Water in caravan tail light ?

black caviar
black caviar Forum Participant Posts: 242
edited August 2016 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

after i put caravan back into storage yesterday i noticed that the rear tail light on the caravan was half full of water , never had a philips screwdriver but used a potatoe peeler to wedge light unit apart and drain water out when i call to see it next
week should i drill a little hole in glass so water doesnt fillup behind glass ? Absolutely clueless mrs bc :))

Comments

  • Simon100
    Simon100 Club Member Posts: 666 ✭
    500 Comments 100 Likes
    edited August 2016 #2

    My lunar Delta has holes at the bottom of the lights to drain the condensation so I don't see a problem with you adding them to your lights.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2016 #3

    I would take the covers off, clean and dry and put them back with a smear of silicone grease over the seals/ No reason not to drill a small hole underneath. How old is the 'van? 

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited August 2016 #4
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #5

    It is a common problem on caravans, certainly 10/15 years ago. When I had the same problem I drilled a 1/8 inch hole at the lowest point of the lens. Problem solved.

    peedee

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited August 2016 #6

    Ours had the problem and a silicone smear was added by the engineer who serviced it and this has cured the problem.

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited August 2016 #7

    Ours had the problem and a silicone smear was added by the engineer who serviced it and this has cured the problem.

    Write your comments here...

    Ours too. Now we have a small tube of silicone grease in case of a reoccurrence. Swift blamed condensation for water inside the light and instructed the dealer to drill a hole in thr housing. It didn't work. Strangely the alleged condensation disappeared
    once the gasket was smeared with grease.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2016 #8

    In our present 'van buth rear light clusters developed cpndensation within 6 months of new. Dealer refitted them (I popped in when passing) condensation came back and replacements covers were fitted and problem cleared. No idea why.

  • black caviar
    black caviar Forum Participant Posts: 242
    edited August 2016 #9

    Thankyou for your replies its a 2003 hymer nova: i will take my toolkit on monday to storage and have a go at removing rusty screws and cleaning will also take my cordless drill and have a go at drilling a hole (fingers crossed) cheers mrs bc:)

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited August 2016 #10

    In our present 'van buth rear light clusters developed cpndensation within 6 months of new. Dealer refitted them (I popped in when passing) condensation came back and replacements covers were fitted and problem cleared. No idea why.

    Write your comments here...

    The reason why is because it wasn't condensation in the first place, but a leaking seal.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #11

    In our present 'van buth rear light clusters developed cpndensation within 6 months of new. Dealer refitted them (I popped in when passing) condensation came back and replacements covers were fitted and problem cleared. No idea why.

    Write your comments here...

    The reason why is because it wasn't condensation in the first place, but a leaking seal.

    Obviously but as they were both taken off and refitted I was surprised that the reseating did not cure it.

  • black caviar
    black caviar Forum Participant Posts: 242
    edited August 2016 #12

    Fixed it ! Thanks have drilled tiny holes in bottom of lense too :) when i took it off it was like a complete sealed unit , but got light bulbs out and cleaned green algae off . eldest son went back to caravan and showed me what to do and all seems well
    now :) thanks for help cheers mrs bc:). Ps what is clesr silicone gel?

  • nicko
    nicko Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited August 2016 #13

    mine were replaced under warranty at 2 years old,dealer told me it is a common fault on a lot of models his advise was exactly same drill holes in bottom of lens

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #14

    Fixed it ! Thanks have drilled tiny holes in bottom of lense too :) when i took it off it was like a complete sealed unit , but got light bulbs out and cleaned green algae off . eldest son went back to caravan and showed me what to do and all seems well
    now :) thanks for help cheers mrs bc:). Ps what is clesr silicone gel?

    http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/servisol-multi-purpose-silicone-grease-50g-tube-re90x

    I use it on the plug in for water as it gets hard to disconnect otherwise

  • nicko
    nicko Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited August 2016 #15

    Fixed it ! Thanks have drilled tiny holes in bottom of lense too :) when i took it off it was like a complete sealed unit , but got light bulbs out and cleaned green algae off . eldest son went back to caravan and showed me what to do and all seems well
    now :) thanks for help cheers mrs bc:). Ps what is clesr silicone gel?

    http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/servisol-multi-purpose-silicone-grease-50g-tube-re90x

    I use it on the plug in for water as it gets hard to disconnect otherwise

    Write your comments here...thanks for your tip i have been struggling with mine just lately thought i was taking part in a tug of war sometimes!

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2016 #16

    I use it on water plug in time to time.

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited August 2016 #17

    Silicone oil/grease has to be an essential part of everyone's van maintenance kits. Water inlets, toilet seals sticling/corroded locks, latches and hinges. Not being mineral oil based it doesn't perish rubber gaskets and seals,, it has good water resistance
    and it doesn't evaporate. A tiny tube may be a bit pricy but it'll probably last you for years. And it'll fix those leaking light seals - condensation! Are we really supposed to believe manufacturer's claims? Exactly how much moisture do they think a lamp
    full of air contains? Spoonfuls it seems, and how is it explained that cars rarely suffer condensation while leisure vehicles suffer enough to water plants with.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #18

    Never  bothered  with  silicone  grease  as  such,  but  most  houses  manage  to  find  a  container  ( small  phial  or  tub )  of  common  or  garden  petroleum  jelly,  aka  vaseline  !

    Clean  the  mating  surfaces,  a  gentle  application  of  jelly  &  the  job  should  be  ok,  and  you've  got  soft  hands  as  well  !

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited August 2016 #19

    Vaseline degrades rubber seals and tends to wash away, which is why the trade don't use it.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #20

    Not  seen  a  "Rubber"  seal  for  ages,  most  are  a  type  of  Thermoplastic  now,  surely
    Undecided

    And  if  it  gets  washed  away  your  probably  parked  under  a  waterfall  !

    Laughing

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited August 2016 #21

    Not  seen  a  "Rubber"  seal  for  ages,  most  are  a  type  of  Thermoplastic  now,  surely
    Undecided

    And  if  it  gets  washed  away  your  probably  parked  under  a  waterfall  !

    Laughing

    Write your comments here...

    Neoprene and its variants are commonly used for gaskets, and it degrades when in contact with hydrocarbon based products, of which Vaseline is one. Although Vaseline isn't in itself water soluble, it has a very low melting point, which makes it susceptible
    to leaking out of warm environments like light fittings. Our primary reason for investing under £2 in a small tube of silicone grease is that it won't attack rubber (or neoprene) seals and O rings in water pump connectors, toilet seals, gaskets etc. It's a
    product designed for engineering applications, of which there are several in leisure vehicles, whereas Vaseline is designed for medical, topical use, not machinery, though it'll undeniably work for a "get you home fix". We don't keep Vaseline in our van, instead
    we keep silicone grease because it's designed for the job. 

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