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#1
Taillight fish tank!!!!
GTP Level Member
06-01-2015
Well I just noticed I had no taillight on my passenger side when I took the whole light out it was full of water!!!
back up and tail light sockets look pretty corroded...
anybody have any suggestions or options on what to do??
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#2
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
I live here.
06-01-2015
Best bet is to go to junkyard and grab the sockets off a car in the junkyard to replace yours with. And buy some new tail lights.
2003 Redfire Metallic Chevy Tahoe Z71 - Airaid Modular Intake Tube, Flowmaster Exhaust.

Originally Posted by
The Sunfire Guy
Superchargers take away horsepower
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#3
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
GrandPrix Junkie
06-01-2015
LED tail lights, they look better and are cheaper that TYC replacements.
Retros, LEDs, SD Hood

GMPP, Votland, Addco
06+ Impala brakes, L76 Springs, ERs, Self-Tuned, 3.5 Gen V L32, Ported TB, 240a CS144, SSAC, Upgraded Transmission, Android Head Unit, Remote stuff, GXP Seats
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#4
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
GTP Level Member
06-01-2015
Yeah I just checked on rock auto and sockets are expensive!!!! Wtf.
I also found a small hairline crack at the top of the taillight.......
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#5
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
SE Level Member
06-02-2015
I second the LED tails. You won't regret it. You may be able to clean and grease (dielectric grease) your sockets if they aren't too bad off.
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#6
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
GTP Level Member
06-02-2015
LOL.... I came to this thread expecting to see a GP tail light with fish swimming around it it.
2003 Grand Prix GTP.... the journey begins again....
E85 Self Tune with HPT, 80# Injectors, Gen V 3.4 pulley, SD Headers, AL605 Plugs
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#7
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
Donating Users
06-02-2015
As said above, your best bet is to purchase the LED taillights. These cost around $200 or more, can be found on e-bay, or Intense-racing, or on FB. You can also google to find more places that sell these. As far as finding a decent taillight at a junkyard, good luck. I have not seen any taillights in scrap yards that are worth taking home.
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#8
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
I live here.
06-02-2015

Originally Posted by
tc300
Yeah I just checked on rock auto and sockets are expensive!!!! Wtf.
I also found a small hairline crack at the top of the taillight.......
Like I said a junkyard is going to be your best bet, you might be able to find some cheep ones on eBay.
$9.20 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Standard-Mot...1805b8&vxp=mtr
2003 Redfire Metallic Chevy Tahoe Z71 - Airaid Modular Intake Tube, Flowmaster Exhaust.

Originally Posted by
The Sunfire Guy
Superchargers take away horsepower
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#9
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
I live here.
06-02-2015

Originally Posted by
NotEnoughGPs
As said above, your best bet is to purchase the LED taillights. These cost around $200 or more, can be found on e-bay, or Intense-racing, or on FB. You can also google to find more places that sell these. As far as finding a decent taillight at a junkyard, good luck. I have not seen any taillights in scrap yards that are worth taking home.
$169.88 http://www.ebay.com/itm/FITS-SMOKED-...acda43&vxp=mtr
2003 Redfire Metallic Chevy Tahoe Z71 - Airaid Modular Intake Tube, Flowmaster Exhaust.

Originally Posted by
The Sunfire Guy
Superchargers take away horsepower
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#10
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
GTP Level Member
06-05-2015
well good news!! I cleaned out the sockets everything works.. Added some new bulbs and some dielectric grease.. Found three tail lights at my local junkyards but all three had water in them and looked in worse shape than mine. On mine I found a small/hairline crack that was vertical, I siliconed it and the top of the light with 3 coats. Ran a garden hose over it for 20 minutes last night and there was no water in the light after!!! I did cut some sockets off while the junkyard just in case I needed to replace those.
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#11
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
SE Level Member
06-06-2015
tc300, I suggest that you keep an eye on your repair. My taillights did the same thing and I attempted the same repair that you just did. It did not last for very long before it started leaking again. So, the next time you get a heavy rain best to check out your taillights. Hopefully you'll have better luck than I did. I eventually replaced mine with new ones.
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#12
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
GTP Level Member
06-06-2015
Also, as a last resort, you can simply drill a small hole or two in the bottom of each tail light. Obviously it doesn't prevent water intrusion, but lets the water drain.
Make sure the bulb sockets have plenty of dielectric grease prior to installing the bulb, and they should be okay. I didn't have any issues after doing this.
2003 Grand Prix GTP.... the journey begins again....
E85 Self Tune with HPT, 80# Injectors, Gen V 3.4 pulley, SD Headers, AL605 Plugs
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#13
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
GTP Level Member
06-24-2015

Originally Posted by
GPCharlie
tc300, I suggest that you keep an eye on your repair. My taillights did the same thing and I attempted the same repair that you just did. It did not last for very long before it started leaking again. So, the next time you get a heavy rain best to check out your taillights. Hopefully you'll have better luck than I did. I eventually replaced mine with new ones.
Everything has been looking good!!! we've had plenty of rain past few weeks. I have since added three coats of silicone on top of one another Took the taillight out last night and checked all the wiring connections, they were pretty corroded before. a small screwdriver some sandpaper and dielectric grease took care of that.
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#14
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
SE Level Member
06-28-2015

Originally Posted by
tc300
Everything has been looking good!!! we've had plenty of rain past few weeks. I have since added three coats of silicone on top of one another Took the taillight out last night and checked all the wiring connections, they were pretty corroded before. a small screwdriver some sandpaper and dielectric grease took care of that.
Good to hear that you're faring better than I did. Next time mine leak, I'm looking for you.
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#15
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
SE Level Member
05-20-2018
Hey TC300: Same problem here. Pass side full of water and sockets are corroded. Driver's side also had water, but sockets were clean. There seems to be a gap between the outer lens and the rest of the housing. The space between has gotten foggy in some places.
What did you end up doing??
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#16
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
05-20-2018
I'd just find a good set in the junkyard and replace them both. Clean the corrosion out of the sockets or grab those from a JY too and swap them out.
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#17
Re: Taillight fish tank!!!!
Donating Users
05-22-2018

Originally Posted by
jammy
Hey TC300: Same problem here. Pass side full of water and sockets are corroded. Driver's side also had water, but sockets were clean. There seems to be a gap between the outer lens and the rest of the housing. The space between has gotten foggy in some places.
What did you end up doing??
He said.....

Originally Posted by
tc300
well good news!! I cleaned out the sockets everything works.. Added some new bulbs and some dielectric grease.. Found three tail lights at my local junkyards but all three had water in them and looked in worse shape than mine. On mine I found a small/hairline crack that was vertical, I siliconed it and the top of the light with 3 coats. Ran a garden hose over it for 20 minutes last night and there was no water in the light after!!! I did cut some sockets off while the junkyard just in case I needed to replace those.
Chris B
2009 CX-9
** SOLD ** 2002 GT