Light cluster has become a fish bowl
Discussion
Some light condensation in my rear light cluster turns out to be a significant amount of water, the indiactor portion is totally submerged and there is water in the "main" part as well. See google image below.
I think I can fix the cause of the leak (the plastic thread that the bolt screws into has broken, and it therefore isn't pulled tight against the seal, but lets assume I can super glue it back together...)
Is there any mileage in trying to sort the light cluster itself? All lights still work, but I assume leaving the water in there long term will not go well for them
Do these clusters come apart in a way that will enable them to be dried out sufficiently? Will the water already have likely cause some corrosion and therefore it will fail anyway?
Its not a massive cost to replace, but if I can fix the issue without chucking a hunk of plastic into landfill it will give me a warm fuzzy feeling!
I think I can fix the cause of the leak (the plastic thread that the bolt screws into has broken, and it therefore isn't pulled tight against the seal, but lets assume I can super glue it back together...)
Is there any mileage in trying to sort the light cluster itself? All lights still work, but I assume leaving the water in there long term will not go well for them
Do these clusters come apart in a way that will enable them to be dried out sufficiently? Will the water already have likely cause some corrosion and therefore it will fail anyway?Its not a massive cost to replace, but if I can fix the issue without chucking a hunk of plastic into landfill it will give me a warm fuzzy feeling!
If it is still working then fix it. Most light clusters are held together with glue and it's possible to prise them apart with careful force, ignorance, luck and good timing by placing it in an oven or using a heat gun.
I would firstly drill a hole somewhere in the black body section, drain the water and use the hole to help dry it out. Then reseal the hole and any other cracks.
It's a lot of faff when there may be lots available on eBay.
I would firstly drill a hole somewhere in the black body section, drain the water and use the hole to help dry it out. Then reseal the hole and any other cracks.
It's a lot of faff when there may be lots available on eBay.
If it's possible to drill a small drain hole at a low point, such that the runoff isn't going somewhere unwanted like inside the boot, I'd just do that.
But I wouldn't reseal the hole, maybe just put a rubber bung or something in it so you can drain it in situ in future.
Wasn't it VW who had this where the rear lights would fill with water, and it'd wick its way all down the wiring loom and fill the ECU?
But I wouldn't reseal the hole, maybe just put a rubber bung or something in it so you can drain it in situ in future.
Wasn't it VW who had this where the rear lights would fill with water, and it'd wick its way all down the wiring loom and fill the ECU?
InitialDave said:
If it's possible to drill a small drain hole at a low point, such that the runoff isn't going somewhere unwanted like inside the boot, I'd just do that.
But I wouldn't reseal the hole, maybe just put a rubber bung or something in it so you can drain it in situ in future.
Wasn't it VW who had this where the rear lights would fill with water, and it'd wick its way all down the wiring loom and fill the ECU?
Its stories like this that make me want to just junk it and replace it, as i'll never get it properly dry in there!But I wouldn't reseal the hole, maybe just put a rubber bung or something in it so you can drain it in situ in future.
Wasn't it VW who had this where the rear lights would fill with water, and it'd wick its way all down the wiring loom and fill the ECU?
Well I undid the 6 torx screws on the back of the light cluster, and whilst it didn’t come apart, it allowed the water out through one of the holes.
The problem now is that 2 out of the 6 plastic threads seem to have completely disintegrated when being undone and only 4 of the screws go back in!
Just going to junk it and replace it I think!
The problem now is that 2 out of the 6 plastic threads seem to have completely disintegrated when being undone and only 4 of the screws go back in!
Just going to junk it and replace it I think!
Edited by jimmy156 on Thursday 8th September 05:38
jimmy156 said:
Well I undid the 6 torx screws on the back of the cloth cluster, and whilst it didn’t come apart, it allowed the water out through one of the holes.
The problem now is that 2 out of the 6 plastic threads seem to have closed completely disintegrated when being undone and only 4 of the screws go back in!
Just going to junk it and replace it I think!
Probably save you a lot of hassle in the long run.The problem now is that 2 out of the 6 plastic threads seem to have closed completely disintegrated when being undone and only 4 of the screws go back in!
Just going to junk it and replace it I think!
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