i was telling luder94 about how i kept getting water in my tail lights. he said Harry(Hecash) had the same problem and a solution. Urmil said there was a seal or something that was changed that fixed the problem.

i'm on my 3rd tail lamp (all under warranty) and about to go in to have this one replaced. if there's a solution for this, i can bring this up with the service writer and have his tech do it.

so what did you do to keep water out the tail light housing Harry?

 

Harry had an issue with water getting into the trunk, not the tail light. However one of the seals allowing the water run-off was blocking the 'gutter'.

My guess is that the same seal is forcing the water on your car to drain over the tail light, instead of into the trunk.

 

Best thing to do is to get a pitcher of water and pour some into the gutter with the trunk lid open and watch which way the water runs off...take note of how much water drains to the bumper (which is the right place for it to drain).

Then close the trunk lid and pour the same amount of water into the seam between the trunk lid and the quarter panel. Take note of how much water drains from the bumper cover then.

If it's the same amount, then you may have an issue with water getting into the tail light from the bottom.

 

I just addressed this issue on Sunday. I had condensation in my light worse than ever after this weekends overnight storms in Wisconsin. To fix it I did this:

1. Remove Taillight
2. Remove all of the bulbs
3. Swirl the loose water around so it drains through the light area and out the bulb sockets. Also try to manuever the water so that if possible you find where the seal is damaged on the outer most portion (where the clear meets the black plastic)
4. Take a hair dryer to it until ALL of the condensation and droplets are gone from the interior of the light. Shake it every once in a while to free up water that may be stuck in tight areas.
5. Take some silicone and bead it around the area where the clear lens meets the black plastic. Wipe away the excess with your finger. You can go all the way around like I did or if you find the damaged part of the seal then you can just do that part. I went on the safe side and carefully did the whole thing. Do not get any on the clear lens, if you do wipe it immediately and same goes for the black plastic that is visible when you open the trunk on the inner-most portion of the light. That is pourus and not very forgiving.
6. Reassemble

Hope this helps... It worked for me at least!

 

Harry are the tail lights sealed? I have an ap1 pair in the basement and will check where/how water gets in if they are sealed. I'm assuming ap1 and ap2 assemblies are not too much different from each other.

 

Black Betty has ponted out to me that both AP1 AND AP2 tail lights assemblies are NOT completely sealed. there is a small, what i can only assume as a vent hole, at the base of the lamps.

 

He shouldn't have to worry about getting locked in the trunk....don't the newer ones have the yellow pull tag so that anyone that does get stuck in the trunk can open it from inside?

 

He is definatly small enough.

 

i'll bring that up with the service writer. he and i used to work at a dealer together so he trusts what i tell him reguarding my car.
and if his tech cant come up with anything, i'll just plug the vent holes.

 

If you plug up the vent holes, you may end up getting nasty condensation in the housing.