water drips from tail lights when hatch is opened

[Dan Langille]

Hatch...? I can't think of a better name for the tailgate/rear door of the
stationwagon...

Lately, I've noticed water dripping when the door is opened. It's coming
from the tail lights and dripping into the passenger compartment.. but only
when the door is opened. There is a little access door to change the light
bulbs, and the water is coming through there.

Looking at the rear lights, I can clearly see the water in there. Is this
a known issue?

cheers

 

[DS]

You could drill some very small holes into the bottom of the lenses. I've
done this before on another car with water-collecting lenses.
DS

 

[Steve Davies]

Hi.

Normal Subaru problem .Take lights off , clean area . Use clear silicon
mastic and apply to back of lights were previous sealer once was and
refit lights.

Steve

 

[Bob's Backfire Burrito]

Hatch...? I can't think of a better name for the tailgate/rear door of the
stationwagon...

Lately, I've noticed water dripping when the door is opened. It's coming
from the tail lights and dripping into the passenger compartment.. but
only
when the door is opened. There is a little access door to change the
light
bulbs, and the water is coming through there.

Looking at the rear lights, I can clearly see the water in there. Is this
a known issue?

This is a undocumented feature on Subaru's. It's a self rinsing tail-lamp.
Rest assured that you have not been charged for this feature!
Your local Subaru dealer will pretend to not have any idea of what your
talking about, to prevent a supplimental charge for this.

Regular translation.......

Still another example of shoddy workmanship from Subaru. You pay big bucks
for your car and this is what they expect you to accept.
Subaru is clearly *Clueless* when it comes to gasketing and trim/fit of
lights,lenses,windows,driprails,fuel lines and especially paint.
It's probably not worth your time wasted, but I would shove that problem up
the dealers ass....

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hatch...? I can't think of a better name for the tailgate/rear door of the
stationwagon...

Lately, I've noticed water dripping when the door is opened. It's coming
from the tail lights and dripping into the passenger compartment.. but only
when the door is opened. There is a little access door to change the light
bulbs, and the water is coming through there.

Looking at the rear lights, I can clearly see the water in there. Is this
a known issue?

cheers

You don't mention your car - but I (and eventually I discovered a coupla
other people on a forum with same issue) had the left taillight assembly
replaced under warranty on my '06 WRX Sportwagon. No problems since. It
never dripped but had quite a bit of water in the light. I'm sure it
would've eventually blown the bulbs out.
They wouldn't let me have the old one or I may have tried to repair and
keep it for a spare.


Carl

 

[Dan Langille]

You don't mention your car - but I (and eventually I discovered a coupla
other people on a forum with same issue) had the left taillight assembly
replaced under warranty on my '06 WRX Sportwagon. No problems since. It
never dripped but had quite a bit of water in the light. I'm sure it
would've eventually blown the bulbs out.
They wouldn't let me have the old one or I may have tried to repair and
keep it for a spare.

FYI: Subaru Legacy Stationwagon 2001

 

[Dan Langille]

Hi.

Normal Subaru problem .Take lights off , clean area . Use clear silicon
mastic and apply to back of lights were previous sealer once was and
refit lights.

Sounds easy enough to me Steve. Is the procedure for removing the lenses
off pretty straight forward? I'll have a look...

Silicon mastic? Is that a British term? When I Google for it, most of the
hits are .co.uk

And, FWIW, when I search homepot.ca, all the hits are in French...

 

[DS]

URLs ending in .ca are typically Canadian. Since Canada is a bilingual
nation, most pages will offer the choice between English and French.
DS

 

[Dan Langille]

URLs ending in .ca are typically Canadian. Since Canada is a bilingual
nation, most pages will offer the choice between English and French.
DS

The point I was trying to make was that mastic appears to be a British term
that seems to also be French term.

 

[Steve Davies]

Hi

Dont know if Mastic is a Uk thing. Basicaly its the clear silicon you put
around your shower base or around your bath to seal it were the tiles meet
either the shower or bath to stop water entering down behind. Should imagine
it would be readily available from and DIY or Hardware store. Just unbolt
complete light units and remove from Car. Could possibly be 10mm bolts but
dont quote me on that.

Steve

 

[bgd]

Roof rack rails? Seal the edges with black silicone
Trim around rear windows? Seal the edges with black silicone
Hatchback rubber seal all good?
where lights meet the car tight?
rear quarters open anywhere?
check all seams in the area. the roof rack rails and window trim plastic
was the sneakiest leak I have found (its engineered flaw!).
The strangest part of that error: it is not even the lights 9 times out of
10. DO NOT DRILL HOLES in the lenses, the bulbs captivity is taken into
account for thier longevity. The bulbs in the open do not last and even rust
the sockets.They create a heat pressure while on and last forever in the
lenses while reducing electrical consumption and increasing brightness.

- this lesson learned on a 1987 subaru wagon... they haven't changed a darn
thing since.
Ya see, its 70 degrees and beverly hills sunshine all year in the subaru
engineers workspace.
Heck, it even makes 5 main bearings sound peachy.
May as well quadruple the prices and pretend they aren't all dumber than a
crack head.

bgd73

 

[Bob's Backfire Burrito]

They create a heat pressure while on and last forever in the

lenses while reducing electrical consumption and increasing brightness.

Thats some impressive dope your smoking there.......
Did you pull this out of your own ass or read it somewhere?

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hi

Dont know if Mastic is a Uk thing. Basicaly its the clear silicon you put
around your shower base or around your bath to seal it were the tiles meet
either the shower or bath to stop water entering down behind. Should imagine
it would be readily available from and DIY or Hardware store. Just unbolt
complete light units and remove from Car. Could possibly be 10mm bolts but
dont quote me on that.

Steve

We have a mastic for roofing, but caulk for tubs!

(though they are similar in consistency - I can see where mastic may be
a better term as 'caulk' - historically, was rope fiber plus tar I think?)


Carl

 

[nobody >]

They create a heat pressure while on and last forever in the

Thats some impressive dope your smoking there.......
Did you pull this out of your own ass or read it somewhere?

You have to remember that BGD was personally insulted by 2 more main
bearings and is on a personal vendetta to come to your house and rip
them out out of the Subie in your driveway.

 

[nobody >]

We have a mastic for roofing, but caulk for tubs!

(though they are similar in consistency - I can see where mastic may be
a better term as 'caulk' - historically, was rope fiber plus tar I think?)

That gooey ropey stuff is also called oakum. I just (today) had a
well-meaning but clueless stuporvisor tell me to use it to seal a wet
conduit with waveguide in it. I used latex-based spray foam instead,
mych better.

 

[Dan Langille]

Hi

Dont know if Mastic is a Uk thing. Basicaly its the clear silicon you put
around your shower base or around your bath to seal it were the tiles meet
either the shower or bath to stop water entering down behind. Should imagine
it would be readily available from and DIY or Hardware store. Just unbolt
complete light units and remove from Car. Could possibly be 10mm bolts but
dont quote me on that.

Steve: thank you... hopefully I will get a chance to look at this very
soon.

 

[Dan Langille]

Hi

Dont know if Mastic is a Uk thing. Basicaly its the clear silicon you put
around your shower base or around your bath to seal it were the tiles meet
either the shower or bath to stop water entering down behind. Should imagine
it would be readily available from and DIY or Hardware store. Just unbolt
complete light units and remove from Car. Could possibly be 10mm bolts but
dont quote me on that.

It looks like the rear light assembly on a 2001 Legacy stationwagon comes
off in one piece. It is a car-wide lens I think, with two bolts at either
end. With the door open, they are just above your head. The bolts look
corroded.