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I'm sure a number of us here are aware of the water ingress issues with the bumper mounted marker lamps. For those who aren't, an inoperative lamp is often more than a bad bulb. This design of lamp housing/wiring pigtail is very vulnerable to water intrusion, which leads to rust inside the bulb socket, the circuit being broken, and the lamp not working. Replacing the lamp is simple enough, but after a while the female connector coming from the body harness can severely corrode, and that socket is not available from Jag. I know it's been crossed to a Volkswagen number before, but I wanted to give another option, and share my experience.
After ignoring four inoperative marker lamps for entirely too long, I decided to tackle this project. Upon removal, the two rear lamps were too far gone to service, so I bought replacements. Fortunately the front two were salvageable. Now, replacing the lamp takes care of the leaking housing and deteriorated bulb socket, but what about the female connector, and further, preventing this from happening again? I was able to track down a replacement fuel injector pigtail that's incredibly similar to the Jag lighting connector. It's made by Standard, and the part number is HP4585. They're readily available and a local parts store actually had four on the shelf. I used these to replace the corroded factory connectors with a little modification. I also ran a very small bead of silicone gasket maker around the seam between the lamp lens and housing to provide some more weatherproofing. Below are some pictures of the process, hopefully they provide some help for someone.
Lamps removed, plus an extra. Moisture dried. Corroded sockets. The replacement pigtail One tab on factory Jag socket needs to be removed via dremel or file. New pigtails and bulbs fitted Housings sealed with a small bead of silicone. Corroded factory harness, removed New pigtail soldered on, connections heat shrinked. Wrapped in electrical tape. Lamps restored!
Why not just coat the bulb base and pigtail with dielectric grease? I think sealing the lens will trap any moisture that may enter from either the lens or the body panel where the wires come through.
Nice work!!!
The silicon will make replacing the bulb in the future a bit of an issue.
Understand the reason it was used, and the bulbs do last a long time.
Why not just coat the bulb base and pigtail with dielectric grease? I think sealing the lens will trap any moisture that may enter from either the lens or the body panel where the wires come through.
Sealing the lens should keep moisture out in the first place, and the bulb socket seals pretty well with an o-ring. And grease should help, but not if the pigtails have already corroded.
Originally Posted by Wingrider
Nice work!!!
The silicon will make replacing the bulb in the future a bit of an issue.
Understand the reason it was used, and the bulbs do last a long time.
The silicon only seals the lens to the housing. The bulb is still easily service by popping the lamp out, and turning the bulb socket 1/3 turn.
Sealing the lens should keep moisture out in the first place, and the bulb socket seals pretty well with an o-ring. And grease should help, but not if the pigtails have already corroded.
The silicon only seals the lens to the housing. The bulb is still easily service by popping the lamp out, and turning the bulb socket 1/3 turn.
Thank you for your outstanding post and photos, and for your research on the electrical connectors!
Just to add some additional info to your thread, for owners who find they only need the bulb sockets, they are commonly available under Volkswagen/Audi part number 1H0-949-111 or 1H0949111.
Marker lamps out?
