JoeTaylor

Hi Everyone,

About a month ago I replaced all my taillights (and others as well) with new bulbs. This included the tail/brake light bulb.

The other day it rained and I was out in the rain, driving for about a hour and the "!" came on, said a brake light was out. Lo and behold, the right side combo tail/brake light bulb was swimming inside with water. A brand new light bulb.

Where did the water come from? Is this something anyone else has experianced? What is the remedy?

Like Ross Perot, "I'm all ears!"

Thanks,
Joe

soontobered84

I believe Jim M. told me at a GTG to put RTV on the edges of the lens to seal it. Sounded good anyway (After you get it dried out.)

Jim M.

You've got a leak in the tail light lens assy, and yes I did seal mine with RTV. Carfully tape the lens so the RTV doesn't get where it can be seen when reinstalled. Let it cure and reinstall. Your leak is most likely dripping directly on the bulb. When hot the water cools the bulb fast enough to break the seal between the glass and the metal base. That's where the water gets in.

Mrmerlin

more than likely is the brake bulb has melted a hole into the housing . This is on the top of the housing. remove the housing and inspect for melted holes.
Also get a package of door seal strip foam ACE has it IIRC I used 3/8 foam, and put a piece around the the whole outside edge of the light housing about 2 mm from where the lens portion meets the housing then carefully put the housing back into the bumper, this will assist in keeping water from flowing into the bumper and thus into the light housing use alcohol to clean the surface first .
A dab of silicone over the melted spot.
And if the lens is not sealing then a small around that area as well

JoeTaylor

Sorry, maybe I wasnt clear about it, the plastic rear tail light lens assembly is dry!

The water was only INSIDE the glass bulb... no where else! It was like the water sucked inside the bulb itself...

No melted spots in the taillight lens assembly, etc.

Joe

Ninespub

Uh...Joe; with no disrespect intended and a certain amount of humorous curiosity, where can I get whatever you were smoking at the time?

Paul Barrera '91 $$$$4

JoeTaylor

Hi Paul,

No disrespect taken, I am an electrical engineer (Ga Tech) and this is baffling me.

The new brakelight bulb goes out when its raining... a day later, at the auto parts store, I loosen the taillight assembly and pull the bulb out - it is 25% full of water.

Bluish colored water.

No cracks in the bulb glass. Bulb contacts are solid solder, no cracks in the solder.

I tip up the taillight assembly and see if any water runs out of the bulb socket hole, not a drop.

Paul, if you do have some pot, I will PM you with my address.....haha.

VTY,
Joe

M. Requin

Wow. Take the bulb, slowly warm it, maybe stick it near an AC light bulb, and see if any of the water inside leaks out as the air in the bulb expands. The only thing I can think of is that as the hot bulb cooled it sucked in water through some kind of small leak - a fissure or maybe a discontinuity between the glass and one of the internal wire leads. And keep in mind, inquiring minds want to know, so let us know what you (don't) find!

Mrmerlin

replace the bulb and fit the foam seal around the light housings

JoeTaylor

Smiles, high level experiments were planned for the bulb - newclear (thanks GW), thermal and long term exposure to zoo animals.

But, I left the bulb with the counter guy at Advanced Automotive, bluish water and all. Kinda reminded me of an old type flash bulb, but wetter on the inside.

Joe

Martin - you're might be right, that could be the only way to get water in it, with no external cracking. Weird bulb. I would think that cold rain water on (or in) a brake/taillight bulb would have cracked it for sure.

renenkel

The operative words here are "let it cure" before replacing the lens. I had mine in for service some years ago, the the mechanic offered to "fix" a tail light leak. He fixed it alright, with some sort of silicone. 8 years later I still can't remove the lens!!!

Around the same time, I had a non-working bulb. It was Sunday and the stores were closed, so I started to examine it, and realized that the filament was intact and it was the wire to the socket that had failed. I spent most of an hour picking apart the socket, soldering another wire in place, and gluing the bulb back on to the socket with epoxy. I re-installed it, and it worked! I was so proud of myself!

Imagine my dismay when the filament itself failed the very next day!!!

Dennis Wilson

Looks like you got blinker fluid in your brake light bulb.

Had the same thing happen on my 931. A bad leaking bulb that had enough vacuum to pull in humidity. Mrmerlins advise to fix the seal and replace the bulb should cure the problem.

Dennis

Nightfly

+1. I've also had a bulb that sucked up moisture, and I too thought it real odd at first. Over the years, I have used a product called Liquid Rubber to coat the skinny gaskets to running lights, sunroofs, etc. Havent found any more, but permatex makes some kind of rubber stuff: http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut...t_Dressing.htm

a black rubber sealent that seems to work o.k. rather than using the regular silicone stuff.