MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: chris s on November 17, 2013, 08:56:15 pm

Title: Water in rear light
Post by: chris s on November 17, 2013, 08:56:15 pm
Has anyone else suffered with water ingress in the rear light unit? I seem to be getting quite a bit on, but having taken the unit off the car and bulbs out of the unit I cannot see anyway of getting further into the unit to dry it out.  Has anyone worked this out or if it's possible?
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: G40will on November 17, 2013, 09:13:12 pm
I also have some condensation in one of my outer lights, as have many others on here...

I've not tried it myself yet but a few people have just taken the light right out and dried it either in the airing cupboard or with a hair dryer and them clean the seals up and refit it nice and tight.
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: xjay1337 on November 17, 2013, 09:15:45 pm
As above you can do that, but ultimately it's a common problem and due to the seals perishing.
R32 lights don't do it.
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: G40will on November 17, 2013, 09:21:13 pm
R32 lights don't do it.

Really? How come? Revised seals?
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: xjay1337 on November 17, 2013, 09:28:38 pm
No idea but I've not heard of them doing it.
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: winrya on November 17, 2013, 09:39:56 pm
I replaced 2 ed30 lights as the seals went and filled with water. These are the same as r32 lights so happens to them all
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: chris s on November 17, 2013, 09:43:46 pm
Good to hear I'm not alone but odd it's so common tho... Might get the missus hair dryer involved
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: Andy on November 17, 2013, 09:49:10 pm
my ed30 lights were doing it all the time so i took the out and if you look where edge of the light where it goes to the back quater you can see gaps where moisture gets in so i ran abit of super glue down mine and it sorted it
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: chris s on November 17, 2013, 09:52:13 pm
Cheers mate, so you mean the opposite side to the boot?
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: Andy on November 17, 2013, 09:55:36 pm
take the light out and you will where the gap is
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: Scottymon on November 17, 2013, 09:56:46 pm
I had it in one cluster so replaced via Ebay, think it was £15?  Not even worth faffng with.  R32/Ed.30 lenses would be worth the hassle though.
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: skard on November 17, 2013, 10:07:07 pm
Happened to my ED30 ones.
Try shake out as much water as possible, a few mins with a warm hairdryer, then left over a radiator overnight with some 10g silica gel pads inside too, then a bead of silicon once totally dried sorted it completely.

(If doing that cover up the hole left on the rear quarter panel if your car isn't garaged)
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: chris s on November 17, 2013, 10:10:06 pm
I'll take it off again and look for the gap u mentioned, I couldn't obviously see it yesterday
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: Andy on November 17, 2013, 10:15:37 pm
where the edge of the outer light needs the back quarter look down the inside of that--been trying to find a pic but nt come a cross one
Title: Re: Water in rear light
Post by: xjay1337 on November 18, 2013, 12:55:33 am
What can happen is the seal does perish over time so your best bet is actually using a bit of black silicone sealant! but taking the lights off does help for access and cleaning before hand.
They need to be as dry as possible inside anyway so what a silica bag or put them in your airing cupboard over night.