YACT: Fog light with a leak (filling up with water / condensation) *update with pic*

[Red]

My front corner fog light has a leak and it holding about 1.5 centimeters of water in the bottom. Should I drill some small holes in the bottom of the plastic to let the water drain out and give it air to evaporate? I was trying to take the light out to find the leak and I saw it has a rubber evaporation tube, but apparently its not enough for this amount of water. Also, I couldn't get the light out because of a stipped, rusty nut that just spins =(

So, my questions:

(1) In order to drain about 2 centimeters of water just sitting in the bottom of my fog light, should I drill some small holes in the plastic to allow for greater air flow / evaporation

(2) Or should I try to take the light out and find the leak and seal it? (Requiring me to somehow get the stipped nut off)

EDIT: Pic: fogleak.jpg

 

[Shockwave]

1 for now, 2 when you get some more time.

Granted, 2 is what you should do to be proper abou tit, but I usually am of the mindset to work smarter, not harder. Thus I personally would just drill 2 small holes and call it a day.

 

[djNickb]

But won't drilling the holes just facilitate condensation buildup in the future?

 

[Red]

Originally posted by: djNickb
But won't drilling the holes just facilitate condensation buildup in the future?

Well, that's why I posted on here =) I've heard that drilling a bunch of small holes in the bottom of the glass/plastic will provide enough airflow to eliminate any condensation, but at the same time allows dust to get into the light. Im not sure what to do. A new fog light is $120 and I'm not willing to spend that. It does bother me that there is that water sitting there though, it's even starting to turn slightly greenish. Looks gross.

 

[djNickb]

Depending on how the light is mounted I would just remove the light and inspect the housing and seals looking for obvious leaks. If there is that much water accumulating in the light it shouldn't be too hard to identify where it is coming from. On my car there are 2 bolts that hold the housing on and a harness for the bulb. Can take it out in less than 5 minutes.

 

[Shockwave]

Then drill it and when you have the money fix it right and JB Weld the holes closed.

 

[CraigRT]

drilling a tiny hole in the bottom of the light is often what dealerships will do before they just replace the lamp.. you might want to take it there first just to see what they say, but definitely something i'd try if my car was out of warranty. we're talking a small hole too.... not very big.. maybe about the size of pencil lead or so.

my .02

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
drilling a tiny hole in the bottom of the light is often what dealerships will do before they just replace the lamp.. you might want to take it there first just to see what they say, but definitely something i'd try if my car was out of warranty. we're talking a small hole too.... not very big.. maybe about the size of pencil lead or so.

my .02

Dealership would prolly charge him $30 for that opinion

It would help if Red had a picture

 

[djNickb]

:camera:s

 

[Red]

This is the best I can do, I'm at work.... the water is kind of resting in corner (the car is parked on a slope right now)

fogleak.jpg

 

[Red]

up

 

[NutBucket]

Salvage yard? I say seal it. Take it out and run a bead of silicon sealant around where the glass meets the housing (assuming its glass).