Sealing tail lights - water leak

[Mark Rosenkrantz]

You sidestepped the factory procedure?  Now the Audi gods will be angry.
;-)

You found it!  One of the 3M products never dries... stays tacky... that or
silicone would be the thing to use.. I'd only be concerned about the
silicone sticking to the painted surface.  No experience there.

Glad I "helped."  =)

Mark Rosenkrantz

On Wed, Oct 26, 2011 at 8:25 PM, Dave C <dconner at gmail.com> wrote:

> OK guys ... this discussion has been very helpful.
>
> I did some investigation this evening with a hose and paper towels, but
> doing it solo with no one locked in the trunk ... :-)
>
> It appears the water is coming in around the lock in the center of the
> trunk
> lid.  I found that place leaking once before and since I had already
> replaced that seal, I thought it couldn't be leaking there.  But it is.
>  And
> it's surprising how much water can seep through such a little space.  The
> "rubber" seal appears to be intact, but apparently has shrunk over time.
> That's why each time I re-seal the tail lights the leak appears to be
> getting worse ... the rubber seal is getting more dried out each time.
>
> I'll try smearing some sealant goop around the seal and see if that fixes
> the problem ... maybe an appropriate thing would be Permatex® Black
> Silicone
> Adhesive Sealant, which I happen to have on the shelf.
>
> http://www.permatex.com/products/automotive/adhesives_sealants/sealants/Permatex_Black_Silicone_Adhesive_Sealant_b.htm
>
>
> I'll also try ordering a new seal, and see whether they are still
> available,
> looks like p/n 161827527
>
> Dave C.
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 26, 2011 at 5:59 PM, Tony Hoffman <auditony at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Mark, I was LMAO at this one!! I might have one or two of those
> > (disgruntled, that is). Would love to lock her in the trunk, oops, did I
> say
> > that?
> >
> > Dave, I misread the original post, I guess. I was thinking the outer
> > taillights were leaking, not the ones on the trunklid. You are right on
> > target. Also, check the spot where the bolts hold the center are under
> the
> > license plate. Those need some butyl as well.
> >
> > Tony
> >
> > On Wed, Oct 26, 2011 at 2:48 PM, Mark Rosenkrantz <
> > speedracer.mark at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Step #1; put lock carrier into service position
> >> Special tools required; flashlight, paper towels (Audi special towels
> are
> >> NLA), beer, and hose with water source.
> >>
> >> Lock yourself in the trunk with flashlight and towels.  Use a friend
> (paid
> >> in beer) to soak the trunk with the hose.  Hopefully they will also let
> you
> >> out.  Note; wives and disgruntled girlfriends are a bad choice here,
> unless
> >> you volunteer them for trunk duty, in which case you get to drink the
> beer!
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________
> quattro mailing list
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/quattro
> http://www.audifans.com/kb/List_information
>