Hello

Anybody got any ideas of how to seal the high level brake light against water ingress. I'm on my 2nd now (under warranty) and that's started leaking. The dealer is likely to just put t new one on if I go back , rather than seal the bad design.
Is it best to take it out , put a beading of silicone sealant around the mating face of the light , and then clip it back on. ... or just put some silicone sealant around the edges it whilst it is still attached. The light does move a little when clipped on so is not an ultra tight fit

Thanks in advance

Morning!!

I had 5 high level lamp replacements on a new car before the dealer got it right!! As you know, they come with sealing tape/foam pre applied so if you fit yourself get some 3M VHB alcohol wipes and take your time.

You could remove said tape and re-apply with some VHB tape or external foam style.

However.......what the dealer failed to do with mine, was order the small finger nail sized rubber 'O' ring that joins the two pipes together, so....each time they fitted a new one, it sealed perfectly against the body but it leaked/bubbled interally into the housing, giving the appearance of water ingress. I did a thread on it, so its lurking somewhere on here!

If fitted 'properly' there is no issue. 2013 FL2 - Black Edition Auto
2013 FL2 - Black Edition Manual GONE!
Founder of the 'Microscopic LR Spoiler Badge Club'
Destroyer of chrome rears.....

Quite a few members have had this issue, many have applied a small bead of silicon and that has worked a treat, don't put loads on as you may have to remove it to change the lamp should it blow.

I used silicon grease on the light not leaked since

Thanks for all replies. I'll see what its like after the next deluge of rain. I don't think the O ring is missing ? It only leaks after a real heavy rain downpour at moment
CQR - Did you put the silicon grease around the light after you had popped it off and then refitted or around the light whilst it was still fitted ?
Taztastic - I'm guessing this small bead is applied with the light in situ

Thanks

When you say leak how do you mean with the door closed?

I have noticed after heavy rain that when I open my tailgate I get some drops of water come out of the plastic trim then it drips down onto the cover for the boot Think it only does this once I open the tailgate as never noticed it happen when the tailgate is closed

bit confusing tbh Freelander 57 plate XS Blue Auto

Yes . In very heavy rain downpours, some drops of water appear on the luggage cover with the tailgate door closed. More drip down from inside the plastic trim when the door is opened. It appears it is a bad design as it is quite common !

I popped the light off ,by using silicon grease you can still get the light off easy
I had a wet boot carpet when ever it rained
Been over half year now still no leaks

Sounds good CQR. Any old silicone grease ? And smear quite a lot all around the mating surfaces of the light / tailgate ?

I'v bought some silicone sealant from Halfords, but its the stuff you put on from a tube and forms a beading . Grease sounds easier to get off at a later date, if necessary

Thanks

Few strips of tape where the catches hold will make it a tighter fit, no need for sealent. Worked fine on mine.

Hello Wizking. Only took the light off once myself so can't remember exactly. I pressed 2 button clips at either side and it popped out. Do you mean strips of tape on the inside against the light when you push it back on?

No, I put a couple of strips of masking tape where the catches actually catch (or button clips catch) this pulls the brake light housing tighter making the seal a better fit. Hope that makes sense!

I'll have to take it off later to remind myself how it fits. I didn't really look at the clips last time . I just pushed them from the side and to refit just pushed the light back on. Will probably try the silicone grease though

Evening Deano.
Recently replaced my h l b light (old one crazed and leaking). However, what should have been a 10 minute job turned into an hour as some silly b….. at my local garage had sealed the old unit in - in an attempt to cure a leak before - with what looked like black bostick. It was a real pain to get the light unit out (solid rubber gunge everywhere) as the clips, casing and tube were all stuck in place. There then followed a lengthy clean up - razor blade and isopropyl alcohol - to enable new unit to be fitted. Seal on new unit -thanks to forum member for selling it to me earlier - works perfectly. Moral, don't let a garage do the "fixing"; don't go near a rubberised adhesive / sealant; and do do it yourself so that you know it's been done properly! Good luck.

Hi
Not silicone sealant
Silicone grease
It's not meant for sealing things, it's a lube for taps etc but it filled out the seal enough to stop the leak
Plus the light can still be removed easily still
I put lots of silicon grease on