VW Polo - VW Polo Rear Light Unit:flooded/rusty - how to fix

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
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Sat 23 Mar 2013 15:21
VW Polo - VW Polo Rear Light Unit:flooded/rusty - how to fix - Clio87

Hi,

I've just discovered that the rear light unit on my VW Polo (04) has been letting in water some how and was half full of water (at the bottom). The bottom is all rusty/corroded, even the plastic housing is rust coloured. All lights are working except for the lower of the tail lights (the tail light above is working ok).

Have tried putting a bit of vineger on the metal contacts to clear the rust and rubbing with wire wool and putting in new bulb but still not working.

Is there anything else I could try to remove the rust to get this lower tail light working again.

Also, how can I discover where the water was getting in to stop it happening again?

There is a thin black rubber seal around the inner edge of the light unit which looks ok - is it possible it just wasn't in place properly before? Is there anything else I need to check?

Just trying to avoid cost of buying a new light unit if possible.

Many thanks for any help on this.

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Sat 23 Mar 2013 15:47
VW Polo - VW Polo Rear Light Unit:flooded/rusty - how to fix - Collos25

There are plenty on ebay at very reasonable prices I would replace it if it were mine.

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Sat 23 Mar 2013 22:19
VW Polo - VW Polo Rear Light Unit:flooded/rusty - how to fix - Cyd

It's possibly the joint where the lens is glued to the body of the light unit. It only takes a few pin pricks to let water in. You could drill a drain hole in the bottom. Recently I repaired one by removing the lens (the glue was poor all round) and gluing back on with a thin bead of StixAll in black.

I haven't checked but I'd have thought there's plenty of good used ones on eBay for this model.

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Sun 24 Mar 2013 15:54
VW Polo - VW Polo Rear Light Unit:flooded/rusty - how to fix - Clio87

Hi,

Many thanks for the helpful replies.

I wasn't aware the casing is/was glued - on mine I have to lift off the coloured plastic casing (the bit with red, white,amber colours) and then the bulb holder is visible and around the edge of this is like a large black "O" ring but it doesn't look like it is glued to anything - the light casing just lifts off it to give access. Am I missing something??? Not sure where to apply glue as if I glue it to the casing then I wouldn't be able to remove it again to replace bulbs.

Am sure there are plenty of ones on ebay but not planning to keep the car so don't want to spend out on it at all if I can help it!!

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