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Leaking rear light

Z

zcacogp

New member
Chaps,

While fiddling around with my car today I noticed that the off-side rear light is half-full of water. It looks like this;

IMG_20140311_171159708_zps8a5a05a5.jpg


Empting it out is easy but it will need to be re-sealed. Has anyone tried to do this? Is there a place they often leak that can be sealed with a little smear of silicone? Or it is new-rear-light-time?


Oli.
 
Normally that's the seal between light and body that's the cause, remove old light clean up and reseal
 
you can try and spot the leak and bodge it up, but probably easier to re-seal. The lights are stuck in pretty fast, I think you need to warm the sealant
 
It's only one "cell", for want of a different word, is it? If there was a lot of water getting through the seal around the lamp cluster wouldn't it be getting in to all of them?

If the cluster has a crack in one area I'd just replace it: although it'll be both sides to get a match they aren't the end of the world new.

If it's the rear lights needing re-sealing then that's straightforward. Buy the right sealant roll, warm it up enough, tighten evenly, and then see it all weep out in the hot weather when you can trim the excess off! [&:]
 
I'm not sure it is a leak into the boot; I re-did both sides a couple of years ago and that side of the boot is (mostly) dry. However it isn't bone dry, so that may be the explanation. Yes, Paul, it is only the one 'cell'.

I have a long roll of the right sealant (from Porsche) so taking them off and re-fitting them again is easy enough. I guess that's the obvious next stage, and I will need to remove that unit to dry it out properly.

How much do replacement units seem to change hands for nowadays? And why would I have to buy both sides to get a match?


Oli.
 
How much do replacement units seem to change hands for nowadays? And why would I have to buy both sides to get a match?
Click to expand...

As you have replaced the seals (thought I remembered you doing that), it's unlikely there is an issue there.

That leaves the obvious reply, that one cell has failed, due to a crack or something, so the easy thing is to replace the unit. If it was a £8K light fitting, I'd suggest drying it out, re-sealing, and then complaining about the condensation, but they aren't that dear! [&:]

Yours will have changed colour over 25 years, so you might want to fit two new units. Of course a used one will be a little bit cheaper, but might not match any better than a new one. The units last at least 25 years, aren't that expensive new, so I'd consider just replacing both. You have the perfect match, and can forget about them it until about 2040....
 
Interesting - I hadn't thought about the colour change aspect.

I'll take it off and have a good look at it. It may yet be that I didn't seal it onto the car that well, in which case the solution is in my hands.

I would be loath to bin an otherwise OK light unit if it can be readily repaired, from both a cost and faff point of view. Would it not be be possible to fill the light unit with water and see where it leaks from?


Oli.
 
Interesting - I hadn't thought about the colour change aspect.
Click to expand...

Most used units are from scrap cars. Most scrap cars are old 924s, or earlier 944s.....

Even if it was a light from a car the same year as yours, it might have spent it's time in a garage, or parked in the sun. The units change colour, obviously, over the years, so there is a risk of spending on a used one that looks awful.

I think it's the amber unit that really changes colour? The oldest 924s seem to have an almost brown indicator lens.

I think the lights were about £75 with Club discount last time I looked. So, £150 buys you both sides, perfectly matched and good for 25 years, and you could well blag most of that back for the old units on fleabay?
 

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Interesting - I hadn't thought about the colour change aspect.

I'll take it off and have a good look at it. It may yet be that I didn't seal it onto the car that well, in which case the solution is in my hands.

I would be loath to bin an otherwise OK light unit if it can be readily repaired, from both a cost and faff point of view. Would it not be be possible to fill the light unit with water and see where it leaks from?


Oli.
Click to expand...

I tried all sorts to stop the water getting in mine, in the end I just drilled a tiny hole in each lower foglight lens to let any water drain out.
 
I would check if its coming in through the hatch pin hole drain pipe may be blocked but it could be coming from the top and running to the lowest point. My father in laws Scirrocco did this and we could not stop it getting in so we drilled small hole in the bottom lowest corner.
 
Blimey, they have gone up. What are they from Porsche though? Must be cheaper than that, then there's discount on top, so probably nearer £100 new?
 
Still quite a chunk of cash, and a bit too rich for my tastes.

I'll see about repairing mine, and drilling drain holes if this doesn't work. Thanks for the input chaps.


Oli.
 
Iv had a few spear lights when doing clear conversions and all the read seems to be different shades. When the lights leak they do ten to fill up the fogs, not sure why but that's where the water ends up.

So a reseal could sort it. Fife not you could get a spear cut it up for one red square if successful smash out the one on your car clean up and glue in.

Iv got some spear lights where the studs have broke so I can send u a unit
 
Or meet up, I'm south east London most weekend iv been working in Stretham so maybe able to sort something on way to or from work
 
Terry,

Thanks - that's a very kind offer. My inclination at the moment is to take the light out and have a good look to see whether I can see where it is leaking. (And I'll need to do that soon - the water level isn't far off the level of the bulb!)

I really appreciate your offer of one of the spare light units. Can I see what I make of my light and get back to you? Thanks.


Oli.
 
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