fogged up
Step 2: Light-emitting surface is fogged up
Step 3: Slight drops forming on lighting component
Step 4: Significant drops forming on lighting component

Depending on the level of defrosting, different actions must be carried out.
Further information is described in the following sections.

Checking ventilation of the lighting component
Work Procedure: 1

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Þ Aeration and ventilation elements (982 shown as
Check the ventilation and aeration elements ⇒
an example) -1- on the affected lighting component for soiling, correct seating and damage and if
necessary clean, install properly or replace.
Þ Aeration and ventilation
If necessary, order the corresponding ventilation and aeration elements ⇒
elements (982 shown as an example) -1- individually via the Porsche spare parts catalogue (PET2).

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Technical Information

114/16 ENU

9415

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Information
Also check that any service flaps or covers on the headlights are correctly installed and positioned and
secure them properly if necessary.

Aeration and ventilation elements
(982 shown as an example)

Aeration and ventilation elements (9YA
shown as an example)

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Aeration and ventilation elements (95B
shown as an example)

Step 1: The lighting component is fogged up
Work Procedure: 1

Þ Step 1: Lighting component fogged up -1- and
Perform a visual inspection of the lighting component ⇒
assess the situation.
Information
See "Tips for explaining the situation to customers" so that you will be better able to explain this physical
occurrence to the customer.

2

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Þ Step 1: Lighting component
If only the technical design area of the lighting component is fogged up ⇒
fogged up -Marking-, this will not affect the light output.
Þ Step 1: Lighting component fogged up -1- will not correct the
Replacing the lighting component ⇒
problem.

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114/16 ENU

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Step 1: Lighting component fogged up

Step 2: The light-emitting surface is fogged up
Information
If there is soiling within the lighting component (e.g. limescale residues), a "ventilation journey" is no longer
expedient. In this case, the affected lighting component must be replaced.
Work Procedure: 1

Þ Step 2: Light-emitting surface fogged up -1Perform a visual inspection of the lighting component ⇒
and assess the situation.

2

Þ
If the technical design area and the technical lighting area of the lighting component are fogged up ⇒
Þ Step 2: Light-emitting
Step 2: Light-emitting surface fogged up -Marking-, the lighting component ⇒
surface fogged up -1- must be checked.

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Step 2: Light-emitting surface fogged up
2.1

Check gap dimensions and air gaps of the affected lighting component and correct them if
necessary. ⇒ Workshop Manual '5X00IN Gap dimension'

2.2

If not already done, check the ventilation and aeration elements.
For work procedure, see: ⇒ Technical Information '5X00IN Checking ventilation of the lighting
component'

Information
Dirty or damaged aeration and ventilation elements must be replaced before the test drive.
3

Test-drive the vehicle for at least 30 minutes at a consistent increased speed of 50 km/h (30 mph) (no
Stop & Go) and dipped beam on and check whether the fogging clears.
Information
See "Tips for explaining the situation to customers" so that you will be better able to explain this physical
occurrence to the customer.
•
•

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If the fogging clears, replacing the lighting component will not correct the problem.
If the fogging does not clear, replace lighting components and complete the relevant documentation.

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Step 3: Slight drops forming on the lighting component
Work Procedure: 1
2

Þ Step 3: Slight drops forming on lighting
Perform a visual inspection of the lighting component ⇒
component -1- and assess the situation.
If the technical design area and the technical lighting area of the lighting component are fogged up
Þ Step 3: Slight drops forming on lighting component
and there are slight drops of moisture forming ⇒
Þ Step 3: Slight drops forming on lighting component -1- must be
-Marking-, the lighting component ⇒
checked.

Step 3: Slight drops forming on lighting component
2.1

Check gap dimensions and air gaps of the affected lighting component and correct them if
necessary. ⇒ Workshop Manual '5X00IN Gap dimension'

2.2

If not already done, check the ventilation and aeration elements.
For work procedure, see: ⇒ Technical Information '5X00IN Checking ventilation of the lighting
component'

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Information
Dirty or damaged aeration and ventilation elements must be replaced before the test drive.
3

Test-drive the vehicle for at least 30 minutes at a consistent increased speed of 50 km/h (30 mph) (no
Stop & Go) and dipped beam on and check whether the fogging clears.
Information
If there is soiling within the lighting component (e.g. limescale residues), a "ventilation journey" is no
longer expedient. In this case, the affected lighting component must be replaced.

Information
See "Tips for explaining the situation to customers" so that you will be better able to explain this physical
occurrence to the customer.
•
•

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If the fogging clears and the amount of drops forming is reduced, replacing the lighting component
will not correct the problem.
If the fogging does not clear and the amount of drops forming is not reduced, replace the lighting
component and complete the relevant documentation.

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Step 4: Significant drops forming on the lighting component
Work Procedure: 1
2

Perform a visual inspection of the lighting component ⇒ Step 4: Significant drops forming on lighting
component -1- and assess the situation.
If the technical design area and the technical lighting area of the lighting component are fogged up
and there are significant drops of moisture forming ⇒ Step 4: Significant drops forming on lighting
component -Marking-, the lighting component ⇒ Step 4: Significant drops forming on lighting
component -1- must be replaced.

Step 4: Significant drops forming on lighting component

Tips for explaining the situation to customers
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Due to the open, spray water-proof ventilation system (required for pressure compensation purposes),
there are different “climate zones” inside a lighting component. Very hot spots, where the lens is heated
by the light and relatively cool spots, where the lens is cooled by the airflow while driving.
This can cause the moisture on the inside of the lens to condense, particularly when air humidity is high
and there are significant differences in temperature.
Lighting components can also fog up after driving through a car wash or after cleaning the vehicle using
a high-pressure cleaner.

⇒ The physical process of fogging does not affect the light function in any way and also does not constitute
a safety-relevant complaint.
Depending on the environmental conditions, fogging can occur in each lighting component and is particularly
clear in versions with a clear glass look.

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PCSS
encryption:

ENU

Technical Information

114/16

Information
The fault location “Headlights” listed is only selected as an example. For invoicing and documentation, the
lighting component in question must always be specified using the relevant coding.
Example PCSS encryption:

Location (FES5)

94150

Headlights

Damage type (SA4)

5012

Fogging up, condensation, moisture

Important Notice: Technical Bulletins issued by Porsche Cars North America, Inc. are intended only for use by professional automotive technicians who have attended Porsche service training courses. They are
written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some Porsche vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper servicing of a vehicle. Porsche special tools may be necessary in
order to perform certain operations identified in these bulletins. Use of tools and procedures other than those Porsche recommends in these bulletins may be detrimental to the safe operation of your vehicle, and
may endanger the people working on it. Properly trained Porsche technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do the job properly and safely. Part numbers listed in these bulletins
are for reference only. The work procedures updated electronically in the Porsche PIWIS diagnostic and testing device take precedence and, in the event of a discrepancy, the work procedures in the PIWIS Tester
are the ones that must be followed.

© 2025 Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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