Have I knackered my s3 xenons!!!!!!

[simch]

Decided to pressure clean the engine bay of the s3 today, its not been done in ages.

After I'd done, Ii noticed all the headlights were steamed up......? WTF, I thought they were fully sealed?

I put thoe lights on and 90% of it cleared but once cooled they are fogged again.........? Any ideas how to sort it, I know the lens cannot come off, but is it a case of removiing them and sticking them in the airing supboard, or will it just clear?
Also, I took the rubber strips off the top of the lights to clean them, and didn't really look at there position to put them back in place! I think i got it right, but anypone got a pic of an engine bay that shows how they go on...? Double D'oh!

 

[ChriS3]

It's just one of those things that happens I'm afraid. There's no damage done, they just get a little water in there and condensation builds up. Should be fine in the morning.

 

[MattS5]

As said above. The same happened to mine, it's a common occurence (sp) due to the fact they have a vent on them somewhere to let the heat dissipate from the light.
Mine did take a week or 2 to dry out, but it did in the end

 

[rodenal]

Another thing, i wouldnt ever steam clean an engine bay unless you know exactly what u can and cant soak!

 

[simch]

I used a pressure cleaner and not a steam cleaner. Steam cleaners are far higher presure and hot water so can cause more problems. To be fair the VAG 20v is very resilient to a good soaking and I am pretty careful what I spray. I think the lights area got a bit wet when I closed the bonnet, as I'd cleaned the felt carpet under the bonet, which probably dripped from its front edge into the rear of the lights once I closed it.
I'll watch that again, or leave the hood up to let it drip dry from the rear.