Anyone Else Notice How Easy Headlamps Get Dirty?

[Aurissimo]

the 2007 model headlamps ( not sure about the new ones... ) have this bulbous/rounded shape up front that seems to catch the air in the front inner lower corner (closer to centre grille).... and seem to clog up with dirt quicker than any other car I ever owned!

The air does not seem to flow over the headlamp, causing motorway crud, salt etc to collect in front of the main beam and very quickly reducing the forward light projection...

I find it unbelievable that every couple of weeks ( yes i do a lot of motorway miles!!!) i have to actually wipe the surface of headlamps... I have never had to do this on any or my many cars i have owned in the past...

what is your experience?.

[Uncle Buck]

You're absolutely right about them - only on wet days or especially after the roads have been salted, it's much worse. In those conditions, I have to clean the headlamp glass every night after work, just to maintain a decent level of illumination. I can tell very quickly when the lights begin to get dirty & the beam penetration degrades.

Just an unfortunate by-product of the design I'm afraid !

[Red Yaris 54]

Headlamps and rear lights/ Number plate lights should be cleaned and kept clean

This usually means wiping them over every couple of days (at least) when the weather is bad

It is an offence to drive with dirty or obstructed lights

[Aurissimo]

Whilst I am very aware of legal requirements, I kind of don't care about what the law says, I care more about the impact it has on my safety, and I just wanted to get a broader opinion on this subject. As I say, I have never in the past had this level of dirt accumulation on headlamps before, which in my view points to some fundamental errors on aerodynamics development of the front end...

I am keeping my headlamps clean, not for legal reasons, but for safety reasons.

Funnily enough I find the RR screen and number plates actually stay cleaner longer than other cars I have had.

as you guys say it seems to be one of those things... and it might only be an "Auris" thing.

[Daveyonthemove]

I use rainex on all external glass, and it does help a bit on the lights, but they do get dirty eventually.

I also find that standard halogen bulbs in these lamps are useless, but thats a whole new debate when it comes to alternatives...

[Sandy52]

I usually clean all the glass once a week, conditions permitting, I find that enough, but I dont drive on motorways.

[Uncle Buck]

I also use Rainex on the front & rear w/screens, but not on the headlamps ! The rear glass is terrible for being covered in crud very quickly on a wet day, but Rainex does help water run off a bit easier.

[AURISTR01]

If your a family man with kids pinch keep a pack of baby wipes and keep them in your car, they work quite well for the headlights.

Every week or two when I check the oil and water I have made it a habit of cleaning the headlights with wipes as well.

Its not just with the Auris even from previous cars I have owned the same happens more noticeable in winter with the road grit and , try using a brighter headlight bulb to see if it makes any difference.

If you notice the modern cars have bigger headlights so it will be happening to most cars.

[FROSTYBALLS]

The headlights on my 2009 Auris don't get as dirty as my previous Corolla's. Had headlight protectors on both. The protectors on the Auris stand proud of the actual headlights - so there may be a different effect aerodynamically as regards how dirt deposits.

[cabcurtains]

I'm sure the projector headlights have a heat spot which bakes the crud on, and this covers the bulb making the lights lose their brightness quickly. Our Yaris doesnt have these types of lights so the heat appears to be spread more evenly.

[Daveyonthemove]

Mine don't get so hot thanks tho the HID bulbs.

[UK Republic]

Do you all realise that your car is so good the only thing you get to complain about is how dirty the headlight are, and it's still winter!

[UK Republic]

I meant to put one of these in my last post!

[Daveyonthemove]

Really???

I think there are more complaints on these cars than dirty headlights (in fact, I don't see dirty headlights as a problem anyway).

[Uncle Buck]

Yeah - try MPG, DPF's, DMF's, head gaskets, etc, lol !

[Aurissimo]

Rainex ... I use it on a weekly basis on windscreens... never dawned on me...I could use on headlamps DOH!

Trust me I have suffered and still suffer loads of issues , more than i have on any other jap car i have owned, the lamps were just one of those things, not an problem as such, but actually an annoying living niggly problem ...

but after 130k miles I can now put them into perspective and realise that actually the car has started every morning, tanked up and down motorways with the best, and only had a breakdown were i needed (puncture!) after 110k miles... so overall now learning to love the old hag with her idiosyncratic niggles...

[Daveyonthemove]

Yeah - try MPG, DPF's, DMF's, head gaskets, etc, lol !

Well, yes, those are big problems, but not problems that are common across all Auris.

I was thinking:

Poor volume from car stereo (CD/Radio unit)

Poor sound proofing (road noise)

Seats that struggle to click into place (3 door models)

Dangerous car mats (poorly thought out clips)

Stupidly low windscreen washer jets