Condensation noticeable on many, one had a little amount of water moving around inside. _________________ Manheller Racing - Nürburgring
MaxA Albert Park
Joined: 11 Oct 2015 Posts: 1672 Location: Helsinki
Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 1:50 pm Post subject:
jonno_ wrote:
MaxA wrote:
Shaoxter wrote:
MaxA wrote:
I wrote to deMort about this, in the mistaken belief that there was a fix. In the meantime, can someone point me to a how-to on how to remove/reinstall the rear lights? I plan to dry them out and add some ventilation holes.
Open up the engine lid and undo the two torx screws. That's it!
Brilliant. I'm still new to working on the Porsche... it's the other car that takes most of the time.
It's even covered in the manual - at least for gen 1.
With the right torx (T25 from memory) it's about 90 seconds for the pair 😁
Well, yes, it doesn't take long to remove the light, once the 2x T25s are out. You still need to disconnect the electrics to the assembly, and then remove 7x T20 screws (a long handle helps) from the back, and then pull hard to separate the back from the front. I was afraid that I'd broken it. Certainly startled the dog.
There is a sort of skinny foam gasket which looks a bit loose in places. Once the light has dried out (it's in my sauna), I'll try to dab a bit of glue into the place where the gasket sits to help it stay in place. I also removed a rubber bung from what looks like a ventilation tube on the back of the assembly, and drilled it out to 2mm to allow a bit of air circulation (given the above comments). It all goes back in tomorrow.
Hopefully the light will now stay water free! _________________ 997.2 Carrera4S: white over blue, driven and tracked, seldom clean.
Last edited by MaxA on Mon May 06, 2019 6:14 am; edited 1 time in total
Magic919 Barcelona
Joined: 05 Jun 2013 Posts: 1288 Location: Berkshire
Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 2:24 pm Post subject:
There are a couple of circular stickers you can peel off. _________________ 997.2 C4S PDK
MaxA Albert Park
Joined: 11 Oct 2015 Posts: 1672 Location: Helsinki
Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 3:01 pm Post subject:
Magic919 wrote:
There are a couple of circular stickers you can peel off.
Thanks, found them! _________________ 997.2 Carrera4S: white over blue, driven and tracked, seldom clean.
M5sime Newbie
Joined: 02 May 2019 Posts: 32 Location: Buckinghamshire, UK
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2019 9:55 pm Post subject: Fixed?
Hi - I found this thread while searching. It seems my 997.2 has condensation in both rear lights, I found it in the front lights and even the base of my windscreen tonight after the weather has got cold..
The headlights dry out but the rear lights don’t seems to be..
Is the trick to remove, dry-out and somehow ventilate better?
Best, Simon _________________ White 997.2 C2S with Mini Clubman for daily duties..
MaxA Albert Park
Joined: 11 Oct 2015 Posts: 1672 Location: Helsinki
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 7:21 am Post subject: Re: Fixed?
M5sime wrote:
Hi - I found this thread while searching. It seems my 997.2 has condensation in both rear lights, I found it in the front lights and even the base of my windscreen tonight after the weather has got cold..
The headlights dry out but the rear lights don’t seems to be..
Is the trick to remove, dry-out and somehow ventilate better?
Best, Simon
I still have condensation in my right rear light from time to time, but I might try to pull them apart and re-seal with silicon this time.. I suppose that I shouldn't live in a northern climate. _________________ 997.2 Carrera4S: white over blue, driven and tracked, seldom clean.
Billy Bumpsteer Monza
Joined: 12 Aug 2019 Posts: 160
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 7:55 am Post subject:
2 ways to deal with condensation, seal the unit completely so no moist air can get in or ventilate so that the moist air dissipates. Water leaks are a different problem.
M5sime Newbie
Joined: 02 May 2019 Posts: 32 Location: Buckinghamshire, UK
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 8:46 am Post subject: Out they must come
Looks like I have all four lights to pop out (fronts and rears) on my 997.2 and check the vents etc. The rears seem permanent in a state of condensation. The fronts always cleared. Oddly I noted on the fronts when I sprayed the car with iron x to remove some fallout I got some crystal patterns appearing inside the front headlights.. very concerning!
There is no sloshing water from what I can see (unlike the rear LED I had in my E46 Clubsport and that killed a bunch of the LED segments)..
I have an aftermarket Warranty on my car (Quentin special).. I wonder if I should claim vs 'fix' .. From what I read, they all fail eventually..?
Best
Simon _________________ White 997.2 C2S with Mini Clubman for daily duties..
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 9:40 am Post subject: Re: Out they must come
M5sime wrote:
Looks like I have all four lights to pop out (fronts and rears) on my 997.2 and check the vents etc. The rears seem permanent in a state of condensation. The fronts always cleared. Oddly I noted on the fronts when I sprayed the car with iron x to remove some fallout I got some crystal patterns appearing inside the front headlights.. very concerning!
There is no sloshing water from what I can see (unlike the rear LED I had in my E46 Clubsport and that killed a bunch of the LED segments)..
I have an aftermarket Warranty on my car (Quentin special).. I wonder if I should claim vs 'fix' .. From what I read, they all fail eventually..?
Best
Simon
good luck with that one, I never got anything out of them, for example output shaft seals weeping gearbox oil. Not an internal seal and you don't need to strip the transaxle apart so not covered! Spent £3K on warranty over 3 years and spent £4K on failed parts not covered! _________________ Porsche Carrera 2S 2005 black fully Hartech'd!, BMW Z4 coupé 2007 blue, Mazda Eunos 1996 yellow, VW Passat 2014 black.
