Water in rear brake light

[Knowa]

Noticed today while getting into my trunk that my right rear brake light has standing water in it. Can't see any cracks, no obvious entry point for water. Is there any way to get into this light to empty that water out? The light still works but I can't imagine standing water is good for anything inside of there.

Yes I know I need to wash my car

 

[Snicklefritz]

You have a big crack right there in the picture. Your lens has been smacked by something. The only remedy is replacement.

 

[Knowa]

No, that's actually the waterline inside the taillight. I thought it was a crack at first because that's initially what caught my eye, but if you lift/lower the trunk, it sloshes and moves around inside there. It's definitely not a crack.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Ima not looking at the water. You have a diagonal crack in the red plastic below that clear plastic that extends from lower left to upper right almost the full width of the red plastic.

 

[Knowa]

This? Yeah, that's the waterline.. My car is just parked kind of on a slope so the water is settling down to the side.

 

[Snicklefritz]

I see. That is a lot of water. I've never seen anything like it reported before. When did you first notice this? Has the water been building up over time? I would take the assembly out of the car. Use a Phillips no. 2 to undo the screw to the inside end of the assembly. There's a little round cap that you flip up to access the screw, then gently pry the assembly pins from the white plastic sockets of the fender. At this point you can start examining the backside of the assembly, and even unclip the harness if necessary to completely remove it. But, you might notice something allowing water to get in back there, and/or be able to tilt the assembly to drain the water out.

 

[Knowa]

I see. That is a lot of water. I've never seen anything like it reported before. When did you first notice this? Has the water been building up over time? I would take the assembly out of the car. Use a Phillips no. 2 to undo the screw to the inside end of the assembly. There's a little round cap that you flip up to access the screw, then gently pry the assembly pins from the white plastic sockets of the fender. At this point you can start examining the backside of the assembly, and even unclip the harness if necessary to completely remove it. But, you might notice something allowing water to get in back there, and/or be able to tilt the assembly to drain the water out.

I just noticed it today, but it's been a handful of days since it rained so there's been water in it for a good solid 5 days or so at least. I am guessing it's getting in somehow on the channel between the trunk lid and rear quarter panel.

I'll see if the water has gone down any tomorrow when I get up for work, although seeing as how long that water has been in there already I am guessing there won't be much change.

 

[NS_Stinger]

If you cant find any cracks I'm thinking you have a bad tailight seam or gasket.

 

[Snicklefritz]

If you cant find any cracks I'm thinking you have a bad tailight seam or gasket.

Or a loose taillight assembly. The left taillight on our Premium works loose on the outer end. I have to push it back in every so often. But I haven't seen any moisture inside the assembly.

 

[42Hz]

Just got my Stinger (used) and have the same issue, and the right taillight that has moist inside is also acting up on the light that goes around the perimeter och the read light fixture, it's intermittent and different parts fail to light up. Noticed it when driving behind the Stinger in a different car.

 

[SanDiegoBlue]

It's the blinker fluid -- everybody else is just running low...

 

[42Hz]

Thought only BMWs were affected of running out of blinker fluid!

 

[Doushbeg]

Noticed today while getting into my trunk that my right rear brake light has standing water in it. Can't see any cracks, no obvious entry point for water. Is there any way to get into this light to empty that water out? The light still works but I can't imagine standing water is good for anything inside of there.View attachment 85877

Yes I know I need to wash my car

Did you ever find a fix to this? Dealing w the same thing in mine currently

 

[Snicklefritz]

OP never mentioned actually removing the whole taillight and tilting it, to examine and find a way to drain the water. See my post #6. I've had the assembly out, but never disconnected the harness, since my problem is a loose fitting assembly, not water that needs draining out. My theory on this is that a crack in the body of the assembly is letting water in when the car gets washed. I know that the underside of the assembly does not sit flush with the fender/quarter panel, there is a noticeable gap there that is normal fitment. High pressure water will spray clear into the cavity that the assembly sits in, and drain out through the round hole in the fender. But if there is a crack in that underside of the assembly it could admit water. Other possible entry points would occur with interior cracks in the assembly, not visible from outside. Water easily runs down the gutter between the hatch and the fender/quarter panel, on the outside of the hatch lid seal. Water is supposed to not get under the rubber seal of the taillight assembly inside/under the hatch lid. If it is getting under that seal, and there is a crack in the assembly below that seal, the water would wind up exactly where the OP's pictures show it. Torrential rain or a stiff car wash would admit enough water in this scenario to collect as shown.

 

[daut.v.hadzhiev]

I have the same issue.

This is after visiting a carwash.

 

[daut.v.hadzhiev]

Today I took off the trim piece and I saw quite a large crack in the plastic backing.

I dried it with a hair dryer (it took a very long time) sanded around the crack and glued it with epoxy.

I hope that works.

 

[Knowa]

Today I took off the trim piece and I saw quite a large crack in the plastic backing.

I dried it with a hair dryer (it took a very long time) sanded around the crack and glued it with epoxy.

I hope that works.

View attachment 89135
View attachment 89137

Had a little bit of a hiatus and realized I never updated this thread, but that is *exactly* the same crack that happened on my car, just on the passenger side. I did the same thing as you and epoxy'd and it's held up so far.

My only theory is that this happens when you try to shut your trunk lid with just the right amount of overload in it and when the soft close motor activates flexing the deck lid and cracking the light.

I have no evidence to support this theory other than I did have one time where I really stuffed that trunk full and it struggled to pull the trunk lid in.

 

[42Hz]

Today I took off the trim piece and I saw quite a large crack in the plastic backing.

I dried it with a hair dryer (it took a very long time) sanded around the crack and glued it with epoxy.

I hope that works.

View attachment 89135
View attachment 89137

Dude! Thanks, have to check mine, also on the passenger side!