2012 LED Taillight - fix or replace?

WirralNick · Dec 27th, 2016, 12:35

Hello, looking for advice please,

Somehow the rear light cluster has been cracked/broke on my 2012 XC90. Water has then got in to the unit and now the taillight (LED) does not light up. Brake light and indicator are working fine.

Is this a 'fixable' item or is it a matter of replacing the complete unit.....

Its currently sat on the AGA drying out.....see attached

Does anyone have experience with these LED bulbs....will they just start working once dry or is it kaput?

thanks, Nick

SwissXC90 · Dec 27th, 2016, 14:03

LEDs work when wet or dry.
What stops them working is the corrosion that starts on the electronic components once they get exposed to water

If the damage and water occured within the last 48 hours, then you can save the electronics by drying our the assembly and afterwards sealing it against any more water ingress.

If the taillight has had water ingress over many months, then the corrosive damage will already have occured.

You can attempt to disassemble the taillight to expose the LEDs and the electronics that drive them and remove and inspect. Any form of corrosion will need to be cleaned off and any damage to any solder joings and copper tracking repaired.

HOWEVER given that the taillight is physically broken, honestly I think the fastest and easiest repair is a replacement tailight.

See eBay for second hand units or ask your local breaker

Funky Diver · Dec 28th, 2016, 00:43

Bear in mind a cracked light unit is also an MOT fail, so chances are you're going to have to replace it anyway.

Dec 27th, 2016, 14:03	#2
SwissXC90 Premier Member Last Online: Mar 20th, 2024 18:26 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Cross Country	LEDs work when wet or dry. What stops them working is the corrosion that starts on the electronic components once they get exposed to water If the damage and water occured within the last 48 hours, then you can save the electronics by drying our the assembly and afterwards sealing it against any more water ingress. If the taillight has had water ingress over many months, then the corrosive damage will already have occured. You can attempt to disassemble the taillight to expose the LEDs and the electronics that drive them and remove and inspect. Any form of corrosion will need to be cleaned off and any damage to any solder joings and copper tracking repaired. HOWEVER given that the taillight is physically broken, honestly I think the fastest and easiest repair is a replacement tailight. See eBay for second hand units or ask your local breaker __________________ XC90 R-Design MY2009, Black Sapphire Metallic. HP-Sound, RSE, Nav, Tel, ParkingCam, BLIS, ParkingHeater, RestHeat, Removable Towbar, Summer: CRATUS 20x8 on Pirelli Scorpion Zeros 255/45, Winter: NEPTUNE 17x7 on Continental WinterContact 4x4 235/65.

Dec 28th, 2016, 00:43	#3
Funky Diver FD Last Online: Aug 23rd, 2023 22:44 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Darlington	Bear in mind a cracked light unit is also an MOT fail, so chances are you're going to have to replace it anyway. Last edited by Funky Diver; Dec 28th, 2016 at 00:57.

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