Washed the inside of the taillights too!

[zzzhuh]

I frequently drive my P.T. Cruiser through a touchless car wash.

But my drivers side taillight and breaklight burned out, and since it was time for it's 3,000 mile maintenance, I took it in to the Chrysler dealer.

They found a lot of water inside the tail light! The bulb had burst, not just burned out.

I think because of the cool water hitting the hot bulb.

Anyway, no more touchess car washes for me because I don't think it was rain that got in there, I think it was the jet of water coming up from the undercarriage.


Has anybody else had water get into the taillight?

[2step]

That's not normal. The tail light lens is a "clamshell" like, 2-piece arangement that is fused together (3-pieces counting the amber lens). There are sponge-rubber seals at the lamp sockets and a small opening at the very bottom where the single screw is. There is no path for water to get in, normally.

An easy check would be to remove lens, twist out the lamp sockets for complete removal and fill it up with water to check for any water leaks. Dry it out with a hairdryer after you're done.

If you have a bad lens, the dealer should replace it.

[zzzhuh]

Both taillights got water in them at the same time. Only one was drained when the bulb was replaced, the other still has water in it.

The dealer wanted to replace the entire lens at my expense, but I said just dry it and I'll avoid the car wash.

I'll see in the next few months if it happens again.

That's a smart idea to check for leaks by filling it with water. I wouldn't have thought of that.

How do you remove the lens?

[2step]

Remove the single screw at the bottom and sort of pivot from there while also pulling out at the top. There are a couple of spring clips near the top that hold the lens at the top. A quarter turn on each lamp socket is all you have to do to pop those out. One minute per side and you're done.


Edit added...It's possible to get water into the lens if a very high pressure stream is directed at the screw hole at close range and held there for a moment. That hole is not sealed and is meant to be a drain for minor condensation.

[zzzhuh]

Thanks! Maybe I'll just silicone thar hole so I can go back to the car wash.

[PTRobert]

You can also access the area right behind the tail lamp housing from under your vehicle's rear fenders. I had to change a dead brake light today and noticed that after removing the tail lamp unit, I could see straight down to the concrete.

It's possible that your PT got soaked from underneath, if the wash has an under-carriage washing feature.

[Hooligan]

quote:Originally posted by zzzhuh



Thanks! Maybe I'll just silicone thar hole so I can go back to the car wash.

Car wash, NO!!![xx(] Hand wash, YES!!!

[xyster]

Ya, what he said, talk about bad scratches all over the place.

Anyhow about the light fixture. I had that problem in my driverside brake light... it wasn't bad, it was just dripping from the top after a bad rainy day. Don't know how it slid in there so I sprayed a little water from the outside to see if anything would go in at all, nothing. My guess was it got in through the hole from excessive moisture but under the car is possibility I didn't even think of... going to check that out myself.

[Silvereagle]

quote:Originally posted by 2step

That's not normal. The tail light lens is a "clamshell" like, 2-piece arangement that is fused together (3-pieces counting the amber lens). There are sponge-rubber seals at the lamp sockets and a small opening at the very bottom where the single screw is. There is no path for water to get in, normally.

An easy check would be to remove lens, twist out the lamp sockets for complete removal and fill it up with water to check for any water leaks. Dry it out with a hairdryer after you're done.

If you have a bad lens, the dealer should replace it.

I drilled a 1/4 inch hole at the bottom of mine no more fog either.

[zzzhuh]

ARRRRGH[xx(]
It happend again!

A storm front passed and blew up alot of sand, so I went through that same touchless car wash again, hopeing it wouldn't, but kick me in the head[xx(], it did.

I just fixed that light, and now it's out again. I wouldn't have even known it except that it didn't flash when I unlocked with the key fob.

This time I will silocone it, because It's still not worth buying a new lens at almost $100-