Water in tail light normal: TSB 09-016/09
 

Yes, Mazda used to have a TSB for repairing RX8s with water in the tail lights. That TSB has been superceded by TSB 09-016/09 which says this is now "normal" for all model years 2004-2009. It goes on to say "DO NOT attempt repairs as this is considered normal." In other words, no warranty fix for water in tail light (or any light for that matter).

Oh yeah, it also says it's normal for 2003-2009 Mazda6, 2004-2010 Mazda3, 2006-2009 Mazda5, 2007-2009 Mazda CX-7 and 2007-2009 CX-9. Essentially the ENTIRE MODEL range Mazda produces.

wow.
so sad.

So much for free gaskets.... BRING OUT THE DRILLS! :rofl:

i'm sure people can still buy the gaskets but most people take the easy way out and fuck them up by drilling holes anyways. i just cant believe it is now considered normal. what about standing water that corrodes the reflective backing, is that normal? :icon_bs:

Oh boy... guess I can't even make a joke with someone getting serious.
But I still have yet to see anyone "fuck up" their tail light from drilling.....

well i have. you still get condensation with holes in them.

Pics or it never happened ;)

I've had mine drilled for 3 years and never had condensation since.

Not me. I used to get water in my taillights all the time until I drilled a small hole in each. I haven't seen a drop of condensation in either light since. I should note, however, that I live in the desert. Wetter climates may not have as much success with drilling as I have.

I'd call a tail light full of holes to be fucked up. :balls:

lol mine have one very small hole at the bottom and is not even visible without removing the whole thing. Hardly "fucked up".

LOL... if done well you can only see the holes with your face right against the lens.
Even then its difficult to see.
SO THERE :)

I'm guessing the gasket kit Mazda has been using does not work since this service bulletin covers all model years thru new production. Presumably, the newer cars already have the updated gaskets so this bulletin shouldn't affect them - but it does, so the fatter gaskets aren't working.

silicone FTW

I guess its costing Mazda way too much money ---

cuz everytime there is water in the light, they replaced the WHOLE thing, which cost 200-300 bux each + labor. and Im pretty sure ALL rx-8 will get/had this problem.

Water in tail light is "pretty common" these days, garbage design and cheap gaskets. I seen it in lots of cars including Camry and all nissans.

but saying this is "normal" and not fixing it is NOT the way to do business. oh well, -1 for Mazda.

Is there any sort of TSB for if I get light in my water?

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...05-09-2055.pdf
But the OP is saying that this TSB has been superseded by TSB 09-016/09

Well in that case, what size hole do you guys recomend drilling to let the water out? 1/2"? 7/8"?

I posted this before:
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...1&postcount=17

Here's the actual bulletin. It's only 1 page long. It's titled 09-016/09 but Adobe won't let me put a "/" in the file name. It's also not listed on the finishline service bulletin list.

repair
 

I had a pretty crappy experience...
I took the car in to have the water drained and the tail light resealed. About $180.
About a week later I noticed scratches on the inside of the tail light, and decided it would be appropriate to go ask Mazda 'wat up.' I got there, and they said that the leftover condensation pressurized from the heat, causing the glass to expand. It sounds like a fair explanation, but i asked if their was anything they could do about it, and i got a big fat no.

1. Wasn't the point of removing water out of the taillight so... there wasn't any water to do that? Then... why did it do that?
2. Dont they warranty any repairs they do on the car for a certain amount of time, well how in the hell was this any different? After all, the scratches didnt occur until after they repaired it.
I really have some serious problems with what Mazda does and doesnt warranty these days... Let me know if im not correct about Mazda's repair policies, and if so, enlighten me.

rofl, u called that "fair explanation" ?


1. Read the TSB, or just take the lights out yourself and look at the trace, u will know why.
2. with this New TSB, customer cannot go there and "whine" about water in tail light, cuz its "NORMAL". you can't fix something thats "normal". Its BS I know. but thats what Mazda are doing.

Yep, if Mazda keep doing this shit, I really gotta think should my next new baby be a Mazda or a Toyota.

I bought the gasket from finishlineperformance and i have yet to have water in the lights. Just clean the light and the body well and it won't leak when replacing the gasket. I took a half inch soft PVC tube, duct taped it to the end of a shopvac hose and just vacummed the water out of the light, then duct taped over the mounting holes for the lights except for one and left a small one open, put the shopvac over the main tail light hole and let it suck air through the tail lights for about 15 minutes. It dried out the remainder of the water in the lights. Took about 30 minutes per light to replace and dry the gaskets, with just the cost of the gaskets.

really sad this is considered normal. look at the damage done on the reflector.

Attachment 274851
Attachment 274852
Attachment 274853
Attachment 274854

It's sad they took the easy way out.

Just so you know, my 15 year old car, still running, never have condensation in the light assembly even now, so the fact Mazda claim tail light have condensation is "normal" is surprising, should I consider my 15 year old car as "abnormal"???:Wconfused

Do i smell a lawsuit?
Maybe even class action?