Tailgate full of water!!

[AudiPartner]

I opended the tailgate the other day and heard water trickling inside. I say trickling, that suggests a little bit of water, but actually it sounds like quite a lot. Its also leaking out around the boot closure button.

Anyone known of this? A few months ago I fitted some third party rear lights (inners, on the tailgate). They looked and fitted fine but I wonder if they have let water in?

[IanH755]

Got exactly the same thing on mine with OEM lights (water sound, switch soaked etc) and it's shorted the Switch out so my boot doesn't close (check fuses, get new switch later today). One thing I can see on mine is that the left tailgate light has condensation in it and a dead spider so I'm guessing the rear seal isn't very good but that shouldn't have let any water in.

[AudiPartner]

Hmm... what do you intend to do about it??

[Fatneck73]

I can't remember why but I had my nsr light out once and remember it was VERY awkward to get back PROPERLY... Could it just be that it needs re'seating' correctly????

[RossDagley]

A few months ago I fitted some third party rear lights (inners, on the tailgate). They looked and fitted fine but I wonder if they have let water in?

Dectane?

[IanH755]

Hmm... what do you intend to do about it??

Now I've put a new switch in and confirmed that the old one was water damaged I'm taking the tailgate trim apart to dry everything and check for any obvious signs of water ingress.

All depends on the weather really as I've not got anywhere in cover incase it rains.

[AudiPartner]

A few months ago I fitted some third party rear lights (inners, on the tailgate). They looked and fitted fine but I wonder if they have let water in?

Dectane?

Nah, they're Depo.

[IanH755]

AudiPartner - It's dry outside so I've just give it a quick take apart (opened warning triangle panel, removed two bits of carpeted trim, v.easy) and found the following -

1. The left tailgate light housing for the LED tail/reverse lights (not the interior white bulb) is wet with a rusty bolt so thats been leaking a while.
2. The left carpet trim is wet where it meets the plastic "shelf" (the piece that holds the boot switch and the two interior lights) with about a teaspoon of water and the inner plastic had some water in it too.
3. The plastic "shelf" had about an egg-cup of water stored along it.
4. The right tailgate light housing has no rust but has 2 water runs which look like a single drop each.
5. The right carpet trim is dry but had 2-3 water drops caught on the inner plastic face in a few plastic grids.

I think if I reseal the lights I'll be fine after this but I really need to get the plastic "shelf" trim removed and dried out too as I'm fairly sure there's more water still in there considering the amount I can hear sloshing around (est 2-3 egg cups?)

Tomorrow I'll take apart the plastic trim (the "shelf" area) & refit the tailgate lights etc.

[AudiPartner]

Nice one Ian, sounds like you have found your cause.

I decided yesterday that as the car is going in to the dealers on Monday, I will put the original lights back in. Which like you say, it's dry outside so I've just gone and done it. Now the tailgate is still full of water so I will get them to sort it out. If they find a cause, then I know it's not my aftermarket lights, I'll put them back in when it's been dried out, but if they don't find another cause I'll assume it IS the lights and I won't bother putting them back in.

[LukasPukas]

Would be interested to hear with what they come up with.

I don't get water inside the actual tailgate, but if I open the boot on my avant water comes pouring out the top (from the side of the spoiler) and down the sill. Luckily not in the boot yet, but imagine it could only be a matter of time

[AudiPartner]

Water ingress not covered by extended warranty!

They want 2 hours to strip it back to hopefully find the cause.

[IanH755]

Have you checked the inside of the lights (like I did above) to see if it's the aftermarket lights causing the issue? It's literally a 2 min job with a flat blade screwdriver to check.

[rtd]

So are we saying the Trups lights are the issue?

[IanH755]

They're not Trups lights, they're made by "Depo" in Taiwan

A few months ago I fitted some third party rear lights (inners, on the tailgate). They looked and fitted fine but I wonder if they have let water in?

Dectane?

Nah, they're Depo.

http://www.depo.com.tw/asp/pdf/R_AD_4.PDF

[AudiPartner]

It apparently isn't coming in from the rear lights, they have said they know where it's coming from, and it's going to take two hours to take it apart and hopefully find the cause and put it all back. When I pick the car up (without the work being done) I will ask him to show me where it's coming from.

I will then speak to Audi UK and try my luck. I've had the car 6 months and it's been back 3 times. Hopefully they will offer some good will.