S4 Sprint Tail light cluster lens gasket failure

PostPost by: bloodknock » Mon Jan 07, 2019 6:36 pm

Happy New Year fellow travellers,
Heres my latest bind:
My rear lamp clusters are original and in overall good condition. However, the lens seal has deteriorated, its hardened and in places has somehow adhered to the lens plastic. See Photos
I cannot believe that it will offer any resistance at all to water ingress. If you look at the photo of the lens, the reason the hardened seal is in place is that it is firmly stuck! I am sure that I can remove it cleanly with a little effort. So i'm going to need a replacement gasket. Can anyone advise me of a source?

REgards
Bob
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20190107_180125.jpg and
20190107_180113.jpg and
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PostPost by: Evante » Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:04 pm

Bob,

I think that the original gaskets were gray. This site has them but in black, if you don't mind the difference.

https://www.holden.co.uk/displayproduct ... K%20GASKET

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PostPost by: 1owner69Elan » Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:22 pm

Here as well. I bought these recently for my S4. Worked fine.

https://paulmattysportscars.co.uk/produ ... -s4sprint/
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PostPost by: bloodknock » Tue Jan 08, 2019 6:38 pm

Thanks Gents.
The part i'm talking about is the seal between the lens and the light body, the grey part in the photo.
Since the car is all original, I would like to get the correct OEM seal if possible.
20190107_180125.jpg and

Cheers
Bob
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PostPost by: fatboyoz » Wed Jan 09, 2019 12:36 am

HI Bob,
They seem impossible to buy on their own (have looked for years). Pretty sure that a new gasket is provided when buying a new lens.
An expensive way to replace a gasket!!
Cheers,
Colin.


bloodknock wrote:Thanks Gents.
The part i'm talking about is the seal between the lens and the light body, the grey part in the photo.
Since the car is all original, I would like to get the correct OEM seal if possible.
20190107_180125.jpg

Cheers
Bob
'68 S4 DHC
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PostPost by: JohnCh » Wed Jan 09, 2019 12:56 am

I bought a pair from RD Enterprises a few months ago. Only $14 for the pair, but they are black rather than gray.


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PostPost by: nmauduit » Wed Jan 09, 2019 9:40 am

bloodknock wrote:Thanks Gents.
The part i'm talking about is the seal between the lens and the light body, the grey part in the photo.
Since the car is all original, I would like to get the correct OEM seal if possible.
Cheers
Bob


on the same line the same grey was used for the license plate lights rubber gaskets, hard to find these days while black ones are still offered with new Hella spares
lotus-electrical-f38/source-license-plate-lights-sprints-t27227.html
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PostPost by: NedK » Mon Mar 29, 2021 12:19 pm

Steve at SJ has the gasket material too. They aren't supplied as the 'rectangles', but I shall join the two ends with a spot of glue at a convenient place.
The originals thinned down around the bolts in a couple of places, so it may need a bit of blade-work too. There's an original Lucas for sale on eBay https://ebay.us/SZGzb7 - LHS only, but the photo is useful.
rear lens seal 1.jpg and
Original Lucas part LH 54578619


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PostPost by: RichardHawkins » Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:29 pm

Gentlemen,

My replacement lights came with foam rubber seals, and no thinned down areas. I suspect the thinned down bit is to allow water to escape. Does anyone know?

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PostPost by: fatboyoz » Mon Mar 29, 2021 9:21 pm

Hi Richard,
The original grey seals have the cutouts, and presume these are to let any condensation out of the fitting. However, they are shaped to fit the lenses, and therefore there is a left and a right hand lens and seal.
The complete light fittings, when mounted on an S4 Elan, are upside down. The drains are then positioned at the top, and not on the bottom as per the design. I don’t know if this would let water into the lens, but many years ago, I cut them up, and glued them back together so that the cutouts are at the bottom. Anal? Perhaps.
Cheers,
Colin.
P.S. Or perhaps I had the wrong part number seals.!!!!







RichardHawkins wrote:Gentlemen,

My replacement lights came with foam rubber seals, and no thinned down areas. I suspect the thinned down bit is to allow water to escape. Does anyone know?

Richard Hawkins
'68 S4 DHC
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PostPost by: RichardHawkins » Tue Mar 30, 2021 5:12 pm

Thanks for the advice.

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