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Tail light full of water...help

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Old 07-21-2013, 01:52 PM
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Default 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?
Old 07-21-2013, 11:02 PM
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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.
Old 07-22-2013, 01:27 AM
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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!
Old 07-23-2013, 10:52 AM
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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.

Last edited by Whiplash88; 07-23-2013 at 12:27 PM.
Old 07-25-2013, 12:12 AM
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Drill some 1/16 to 1/8 inch drain holes in the bottom of the your lights - problem solved.
Old 07-25-2013, 03:28 AM
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Thumbs down duh

Originally Posted by great421
Drill some 1/16 to 1/8 inch drain holes in the bottom of the your lights - problem solved.
Why you riding on my coat tails after i told him to drill and do samething! hello....
Old 02-21-2016, 05:54 PM
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Will this also prevent the silver in the tail lights from dulling? or just slow it down?
Old 02-23-2016, 06:23 PM
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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.
Old 02-24-2016, 08:54 AM
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This is a great write up..............


http://www.ls1.com/forums/f36/how-re...rd-ws6-163800/

Last edited by silverformula; 02-25-2016 at 08:35 AM.
Old 02-29-2016, 11:55 PM
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I just noticed this happening to my light. Thanks for reviving this old thread.
Old 07-20-2023, 09:05 AM
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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 👍
Old 07-29-2023, 07:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Y2K-WS.6
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 👍
Just curious what chrome spray paint has to do with water in a tail light?
can you please help me understand the relationship…thanks 😀
Old 07-29-2023, 08:09 AM
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Originally Posted by bgw70
Just curious what chrome spray paint has to do with water in a tail light?
can you please help me understand the relationship…thanks 😀
Pay attention now in case it passes by too fast for you.
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.



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