Toyota Yaris 2003 Rear Light Cluster N/s

[reach16]

Am I unlucky or what? About 30 months ago I had to have the N/S rear light cluster replaced because it was letting in water. Today I noticed that the replacement one has also gone and that too has water in it. Originally it was misdiagnosed by the Toyota garage as it was recommended that just the seal was replaced but that proved wrong because after having that done water leaked into the boot ( the boot was perfectly dry before they replaced the seal) I then had to have the unit replaced . I also decided to have the O/S unit replaced as I was advised that too could go and replacing the seals don't always solve the problem. As had been proved with the N/S.

I took me car back to the agents today and after speaking to the assistant manager I am waiting for him to read the history of the previous work carried out and to come back to me with an estimate for the new unit and labour.

At first he said it would cost me £69 for a diagnostic check but after I asked him to look at the unit he said that it was the seal within the unit that had gone. I then showed him the original unit and he said that had gone the same . So having the inner seals replace was not necessary the first time , These are the seals that seal the unit in the body work

I feel that the original problem was misdiagnosed. and I paid out seals to be fitted..

Now I am faced with the same problem of having to have the N/S light cluster replaced at my cost.

Has anyone else had this problem with the rear light cluster, The original lasted for 9 years the second 2 years

Could this be my bad luck or is there a fault with these units?

.

for the record

My Yaris has only done 18.400 miles and well looked after and I don't want it to get worse so I will have to have it done!

[FROSTYBALLS]

From doing a search on the Yaris club, the common issue as regards leaks around the rear light cluster seems to be the seal between the cluster and the body, rather than any internal seals in the light cluster.

[reach16]

Thank you for replying

The asst manager seems to think that if it is the seal between the cluster and the body then the boot would be wet.

If the unit has an internal seal then would water only get into the unit if that seal had gone?

[FROSTYBALLS]

In most instances the seal between the cluster and the body does allow water to get into the boot - water drains from the roof area around the tailgate, travels down the side gutters and around the seal between the cluster and the body. However, if water is getting into the light cluster, that has to come from an external source - I would have thought that either the light cluster has a crack in it somewhere or a bad joint, or water is getting in through an external seal.