Facelift Indicators/ Condensation.

[Arctic]

Today I was giving the car the final check ready for the MOT next week when I noticed the front upright facelift indicator had condensation in them.

This used to happen to my first facelift tourer, not that it's a tourer fault but most facelift indicator light at some time get condensation in them, they can be removed and wiped out but it will only reoccur.

Therefore today I removed wiped them clean and added some vent tubing in hope it will cure the problem only time will tell, below is how I went about it.

Left & right both have condensation.
1

2

The lights can be removed using a plastic tool or spatula
3

4

Once the edge is free the light will lift out of the bumper.
5

With the light extracted you can undo the bulb socket.
6

Twist and remove.
7

You can clearly see the condensation.
8

Use a good clean cloth to wipe out I used a cotton glove.
9

10

Next I drilled a 4mm hole in the bottom of the light, the light I used was a spare one which was used a test.
11

12

I found some small pipe connectors which I had from doing the sunroof tubes years back, they are the smallest in the box.
13

The 90% degree connector was pushed into the 4mm hole and super glue in place.
14

I didn't think it looked very neat so when it came to doing the lights of the car I found some small O-rings.
15

The O-rings were fitted onto the connector along with some clear tubing.
16

These were then pushed in to the indicator.
17

A drop of super glue was added around the O-rings and the connector sealed in place.
18

I did a test run on the spare light before hand
19

I also decided to add some Vaseline to the light aperture which abuts the O-ring seal.
20

21

The light were then plugged back into the wiring fitment on the car.
22

23

I also added some extra Vaseline round the O-ring seal before pushing/fitting the lights back on to the car.
24

25

I am hopeful this will help if not solve the condensation problem time will soon let me know cheers Arctic.

[bluemalbert]

[QUOTE=Arctic;2805660]Today I was giving the car the final check ready for the MOT next week when I noticed the front upright facelift indicator had condensation in them.

This used to happen to my first facelift tourer, not that it's a tourer fault but most facelift indicator light at some time get condensation in them, they can be removed and wiped out but it will only reoccur.

Therefore today I removed wiped them clean and added some vent tubing in hope it will cure the problem only time will tell, below is how I went about it.

Left & right both have condensation.
1

2

The lights can be removed using a plastic tool or spatula
3

4

Once the edge is free the light will lift out of the bumper.
5

With the light extracted you can undo the bulb socket.
6

Twist and remove.
7

You can clearly see the condensation.
8

Use a good clean cloth to wipe out I used a cotton glove.
9

10

Next I drilled a 4mm hole in the bottom of the light, the light I used was a spare one which was used a test.
11

12

I found some small pipe connectors which I had from doing the sunroof tubes years back, they are the smallest in the box.
13

The 90% degree connector was pushed into the 4mm hole and super glue in place.
14

I didn't think it looked very neat so when it came to doing the lights of the car I found some small O-rings.
15

The O-rings were fitted onto the connector along with some clear tubing.
16

These were then pushed in to the indicator.
17

A drop of super glue was added around the O-rings and the connector sealed in place.
18

I did a test run on the spare light before hand
19

I also decided to add some Vaseline to the light aperture which abuts the O-ring seal.
20

21

The light were then plugged back into the wiring fitment on the car.
22

23

I also added some extra Vaseline round the O-ring seal before pushing/fitting the lights back on to the car.
24

25

I am hopeful this will help if not solve the condensation problem time will soon let me know cheers Arctic.




Your pics are excellent - which platform do you use?

[Arctic]

[QUOTE][QUOTE=bluemalbert;2805691]Hi Malcolm.
I use https://imgur.com/ to upload and present my photos, I have been using it for about 4 years now ever since PB tried to hold us to ransom, I also used Tinypic that too was purchased by (Photo Bucket) and closed down which then devastated 99.9% of all my how to, I am slowly trying to replace all the photo in each how to I did, the above is a new how to.

[picky747]

I've tried all of the above and even went around where the clear plastic joins the black body with a hot knife to reseal but to no avail it always comes back.

[clf]

Originally Posted by Arctic

Today I was giving the car the final check ready for the MOT next week when I noticed the front upright facelift indicator had condensation in them.

I am hopeful this will help if not solve the condensation problem time will soon let me know cheers Arctic.

This is an elegant possible solution, but I wonder would it do much until the condensate saturates and falls to the bottom and then fills up? Would holes in the top help to reduce it happening in the first place, allowing a flow of air.

I have this problem with the side repeaters (as most facelift repeaters seem to do - and I prefer the clear type). I drilled holes in the top as well as the bottom which worked to reduce the volume, but it still happens - the holes (4 no. 2mm) were probably too small or few, but I figure that bigger holes would allow dirt ingress.

[Arctic]

Hi Graham.
That does not sound promising then, I may well add a little 2mm hole at the very bottom then as Alan suggests to aid air flow and let any build up drip out, we shall see I will report back asap.

[T-Cut]

This well known problem's been around since the Mk2 was introduced. My 2004 1.8turbo had it before there was 5000 miles on the clock. It's probable that any lamps replaced over the years also have it. I found it in a set I bought brand new around 2012. Just take the bulbholder out and suck on the hole. You'll easily confirm air coming in. The cause is poor 'welding' of the lens and case. This allows rainwater to penetrate the lamp. which continually evaporates and condeses on the lens as the temperature varies. The cure is to carefully direct supergloo into the seam by capillary action. You can see the liquid creeping into all the spaces that aren't welded. Once the gloo's cured, this fixes the problem. The one thing you have to be careful about is not getting supergloo onto the clear lens.

TC

[roverbarmy]

Originally Posted by T-Cut

The one thing you have to be careful about is not getting supergloo onto the clear lens.

TC

Or your fingers! Don't ask me how I know this!

[trikey]

I have a few new sets of facelift indicators left for sale if anyone wants to modify a set that’s not on the car.

[T-Cut]

Originally Posted by trikey

I have a few new sets of facelift indicators left for sale if anyone wants to modify a set that’s not on the car.

Do the the simple suck test on a few and let us know. I think you'll find they aren't all airtight.


TC