Hey all
Sorry to hear about the moisture problems but Gordon is correct, the
seal between the glass lens and the plastic housing has failed. The
only correct way to repair it is to completely remove the lens from
the housing, remove all the old sealer and rebond the lens with new
sealer. Be sure and use a degreaser like prep-sol before applying the
new sealer.
I have done this several times, and have several of them waiting for
this repair. It's not a fun repair but they do not leak once new
sealer is used. It's a common problem on all types of Peugeot euro
lamps. I have had to do this to 504, 505, and 604 lamps that have all
lost their seal in the past and this is the only way to rectify the
problem and make it last.
The problem is with the glass and the fact that since it has a glossy
unscuffed surface the adhesive rarely maintains a good seal for long
period of time. If they would have blasted the lens where the
adhesive attaches it would have probably been alright, unfortunately
the manufacturers of these didn't.
On the 504 and 604 if the bond breaks completely the lens can fall
off and break. On the 505 it isn't so bad because the chrome plastic
bezel holds the lens in place. Some makers employ metal clips as
additional security but not all do. If I could find a supplier for
the clips I'd install them on all of my lamps as security.
Anyway, if you do reseal your lamps be sure and block off any small
drain holes you made, otherwise the condensation will continue and
your reflector will begin to oxidize. Also, I find the xacto knife to
be invaluable in these cases! I have at least three right now that
have to be done. On a good note, I have never had to go back and do
the repair again (yet).
Be cautious while you have the lamp apart, the plating on the
reflector scratches easily, so if there are spots you want to remove
use a very soft cloth and minimal pressure. Also, if you have the
lamp apart for an extended period of time be sure and bag the main
housing so that it doesn't get dusty.
Hope this helps
steve a
- In peugeot-L@yahoogroups.com, Gordon Brown <gfbrown@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I got a set of the Argentinian Valeo lights and had the same
moisture
> problem with one of them. In fact the plasticized reflector started
> peeling off because of water damage. I diagnosed the problem, not
as
> condensation, but water leaking in due to a faulty seal in the
joint
> between the clear lens and the body of the unit. Trying to reseal
it
> (several times) didn't work.
>
> I solved the problem by installing a new set of Argentinian lights
from
> Disortex on my STX daily driver and putting the old set into my
defunct
> wagon. I've been been driving the STX with the new lights for about
five
> years and I haven't seen any sign of water leaks since.
>
> Maybe we should be more demanding of our suppliers and return
faulty
> merchandise right away, not trying to remedy what is obviously
faulty
> workmanship ourselves. On the other hand shipping stuff back
through
> customs is a pain and having to put up with exorbitant UPS charges
is
> something I try to avoid.
>
> Gordon
>
> petermcgarvey@... wrote:
> > Mike,
> >
> > Good to have you back on the group list.
> > I have the same problem, but with a Valeo Unit on the right side
only. I have tried all remedies to no avail.
> > Condensation collects on the lens inside the unit only and have
also tried burning it off with the Lights on even during daytime
running. The rubber boot on the rear assembly is a tight snug fit
over the light bulb terminals with no evident access to the outside.
I am reluctant to drill or pierce the unit to let air in for
ventilation. I have even considered placing a desicant packet inside.
> > I have even used denatured alcohol to dry out the inside unit,
blow dry, leave open for an overnight, but the moisture always
returns but not anything more than condensation on the lens. Still
very annoying.
> > The only variant is that I have City Lights ( low brightness
bulbs ) installed when the parking lights come on.
> > The left side unit is clear and condensation free.
> > Mine is a 1987 505 STI V-6.
> >
> > Any thoughts from the group?
> >
> > Peter
> > -------------- Original message from "immanuel_cant"
<fmmurphy@...>: --------------
> >
> >
> >
> >>Hi, gang, Mike Murphy here under a new alias to try to shake
those
> >>silly OT postings.
> >>
> >>Each of my 5 roadworthy 505s has Euro lights, which suit the cars
> >>looks and provide superior photometrics. But one unit out of the
10
> >>is driving me nuts - it seems to have its own tropical weather
system
> >>- inside the light! I have taken the unit out numerous times -
always
> >>a royal pain in the patootee. The drill is getting all too
familiar:
> >>pour several tablespoons of water out, then dry things out with
paper
> >>towel on the end of wire coat hangers, then borrow my wife's hair
> >>dryer to get rid of the remainder of the visible moisture. Within
a
> >>few days, moisture starts to appear again, and sometimes,
overnight,
> >>the increase in visible moisture is unbelievable.
> >>
> >>A few points:
> >>1. We've drilled a drain hole in the middle of the bottom of the
> >>housing. Unfortunately, the water collects forward of the
drainhole,
> >>right up against the glass.
> >>2. The problem does not show up immediately after high pressure
car
> >>washes.
> >>3. Running with the lights on to "cook" things does not seem to
help.
> >>4. Re-sealing the unit with silicone does not seem to help.
> >>5. The unit is the Argentine replacement for the French unit.
Other
> >>such units are fine.
> >>
> >>It has been suggested that a vent hole on the TOP of the housing
might
> >>help let moist air, warmed by the bulb, escape. Fellow Pugheads,
I am
> >>open to your suggestions to this vexatious problem. One of the
> >>reasons why I have driven 505s since 1982 is that while they do
have
> >>their faults, none is that significant that it genuinely ticks me
off.
> >>Although this problem is with equipment and not the car, this one
is
> >>getting close to the threshold. Help!
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
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Received on Wed Mar 29 23:19:15 2006
