Hey everyone,

My rear brake light and running light on the XJ (X351) suddenly stopped working. While searching for solutions here and elsewhere online, the only advice I kept finding was “replace the whole tail light unit.”

Well, I wanted to share that it doesn’t always have to be that drastic. By carefully softening and opening up the plastic housing, I discovered the classic “green stuff” (corrosion) on the PCB. After cleaning it up, the tail light is now working perfectly again.

One important tip: if you decide to cut it open, do it very carefully, the plastic sits very close to the PCB, so there isn’t much room for error.

Now the only job left is to just as carefully close up the new little inspection hatch I created

Photo of a cut attached.

Hope this helps someone in the same situation!

 

Great repair but the main problem was not solved? How does water get into the tail light to cause all that corrosion? If that's not fixed won't the moisture just build back up again?
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