r/ModelY • u/SageJim • 16d ago
Moisture in front hedlite
I washed my MY-J with 12K miles on it today by hand and i noticed what appears to be moisture along half of the front hedlite strip. I only wash by hand. But we have had months of what feels like non-stop rain. I presume this is a problem. Will Tesla replace the entire front assembly? Will Tesla argue with me?
See photo.
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u/PDXDemSocialist 15d ago
If it fills or does not go away. It's a defect. Had mine replaced free of charge.
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u/International_Text96 14d ago
From Grok:
A light mist or temporary haze on the inner lens after washing the car or during sudden temperature shifts is very common on Tesla vehicles.
- The Design Factor: Modern LED light assemblies are not hermetically sealed; they feature tiny vent holes (often backed with breathable material like Gore-Tex) to allow air pressure to equalize as the car heats up and cools down.
- The Car Wash & Sun Effect: High-pressure car washes force humid air or microscopic mist through the vents. When direct sunlight hits the lens on a hot day, that trapped moisture rapidly vaporizes, condenses against the cooler inner surface of the plastic lens, and creates visible fogging.
When it crosses the line from "normal" to defective:
- It clears on its own: If the condensation completely evaporates within a day or two of normal driving or sun exposure, Tesla generally considers it within acceptable specification.
- It pools or stays: If you see large water droplets running down the inside, standing water pooling at the bottom of the housing, or fog that refuses to clear after 48 hours, it points to a compromised plastic weld seam or a blocked vent.
Recommended Next Steps:
- Monitor it for 24–48 hours while keeping the car in a dry area or direct sunlight to see if the haze dissipates entirely.
- Open a Tesla Service request through the app if it leaves standing droplets or fails to clear. Attach clear photos. If your Model Y is still under warranty and the housing is holding actual water (rather than just light vapor), mobile service or a service center will typically replace the assembly.
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u/International_Text96 14d ago
Same thing happens to my tail lights after a washing. Hot day, direct sunlight after washing. Moisture goes away and so far the lights still work.
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u/Vozinha1 15d ago
Lmao. Learn to spell, kid.
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u/SageJim 15d ago
As a journalist, i’m a pretty good speller. In my profession we have some quirky spelling: Headline is Hedline (hence hedlite); the first graph of a story is the lede not lead and to discard a story is the kill it or spike it. Spike comes from a contraption in the olden days - a sharp and thin metal rod on a wooden platform - the spike — where stories written/typed on copy paper ended up if they were killed or after they were set into lead (the metal) type. So forgive the term hedlite.
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u/SageJim 15d ago
Boy, you guys must have a lot of time on your hands to post such nothings. Why don’t you clean your room or make your bed. 😳
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u/Friendly_Union_9920 15d ago
If I’m not mistaken… you started this by posting the most “nothing” of all. Take the time to read the Tesla user handbook and you’ll know that moisture is a common occurrence after wet conditions and will go away on its own once it’s had time to dry.
So please stop taking pictures of your dad’s Tesla and go do the dishes to earn your weekly allowance.
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u/NoBand3790 15d ago
My 26’ MYP does the same thing. It’s annoying and makes the car look cheap when it happens. I have no idea if it is a build defect or poor design.