shadowknight

Is there a gasket for the tail ligths, I just noticed after a good thunderstorm that I have a pool of water just below the toolkit : (

Randy V

That's usually caused by a leak in the hatch - often times in the area of the latch assembly.

Nicole

I believe there is a rubber gasket where the tail light bolt goes through the bumper cover. However, as Randy points out, ther ere other, more likely causes for the water you describe.

shadowknight

After replacing the hatch gasket and thinking my leaks from the Florida storms was finaly over, today I noticed I still have a leak and I am certain it is comming from those speed nuts that secure the tail lights to the body of the car. It appears that there is a gasket/gromet that is supposed to keep everything water tight and a washer/tail light spacer. I have found the washer online on several web sites but cant find the gasket/groment. Anyone know where I can pick a set up at? Attached is a image which shows the rear light assembly, number 6 is the washer and number 5 is the speed nut the gasket/groment would be sandwhiched between the two.

Alan

# 6 is basically a washer with a slight lip on the inside and a rubber disk covereing it. The rubber is not very thick ~1mm You can just buy a rubber washer at a hardware store and a washer to support it. Get one with a small central hole for a compressison fit to the stud on the light housing. Maybe a fender washer would be good to support it.

BTW Thumb Screw -> Washer -> Rubber Washer - Rear Tool Panel Rear Surface...

However I'd seriously doubt there is much water getting in there... its well above the level of the floor in the cutout for the light fixture and not really exposed...

Alan

ROG100

Item 6 is a grommett as already said - from Porsche and at my price it is a whopping $18.95 and thats each.
I would go with Alans suggestion.

dr bob

For the S4+ cars, I've been sharing some thin cloased-cell foam weatherstrip to use as a gasket around the perimeter of the lamp assy where it sits in the bumper housing. Part of the installation include drilling a few small holes in the bottom of the recess in the bumper housing to let water out. This part of the task actually came from a TSB for something similar to what you are experiencing. Anyway, the combo of gasket and drain holes limits the amount of water that gets into the bumper recess. My reasoning was different though- I was trying to limit the flow of crud out of the taillight area after washing the car. The gasket material is a little less than 1/8". I cut a couple pieces 1/2" wide, an a few feet long. It needs to be long enough to go around the lamp completely. Install it just forward of the outer edge so it's out of sight when the lamp assy is installed and you are good to go.

The attached pis show the gasket install, and the holes needed in the bumper shell to drain any water that gets past the gasket.

Big Easy Sharkster

I had this problem also and believe that the water was coming either around the washer (bad gasket) and/or leaking thru the threads on the speed nut. However, the water was coming down the channel for the aft hatch, accumulating at the bottom of the channel where, if the rubber drain piece is missing, will then come down between the inner and outer shell in the area of light bolt penetration. In other words, it's not a case of water accumlating on the bottom of the rear light inset.

I hope I said that right, but to make my point, remove the tail light assembley, pour a little water down the rear hatch channel and see where it goes.

Alan

Ahh - that would make more sense as to why it might be flowing there...

Alan

shadowknight

Thanks everyone for the advice, I am going to try Alan's suggestion first if that does not keep my Shark dry then Dr. Bob's advice and pictures will come in handy.


ss mino