duh 
Tail light full of water...help
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 45
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From: Charlotte, NC
Tail light full of water...help My drivers side taillight has about a half a gallon of water in it, passenger side is fine but just has a little moisture in it, both lights work.
Anybody know how to remove the light so I can drain the water out and clean it?
Anybody know how to remove the light so I can drain the water out and clean it?
If you pull back the carpeting in the hatch area, there are plastic twisting pieces that you can remove by hand ( no tools at all ) and the the lights will come right out.
Make sure you pull the bulb sockets out before you take the light itself out. Infact, I would do that before you even loosen the plastic pieces. Less chance of the sockets going for a swim.
Make sure you pull the bulb sockets out before you take the light itself out. Infact, I would do that before you even loosen the plastic pieces. Less chance of the sockets going for a swim.
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 24
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From: inland empire, ca.
If you take tail lights off and drain them like kevin said, they will just fill up with water again when your next car wash or rain comes. I too had that problem, you can try to reseal the tail light lense edges but it will be a mess. Heres what i did, i drilled 1/8" holes at bottom of tail light housing. One hole center edge and a hole at ends edge. I never had a problem since, the water drains now and you dont see holes. Plus i installed rear tail light shades (smoke lense) and they look awesome! p.s. remember to clean bulbs before putting them back in sockets and use eletric grease in sockets to prevent corrossion!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 45
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From: Charlotte, NC
Found the 5th screw, got everything off and drained all that water out, drivers side light is brighter now.
I cant figure out how the water got in there though, all the bulbs still have seals on em, nothing had a hole or crack in it, it probably doesnt help that this summer its rained every day or that i wash my car every sunday but the passenger side light is fine.weird.
I cant figure out how the water got in there though, all the bulbs still have seals on em, nothing had a hole or crack in it, it probably doesnt help that this summer its rained every day or that i wash my car every sunday but the passenger side light is fine.weird.
Last edited by Whiplash88; Jul 23, 2013 at 12:27 PM.
Teching In
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From: inland empire, ca.
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On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Ohio
It will slow it down but if you never had water in your lens you'll be O.K.
What GM did when they made this cars they used cheap glue for the taillight lens. What you should do is put a bead of RTV silicone sealant on the top of the lens whear it meets the housing after drilling some small holes in the bottom like great421 said.
What GM did when they made this cars they used cheap glue for the taillight lens. What you should do is put a bead of RTV silicone sealant on the top of the lens whear it meets the housing after drilling some small holes in the bottom like great421 said.
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Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Ohio
Last edited by silverformula; Feb 25, 2016 at 08:35 AM.
https://www.google.com/search?q=chro...obile&ie=UTF-8
Here is the link to a chrome spray paint search I did. I don't know if any of it is available where you are or if any of it can be shipped but something on there has to be available to you. I personally think that spray is your best choice and will give you the most satisfactory result. Good luck 👍
Here is the link to a chrome spray paint search I did. I don't know if any of it is available where you are or if any of it can be shipped but something on there has to be available to you. I personally think that spray is your best choice and will give you the most satisfactory result. Good luck 👍
https://www.google.com/search?q=chro...obile&ie=UTF-8
Here is the link to a chrome spray paint search I did. I don't know if any of it is available where you are or if any of it can be shipped but something on there has to be available to you. I personally think that spray is your best choice and will give you the most satisfactory result. Good luck 👍
Here is the link to a chrome spray paint search I did. I don't know if any of it is available where you are or if any of it can be shipped but something on there has to be available to you. I personally think that spray is your best choice and will give you the most satisfactory result. Good luck 👍
can you please help me understand the relationship…thanks 😀
Water gets in tail light, tail light inner reflective surface goes bad and starts showing blackish through the lens, tail light comes out is taken apart and the reflective surface is restored with chrome spray paint, tail light goes back together and is resealed in the process, tail light goes back into the car as good as new and they all lived happily ever after. There have to be at least a half dozen similar threads to this one on the forum.
ETA: If the reflective surface isn't showing blackish yet it will be in a couple of months. They start to disintegrate once wet can't do anything about it.
