Anyone else encounter this problem?

My right tail light is leaking water and I have about an inch of water in it right now. I took it into the dealership, but they said that since there's a small crack on the top of the light (I don't know how it got there!) that my warranty would not cover the problem. I really don't feel like coughing up $300 to get a new tail light installed... has anyone found a way of doing it themselves? My friend was thinking that maybe taking the tail light off, draining it, and then sealing the crack with some epoxy might do the trick... what do you guys think? I've tried the eBay thing, but it seems like people are only selling used ones that have scratches and water spots... eh, not my thing.

Any help or advice is appreciated!
Thanks.

 

Be careful with what type of epoxy you use. Some will haze up the inside, similar to superglue. I've read some posts where people just replaced the "spongy" gasket and used the "rear-view" mirror glue. I had fogging and had the dealer replace it. The fact that they're tripping off of the crack is BS.

If I were you, I'd find another dealer to go to. My dealership said they wouldn't replace the housing unless they, physically, see the housing fog up. I asked if I could take a pic and they said no. Then, under the guidance of this site, I printed the TSB and showed them. They replaced it after I showed them the TSB.

 

it's pretty common, but from different reasons. If you have an 04, you could try this out.
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...21-04-1356.pdf

 

Yeah, I thought it was pretty shiesty myself.

But, thankfully, my boyfriend is a good bullshitter and he called up a different dealer (the one I actually bought it from) and he got them to take care of it. He researched it and mentioned to them that a lot of people seem to have problems with tail lights leaking, so they didn't hesitate to fix the problem.

I guess it just depends who you talk to...

 

I would try another dealer ive had this same problem and so has a friend, with the drivers side tail light, both of ours were replaced without question.

 

I can tell you a lot of 8 owners have had this problem...i myself included....most dealers will replace it no questions asked cuz they know that its a warranty issue....one guy i know had 4 or 5 replaced.....
the last guy i talked to said when they replaced his that there was gonna be some kinds of recall or something like that....

i will get the skinny on that...ive got a new taillight waiting at the dealer...theyre just waiting for my lazy *** to get there for the swap..

 

Cool. Looks like I have an appointment for next Friday to get it replaced. Sweeeet. Hopefully it doesn't happen again!

 

got my passenger side fixed just recently now for the frist time my drivers side is doing it, urgh...are there any implications of water/moisture damageing anything?

 

ya, I got my driver side fog light filling with moisture too... I've tried look at it, taking the front bumper off and seeing whats wrong (couldn't find a hole)...

I went to the dealer, and he claimed the reason would be that of a "rock chip"... So he spends 2 minutes looking at the fog and finds no rock chips... But either way, I'm 1000 miles away from ending my warranty and apparently my fog is not covered by my warranty....

 

damn right i got a fog that is full of moisture that almost never goes away...i hate it.

 

That sucks. You could always pull the line "I've done some research, and it seems like a lot of people are having this problem. Maybe it's a Mazda issue...". That worked for my bf when he called the problem in for me.


I'm just pist that I have to drive to the dealer that's further away... all because the one near my house said it wasn't covered!

 

They agreed to replace mine without inspecting it. He just looked at me and said, "It will take 2 weeks to get the parts." I said, "OK".

 

just started on my passenger's side tail light. Im have the dealer replace it

 

Ok a recent thread about this. I recently had my passenger side tail light replaced and according to the Service Rep they just released a updated tail light. He couldnt tell me details (cause he didnt know them) but he told me when they ordered the light it came back as a upgraded part or sumthing like that. The light looks the same on the outside so hopefully something inside has been fixed that Mazda finaly realized "Hey this is what is cracking and causing all this". Here is hoping to no water for the remainder of me owning the car

(I'll try to find the work order to see if there is a part number hopefully its different than before who knows)

 

cool thing kev
I may have to bring that order # into the dealer
thanks

 

this is a warantee issue and from what im told by my dealer (who i actually trust) (and is somewhat honest) it happens because the trunk is not aligned properly from the factory and if you look closely at the gaps you will see all the 8's are different.......any way when you close your trunk enough the top of the light gets ht in a way that sooner or later it causes hairline cracks and lets moisture in....the new gasket is suppose to seal and cushion better than the one from the factory.....yet another mazda band-aid


stop listening to your dealer kevin they are retards and they lie like rugs!!....there is no new replacement tail light....its the sme one but the gasket has changed to make a tighter seal

that would be me...im on #6 an 7 that are gonna need to be put in

 

I have an 05 6MT, and just last week after days of rain, my passenger tail light has begun to fog up. i thought it would clear up after a day or so of drying, but so far no luck. i have noticed this on a few other 8's around town, and from what I can assume, it seems to me like water is getting in around the key hole. i dont kown exactly, but i am taking it in to the dealership tomorrow and hope they will replace it.

 

Let's revolt.




Haha, just keeeeeeeding.

 

Yep. Right side fogging like a b*(ch. Really exudes quality doesn't it?

 

I think I solved the issue with the tail light. When the gaskets get old, they absorb the water and then water starts channeling and collecting in a small reservoir made by the gasket and the light assembly under the reverse light. I realized that there is an opening under the reverse light that water could get in so I used a silicone sealer to fill in the hole and checked if water could seep in that way and so far it has been 2 weeks and it has snowed and rained very hard and my taillights are still dry. I really hope this helps some guys who do not want to deal with their dealers.

 

that's a new theroy on the trunk hitting the light.

 

just drop some seamonkeys in there.

-Steakboy

 

I had mine replace, but a couple of days ago when I washed my car, I noticed condensation/fog of the interior on BOTH lights AGAIN!! Debating on whether I should have it replace again...

 

Dealer replaced mine in about 45 mins, didn't ask me how it happened or anything. I only had the drivers side get foggy. A few friends with 04's also only had the drivers side. I haven't see anything fog up yet since then with a few car washes.

 

Yeah my driver's side is fogged up. (04' with 66k miles). It didn't fog up until about 62k and mazda wont replace it. Bastards.