mk4 Golf question

[MJF44]

Hi there, this is my first post, not too sure what i'm doing but here goes!!

I  have a mk4 Golf - it's a GTi 1.8 20v (non-turbo) 1999

It had the standard red/yellow rear lights that you see on the base models, and I thought I would change them to the gti versions. On changing the drivers side lens I dropped one of the nuts down the back of the light (where the wiring is for the 12v socket but about a further 3 inches down). When I shone the torch & peered down I noticed there was a lot of water in this area, (and I dont think there should be!), the nut was actually submerged! After soaking it up with tissues it all looked fine but I noticed the drain tube in this area was just dangling there. After fiddling for ages & cutting my arm to bits I managed to push it back into the rubber thing it's supposed to go in but now I'm a bit worried where else the water may have gone. Does anyone know if this is a sealed area or can water get elsewhere from here where you can't easily check (eg under back seat/sills etc?)

[fireman sam]

i had to change a cracked rear lens cover when i got mine and it was wet in the void but i blamed that on it being cracked and the weather getting in. just make sure you do the bolts up tight so it seals properly and keep an eye on it

[charri42]

You car should have the darkened lights as standard. Has it been in a rear end shunt & repaired on the cheap?

[GazB]

not all will have the darkened lights.  The darkened lights were for the turbo model originally I believe

[charri42]

Gaz, all GTI models (and GT TDi)  had darkened rear lights from new - this is something I can be sure of! Have a 1998 first edition brochure here.

[GazB]

Gaz, all GTI models (and GT TDi)  had darkened rear lights from new - this is something I can be sure of! Have a 1998 first edition brochure here.

Nice, its been shunted then

[charri42]

Nice, its been shunted then

Or could have just damaged one light and owner picked up a pair second hand. Orange ones are dirt cheap second hand, dark ones less so. Trying to look on the bright side!!!

[GazB]

Maybe its an import, did the imports have different lights?

[MJF44]

sorted it, found out that the last owner pinched the lights before he sold it to put on his other golf, but he could not get one of the screws back on because of the awkward position of it, so it was letting the weather in were it wasn't sealing properly. checked it today after a downpour & it's bone dry   

anyway, after owning lots of mk1's & 2's i'm now looking forward to joining you mk4 boys (& girls!)

not driven the car yet as i still have 2 mk2's & a beetle so can't afford to insure them all, so it's sitting on my drive untill i sell one of the mk2's.

can't wait.

[charri42]

sorted it, found out that the last owner pinched the lights before he sold it to put on his other golf, but he could not get one of the screws back on because of the awkward position of it, so it was letting the weather in were it wasn't sealing properly. checked it today after a downpour & it's bone dry   

anyway, after owning lots of mk1's & 2's i'm now looking forward to joining you mk4 boys (& girls!)

not driven the car yet as i still have 2 mk2's & a beetle so can't afford to insure them all, so it's sitting on my drive untill i sell one of the mk2's.

can't wait.

Thats a good solution for ya! I was worried you may have read our comments and been thinking the car had been shunted. I actually saw one like that at an auction recently. It stuck out like a saw thumb to me (black Gti with orange lights) and was also obvious the rear had been caved in. Despite this, private punters got carried away and paid about as much as the car would have been worth privately without any damage.