Sealing rear light pods?

[Sandspider]

Hi all

Think I need to re-seal my rear light pods, as the remaining seal is looking a bit manky. Is this a matter of fitting a replacement seal (had a quick search online but haven't found any so far) or a matter of unbolting the pods and squirting a line of mastic or similar into the gap? Anything I should look out for while doing this - are there bolts all along the bottom of the light pods? (I can only see one bolt at the bottom, and bolts all the way along the top).
(I did search, but couldn't find anything relevant). I'll check the numberplate light seal too.


TIA.

 

[jonnyporsche]

Hi Giles. The rear light units come off easy enough if your not rough. They do have a mastic seal. A tip here is after all the old sealer has been removed give the back panel a good wax polishing, run a nice sized bead of sealer around the edge of the light unit and replace the unit, do not tighten it up for an hour or two to let the mastic set a bit, then tighten, makes a better seal, removing the excess is easier having waxed the panel. Always good to check the number plate lights, they do have a spongy seal which holds water so rusts the panel, put some waxoil on the new seal, keeps a bit of water out. Good Luck.[] P.S most 944 rear lights have a 1mm hole drilled in the bottom corner to let water out should it get in[8|]

 

[peanut]

unless your light units are definitly allowing water or exhaust gas into the cab area I would suggest they are left as they are especially if you can see that the lights have been previously sealed with mastic sealants
Its an awkward and messy job and I've read posts where it has been unsucessful and needed re-doing. The light units I re-sealed had what I assumed was foam rubber gaskets which had been smothered in black sticky non-setting mastic at some time in its past. it took a lot of cleaning to remove it. I couldn't locate any original gaskets at the time so made my own and refixed them with a non setting waterproof mastic.

Its a very satisfying job to do when you get no more water or exhaust gas coming in .
I also carefully cleaned all the inside surfaces of the plastic lenses which had algae growths and a film of dirt.

Good point of Johnny's about the number plate light as mine is currently leaking . Also worth checking that there is no water ingress at the 2x rear hatch pin locks .
I resealed mine last week and they were leaking badly, unbeknownst to me .

 

[Copperman05]

The rear clusters are sealed with a pliable mastic like Dum Dum. Perhaps this is what your seeing as being manky? Its quite easy to use and does a fine job of keeping out water.

Edd

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: Copperman05

The rear clusters are sealed with a pliable mastic like Dum Dum. Perhaps this is what your seeing as being manky? Its quite easy to use and does a fine job of keeping out water.

Edd

no mine had been re-sealed by a very DIY bandit who squirted mastic everywhere without removing the lights.[&o][][]

 

[jonnyporsche]

Always good to check the number plate lights, they do have a spongy seal which holds water so rusts the panel, put some waxoil on the new seal, keeps a bit of water out

This is what happens if the number plate lights are overlooked

BEFORE

AFTER

 

[peanut]

blimey thats a horror story John ! what a nightmare place to weld a new piece of metal in .
Mine has been leaking for nearly a year. After seeing your pictures I'm going to go out there and do it tomorrow ![]

 

[jonnyporsche]

That was the only rust on the car when I bought it and at first glance didn't look so bad. My local body shop did the work and at the same time blathered every nook and cranny in the boot with waxoil. Good job done [][]
P.S. Its still known as "Rusty Bum"

 

[Pastry]

i used this;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BUTYL-SEALANT-STRIP-10MM-diameter-X-4-meters-/140695922545

unless youve got a heated garage i'd do it when its warmer. i did it in the summer, heated the old seal with a hairdryer and they popped out ok.

think theres 6 bolts all in? id be prepared to do a little remedial paintwork while they're out, mine had the start of some bubbling in places.

 

[peanut]

that looks like an excellent product. Should be easier and less messy to apply than a mastic from a gun. Nice tip about using a hairdryer or heatgun to warm the metal up first

 

[Sandspider]

Thanks for all the useful replies, one and all. [] I've already done the hatch pin recesses, and am pretty sure the light pods are a touch leaky. When the temp rises above zero I will get out there and clean, paint, mastic etc. as necessary!

Cheers and all the best,

Giles

 

[jonnyporsche]

I've already done the hatch pin recesses

Always worth a new pair of latch pins. £20 plus P&P from Frazerpart. Improved the fit no end.