997.2 rear light condensation
Discussion
Condensation doesn't usually affect the function of the lights. They can start malfunctioning once there is significant water sloshing around.
Many of us have had them replaced under extended warranty. Haven't seen any DIY repairs so far. If they have developed a gap where the white part joins, then you might have some success re-sealing.
A guy on 911UK was talking about starting a group buy at a reduced, but as yet unspecified, amount.
Many of us have had them replaced under extended warranty. Haven't seen any DIY repairs so far. If they have developed a gap where the white part joins, then you might have some success re-sealing.
A guy on 911UK was talking about starting a group buy at a reduced, but as yet unspecified, amount.
I had this problem on mine 5 years ago.
The cheap fix which is what i did is to allow them to vent properly!
Take them off the car and remove the plastic stickers covering the holes in the rear, this will allow them to vent to some degree - also add a few more by drill approx 6mm holes in the rear casing in appropriate positions!
I have had no condensation since - and that was 5 years ago and my car lives outside in the drive!
The cheap fix which is what i did is to allow them to vent properly!
Take them off the car and remove the plastic stickers covering the holes in the rear, this will allow them to vent to some degree - also add a few more by drill approx 6mm holes in the rear casing in appropriate positions!
I have had no condensation since - and that was 5 years ago and my car lives outside in the drive!
My first 997 had this and the lights were replaced.
This week the GTS was in for the gearbox issue and I asked them to look at the huge bubbles in the rear lamps. They said that they need to be worse than that to be replaced. So I have a while to wait before they can be fixed...
I took them off the car the other week and dried them out indoors for the night. Within two weeks they were sodden again...
This week the GTS was in for the gearbox issue and I asked them to look at the huge bubbles in the rear lamps. They said that they need to be worse than that to be replaced. So I have a while to wait before they can be fixed...
I took them off the car the other week and dried them out indoors for the night. Within two weeks they were sodden again...
Check between the red and the clear bits. I had 2 where the lenses separated at the joint between the reversing light (clear section) and the rest of the light.
They filled with water and I had the it's normal response. So I fillled both with water by washing the car (jet wash) until they stopped working. At this point they were changed in warranty. This is a few years ago though.
Never had the same issue with my 991.
They filled with water and I had the it's normal response. So I fillled both with water by washing the car (jet wash) until they stopped working. At this point they were changed in warranty. This is a few years ago though.
Never had the same issue with my 991.
I've had the same problem on both sides for several years - it started just after the car went out of OPC warranty period. Again, it's where the clear section joins the red - it separates on the join and water is allowed in. Totally a design fault - my son's 996 doesn't have similar problems, neither does my 15 year old Peugeot Boxer van!!
I've also drilled the underside of the light body to allow water to drain away and that has prevented a build up of water in the lens.
What irritates me is you would spend about £1100 replacing both sides but the expectation would be that they would fail again within 3 or 4 years. It's simply unacceptable. 50 year old classic cars don't have this sort of problem!
As it's a known problem and obviously a design fault, I'm tempted to contact Porsche UK and say that I'll take them to the Small Claims Court if they don't refund the cost. It would help if several owners joined the claim to demonstrate that it's not just one complaint.
How about it guys?
I've also drilled the underside of the light body to allow water to drain away and that has prevented a build up of water in the lens.
What irritates me is you would spend about £1100 replacing both sides but the expectation would be that they would fail again within 3 or 4 years. It's simply unacceptable. 50 year old classic cars don't have this sort of problem!
As it's a known problem and obviously a design fault, I'm tempted to contact Porsche UK and say that I'll take them to the Small Claims Court if they don't refund the cost. It would help if several owners joined the claim to demonstrate that it's not just one complaint.
How about it guys?
monstro said:
I had this problem on mine 5 years ago.
The cheap fix which is what i did is to allow them to vent properly!
Take them off the car and remove the plastic stickers covering the holes in the rear, this will allow them to vent to some degree - also add a few more by drill approx 6mm holes in the rear casing in appropriate positions!
I have had no condensation since - and that was 5 years ago and my car lives outside in the drive!
i did the same thing and 90% of the condensation was removed. i keep the car in a dry garage and dont often use in rain. but it worked fine and as my car was out of warranty i had no choice except new ones. the 997.1 standard lights have seals for the bulb holder that can be smeared with vaseline once the moisture has been removed with a hairdryer. i think from memory the 997.2 were sealed LED units. ( clearly not sealed enough).The cheap fix which is what i did is to allow them to vent properly!
Take them off the car and remove the plastic stickers covering the holes in the rear, this will allow them to vent to some degree - also add a few more by drill approx 6mm holes in the rear casing in appropriate positions!
I have had no condensation since - and that was 5 years ago and my car lives outside in the drive!
I had the condensation problem with my 997/2 a few years ago..close inspection of the plastic lens cover shows it's made up of two parts ( red&clear) bonded together along the horizontal seam.It's usually the bonded joint that fails ( and it was on my car) ...quite difficult to see...pressure on the lens each side of join showed movement proving the bonding had parted allowing water ingress. My initial contac with OPC wasn't positive re warranty replacement but showed them the split joints and lamps were replaced foc. Worth a close look to identify the actual source of "condensation" Thankfully the 991 I've got now has one piece lens so at least Porsche responded to design fault.
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