BTDT on boot leaks from the rear lights

[Bowlerwell]

Careflly examine the light cluster.

- From the outside...is there condensation on the inside of the various lenses?
- From the inside...is there dirt on the white plastic part of the cluster? Are the bulb holders showing signs of corrosion?

If you can answer 'no' to all of these, examine your hatch seal

I can answer "no" to these questions. I think it is my hatch seal that is the problem. I open my boot to find that the inside of the seal is wet. Perhaps I need a new one.

Does anyone know how much one of these will cost me? Or do any of you have one for sale?

Thanks,

JB

[Stick Insect]

I can answer "no" to these questions. I think it is my hatch seal that is the problem. I open my boot to find that the inside of the seal is wet. Perhaps I need a new one.

Does anyone know how much one of these will cost me? Or do any of you have one for sale?

Thanks,

JB

I sealed my lights this way about 2 years ago now. you can use a hose pipe and it won't come in. the water sits on the top of the lights to body joint and just gently drips ( gushes) in. You will need to seal your lights with the proper stuff.

David

[dan_b]

Where do I buy this light cluster sealant from?

[Bowlerwell]

I had to hunt around to find mine.

I can maybe send you some?

A pack has 4 strips in it. I did one side with less than 1 strip.

PM me if you want me to send you some.

JB

[HPmuirt]

Where do I buy this light cluster sealant from?

It is listed on the FA as 'sealing cord in coils of 10m' with the code AKD 497 010 04, but I got a suitable length offcut from a friendly local bodyshop for no charge

Cheers n

Si

[keithsw0]

sealant

the sealant around the lights is it just silicone or is it sealant from audi what is the best stuff to use ? cheers keith

[Keeper of The Kitten]

It's not silicone, it's a very sticky gooey strip of sealant, usually comes on rolls with a bit of shiny backing paper to stop it turning into one nasty mess!

I'm not sure but I think it's available in a sort of white as well as black, presumably to suit the colour of a car.

It's not meant to dry out completely.

I think that it might be described as caulking?

__MDC__

[s2driveruk]

Well completed this on Saturday and fingers crossed I should now have a dry boot. Took about 4hrs as I spent a bit of time farting about with bits of trim and cleaning rather than just getting on with the job in hand.

If you have the old cord (as most of us will...) stuck everywhere then grab a hairdryer, set to low heat and WAIT for the seal to loosen up, took me about 10 mins per side to get the light unit off being conscious that pulling pushing would probably end up with me breaking a light unit.

I found that sliding a stanley knife through the top seal and then down the inside of the side which is usually hidden by the reg plate unit was the easiest way to start moving the lamp about. Once there is a bit of play, then go inside an use a small screwdriver and wiggle it through the seal on the outer edge of the lamp (working from inside the boot) and then the lamp comes out square.

I only ordered 2m of that cord, definately would have needed 50cm more (not for the lights as this was spot on) however there are 4 strips on the central plate plus i used a bit on each of the 6 holes that the black plastic top plate screws back onto.

Would have taken some pictures but unfortunately my camera is sick.....

Fingers crossed for a dry boot!

[Greg_S]

This is a job ive goto do. I tried to do it a month or so back but it was too cold to stay outside for too long and I couldnt get the damn cluster to come off. Much to my annoyance. Will give it another go with a hair dryer and see how I get on. Got other issues to sort first though.

[S2central.net]

I need to do this as well - got a spongey formed bit of carpet under the spare wheel

I thought the trick for getting the clusters out was to loosen the bolts a little bit, then push them (GENTLY) so as to release the grip of the caulking... Doing this gradually and carefully should work OK but I like Dave's idea of the hairdryer to soften the stuff as well.

I need to check first if it really is my rear light seals or the tailgate seal

Paul

[s2driveruk]

personally couldn't shift anything without applying the heat....

so it's Feb and so far thats the aux gauges out for new bulbs, new amplified aerial base installed and the lights finally sealed up. Its gonna be a busy (read expensive...) year this one!

[Greg_S]

How does that tailgate trim come off, because I couldnt find the last fixing in the middle anywhere!

I need to check first if it really is my rear light seals or the tailgate seal

Paul

[Jas11n]

It's behind the number plate section, you have to take that off before you can get the the last two fixings for the upper trim.

Jas..

[Greg_S]

Ah, that would explain it, i couldnt get the number plate section to budge either, took two fixing I could find out on the back of that too. Or is there more on that too??

[Jas11n]

Ah, that would explain it, i couldnt get the number plate section to budge either, took two fixing I could find out on the back of that too. Or is there more on that too??

Nah, centre section is held on by two fixings only, accessed from the inside.
As David mentiones above, it has about four lines of sealer stuff on it, so may just stuck on well.
You don't "have" to take that top trim off, as seen in Si's pics further up, it is possible to do without, unless you want to take the whole lot off to clean everything up.


Jas..