• Welcome to the Contour Enthusiasts Group, the best resource for the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique.

    You can register to join the community.

Have you driven a ford lately?

C

CLASSVT

Veteran CEG'er
Joined
May 2, 2003
Messages
738
Location
Fort Wayne, In
So long story short... replaced cracked rear driver-side taillight with one from scrapyard. Water leaked into trunk on that side afterwards when washing car. Posted, people said to check foam/rubber seal on light. I pulled it and the passenger-side light to compare, and both were identical. No missing seal or rubber surround. So for good measure I also bought some foam/rubber adhesive and applied it liberaly around where the taillight mounts to help seal it a little better. Now both lights leak into the trunk!:blackeye: Do I seriously have to buy new lights just to keep them from leaking into my trunk? This is fu#*ing rediculous.:nonono: I don't know what else to do.
 
i would remove the excess rubber and foam that you added. all you need to do is use something to seal up the taillight.

also are you sure the trunk vents aren't leaking also?
 
Take your rear bumper off. They are between the bumper and the carpeting in the trunk.
 
Check your trunklid, water leaks into the backup lights and drips into trunk if the reflector assy. is not sealed.
 
The thing is, nothing leaked before I replaced this light. The purpose of the foam/rubber was to seal up the light assembly, so what else would I use? I don't want to seal it permanently. Yes I'm pretty sure it's not the vent leaking, as there are no variables concerning these. Since removing both lights, both taillight assemblies allow water into the trunk now. Maybe I'll take the extra foam/rubber out and just crank the lights down as hard as I can without breaking the assemblies. I don't know what else to do.:shrug:
 
Get a friend to spray the top of the trunk with a garden hose while you are inside with a flashlight. You should be able to locate the leak that way.
 
did u adjust the middle reflector? (u know....the long one)
if not then don't.
now, close your trunk SLOWLY..............is the rear light seated properly with no rubbing against the middle reflector?
if not, the follow Tony2005's advice and have a pal wet the top of the car as well as the trunk.
Your back seat should fold down so you can "scootch" back there into the trunk with a flashlight while the trunk is down and your pal is spraying and you may see where the leak is coming from.
Let us know!!!
 
My taillights leaked too. It seems the foam "gasket" the use is junk, IMHO. After it rained I removed the taillights and the gaskets were soaked, I could wring them out they were so wet. I dried out the gaskets, put them back in place and then used clear RTV to seal the taillight anywhere it touched the body, all the way around it. I basically sealed it with RTV once it was bolted down too because water from the trunklid drips right onto the taillight. Right where the taillight is flat on top, make sure you seal right there where it touches the body as water gets in there.

Its no big deal to do this because you still can remove the taillight later on if need be. You will just have to reseal it again with RTV.

There really is no need to remove the taillight though because access to the bulbs is through the trunk behind the carpet.
 
SaturnLvr said:
My taillights leaked too. It seems the foam "gasket" the use is junk, IMHO. After it rained I removed the taillights and the gaskets were soaked, I could wring them out they were so wet. I dried out the gaskets, put them back in place and then used clear RTV to seal the taillight anywhere it touched the body, all the way around it. I basically sealed it with RTV once it was bolted down too because water from the trunklid drips right onto the taillight. Right where the taillight is flat on top, make sure you seal right there where it touches the body as water gets in there.

Its no big deal to do this because you still can remove the taillight later on if need be. You will just have to reseal it again with RTV.

There really is no need to remove the taillight though because access to the bulbs is through the trunk behind the carpet.
Click to expand...


I guess this is what I'll have to do. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to, but it seems I have no other options. Thanks for all of the responses.
 
ive done this before when looking for air leaks on pressurised aircraft.... get the seals wet. not real wet just a little damp then put baby powder on the seal. wash the car and see were the baby powder washes away. it works trust me

Kuz
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top