Mk3 headlights
Discussion
On one occasion after washing the car, I noticed a row of drips of water had entered the o/s headlight bowl and had somehow got past the reflector but trapped behind the outer plastic lens.
I was hopeful it would dry out which it did and has never ever leaked again however I am left with a row of water marks which I want to remedy.
The question is how can you access this area? I was led to believe that the whole headlamp unit and plastic cover is one unit but as it is painted then I would assume that they can be parted.
Is it possible to remove the plastic lens cover and then refit and reseal, or is there an alternative option, such as removal of the lamp bowl assembly from the rear and wheel arch aperture?
Picture of offending dirty vehicle
I was hopeful it would dry out which it did and has never ever leaked again however I am left with a row of water marks which I want to remedy.
The question is how can you access this area? I was led to believe that the whole headlamp unit and plastic cover is one unit but as it is painted then I would assume that they can be parted.
Is it possible to remove the plastic lens cover and then refit and reseal, or is there an alternative option, such as removal of the lamp bowl assembly from the rear and wheel arch aperture?
Picture of offending dirty vehicle
Edited by Cats on Tuesday 1st December 19:48
Cats said:
On one occasion after washing the car, I noticed a row of drips of water had entered the o/s headlight bowl and had somehow got past the reflector but trapped behind the outer plastic lens.
I was hopeful it would dry out which it did and has never ever leaked again however I am left with a row of water marks which I want to remedy.
The question is how can you access this area? I was led to believe that the whole headlamp unit and plastic cover is one unit but as it is painted then I would assume that they can be parted.
Is it possible to remove the plastic lens cover and then refit and reseal, or is there an alternative option, such as removal of the lamp bowl assembly from the rear and wheel arch aperture?
Picture of offending dirty vehicle
Hi NeilI was hopeful it would dry out which it did and has never ever leaked again however I am left with a row of water marks which I want to remedy.
The question is how can you access this area? I was led to believe that the whole headlamp unit and plastic cover is one unit but as it is painted then I would assume that they can be parted.
Is it possible to remove the plastic lens cover and then refit and reseal, or is there an alternative option, such as removal of the lamp bowl assembly from the rear and wheel arch aperture?
Picture of offending dirty vehicle
Edited by Cats on Tuesday 1st December 19:48
As your mk3 lights are not retro fitted they may be different factory fit, mine look the same but fitted them myself to a mk1
The plastic cover is bonded and screwed onto the pods
The pods are then bonded to the wings on the inside and pointed around the edge to make a good seal
I fitted the light units to the pods before bonding them into the wings
It is possible to remove the pods ( did need to replace one of the plastic covers) but it was a lot of work breaking the bonding to get the pods out and then needing to re bond them back in and re-point the edge. Once the pods are out remove the light unit to create large access into back of the plastic cover.
I would consider going in through the access panel in the wheel arch, my Mk1 did not have access so needed to make them, remove the bulb and holder and with a made up cloth on a long stick it may be able to wipe the inside of the plastic cover, it may help if you are a gynaecologist
Sorry Neil - yes you are right the headlight glass would stop access - must have had one too many
Depending on the size of the access panel you may be able to remove the fixings holding the sealed light unit onto the pods, from memory these are quite close to the inner wheel arch. If the fixings are not directly behind the access hole you may need to drill some new holes through the inner arch to get a screwdriver onto these fixings, the sealed light unit could slide to the side to gain access inside the pods.
Probably a fiddley and time consuming job but removing the pods would be more of a flaff IMHO
Andy
Depending on the size of the access panel you may be able to remove the fixings holding the sealed light unit onto the pods, from memory these are quite close to the inner wheel arch. If the fixings are not directly behind the access hole you may need to drill some new holes through the inner arch to get a screwdriver onto these fixings, the sealed light unit could slide to the side to gain access inside the pods.
Probably a fiddley and time consuming job but removing the pods would be more of a flaff IMHO
Andy
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