We all do silly things/make mistakes, it's how we deal with them that sets us apart from animals and Americans.
M5sime Newbie
Joined: 02 May 2019 Posts: 32 Location: Buckinghamshire, UK
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 10:21 am Post subject: Re: Out they must come
jl-c wrote:
good luck with that one, I never got anything out of them, for example output shaft seals weeping gearbox oil. Not an internal seal and you don't need to strip the transaxle apart so not covered! Spent £3K on warranty over 3 years and spent £4K on failed parts not covered!
Hmm.. I guess it was 'insurance' in my mind for anything major.. I will try the DIY option first then! _________________ White 997.2 C2S with Mini Clubman for daily duties..
Windy101 Spa-Francorchamps
Joined: 05 Jun 2015 Posts: 286
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 10:25 am Post subject:
Drilling a few small holes in the rear cover of the 997.2 rears does help them breathe. Does not stop Condensation, but it clears a lot quicker.
M5sime Newbie
Joined: 02 May 2019 Posts: 32 Location: Buckinghamshire, UK
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 10:46 am Post subject:
Windy101 wrote:
Drilling a few small holes in the rear cover of the 997.2 rears does help them breathe. Does not stop Condensation, but it clears a lot quicker.
Thanks!! Will give that a go.. _________________ White 997.2 C2S with Mini Clubman for daily duties..
Windy101 Spa-Francorchamps
Joined: 05 Jun 2015 Posts: 286
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 11:43 am Post subject:
Remove the rear covers, drill some holes and then put them back on.
On my 930 took a fishtank air pipe T from the fan housing and ran a pipe to each rear light unit and drilled a second hole in the back of them and never had any issue again. I know there is no compatible fan in the 997 but I would have thought something similar could be worked out? Maybe using engine heat and a small computer fan or similar? Luckily, I don't seem to have this issue with the Dectanes. ( fingers crossed, touch wood etc. ) _________________ Porsche Carrera 2S 2005 black fully Hartech'd!, BMW Z4 coupé 2007 blue, Mazda Eunos 1996 yellow, VW Passat 2014 black.
We all do silly things/make mistakes, it's how we deal with them that sets us apart from animals and Americans.
M5sime Newbie
Joined: 02 May 2019 Posts: 32 Location: Buckinghamshire, UK
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 3:03 pm Post subject: Update: Light out, stripped and drying
Hi -
So I have taken the lights out (very easy as per online instructions - 2x T25 screws). Both look in very good condition, but both have the same amount of condensation in (see pic). To split the lights you need a T20 bit and some gentle teasing and the housing comes apart (there is one traditional bulb in each so I assume this is for changing that bulb).
I noted the rubber/fabric seal is naturally very compressed and in the vertical edges where the screws attach to the bodywork I saw dry dirt that was through the seal. So perhaps the base inside edges of the lights get the most water flow here (run-off) and also need the most focus.
I have cleaned the lights and they are drying. I also cleaned the housings within the body work (see pic)..
On one, I have drilled two holes in places I chose that have very little chance of water ingress. I will see how this does over time and will keep the other original experiment. I cleaned the seal and have taken real time to put this back in such a way to not allow any gaps.
Let's see.. _________________ White 997.2 C2S with Mini Clubman for daily duties..
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Rear lights out. Connectors sealed for now and the housings cleaned..
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Hole drilled on base of light back, near the connector. I drilled another to give some airflow.
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The bulb holder for the replacement as needed. Only one bulb. T20 screw
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Light open.. Plenty of PCBs, some chips, surface mount resistors.. Quite a lot for your money!
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Inside edge, seal and the part where most dirt seemed to have progressed.
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997.2 rear light with condensation
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Phil 997 Le Mans
Joined: 05 Dec 2015 Posts: 15570 Location: Bournemouth,Dorset
I am impressed you got the lens off the housing , I will watch thins thread to updates on how you get on over time _________________ 911 Owners,Some Invest In The Future,
Others Enjoy The Moment Today.
M5sime Newbie
Joined: 02 May 2019 Posts: 32 Location: Buckinghamshire, UK
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 6:46 pm Post subject:
Phil 997 wrote:
I am impressed you got the lens off the housing , I will watch thins thread to updates on how you get on over time
Hi - it’s not the lens (this is bonded). The back cover comes off with screws.. _________________ White 997.2 C2S with Mini Clubman for daily duties..
FZP Estoril
Joined: 18 Jan 2015 Posts: 3901 Location: Cheshire
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 6:56 pm Post subject:
The rear lens can be separated with a heat gun and interior trim removal tools, in the same way you would with the headlight lenses. But not necessary for the task above. Great work _________________ 997.2 Carrera 2S GT Silver/Cocoa.
Phil 997 Le Mans
Joined: 05 Dec 2015 Posts: 15570 Location: Bournemouth,Dorset
I am impressed you got the lens off the housing , I will watch thins thread to updates on how you get on over time
Hi - it’s not the lens (this is bonded). The back cover comes off with screws..
Ah that makes sense but also interesting to note that a heat gun and trim tool will get the lens off . _________________ 911 Owners,Some Invest In The Future,
Others Enjoy The Moment Today.
hopeydaze Monza
Joined: 06 Jan 2012 Posts: 177 Location: Wargrave, Berkshire, UK
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 9:33 pm Post subject:
What size holes are y'all drilling?
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