Water inside third brake light in spoiler of S model

[qwho]

I have a 2007 grey Corolla S model, with the spoiler on the back that has the red LED lights as its third brake light.

I am wondering if anyone else has had this happen - water getting inside the red plastic housing around the LED lights. When I went to get my inspection done at Toyota, they told me that if any more lights in my spoiler burn out, it wouldn't pass the next year. I had no idea any were out. I looked at the back, and there was a visible line of water inside the actual red part of the spoiler. If you opened and closed the trunk, you could see it slosh around.

Toyota wanted over $350 for a replacement and installation.

The rest of the lights stopped working, and the next year I ended up buying a replica spoiler off of ebay that matched my paint color. It looks very similar but the light housing and the way it is attached are completely different. The only way you would know it isn't the original is if you look closely at the inside of the trunk, as there are screws holding the spoiler on.

Just wondering if this happened to anyone else here.

[PhantomGrey08]

I have an the same car as you even the same color But An 08 S,I haven't seen anything unusual,and it rains ALOT Here.Makes me think about checking now LOL I'd say that's out of the ordinary for sure.Maybe it just had a bad gasket around the housing ?

[Slaander]

me as well, I don't see any steam or water stain in the spoiler light, and ebay sell them for around $170, why pay $350? I believe only 2 bolts and one clip for the light, that's it. Also you maybe lucky find one in the junk yard.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/2009-Toyota-Corol...item19ae60bd87

and if you can do soldering or find somebody able to, fixing those led lid is cheap you can take the led pcboard out and change those led, and you can buy those led at ebay as well, pre-wired or just the led

http://shop.ebay.ca/i.html?_nkw=5mm+...sacat=0&bkBtn=

[qwho]

Originally Posted by Slaander

and if you can do soldering or find somebody able to, fixing those led lid is cheap you can take the led pcboard out and change those led, and you can buy those led at ebay as well, pre-wired or just the led

I tried that first... the red plastic housing is all one piece, not easily opened. It is also not for sale anywhere as far as I can tell. I would have had to cut the plastic open to replace the LEDs, and I think the same problem would have happened eventually, if not sooner with my jerry-rigging. Plus, by the time I made an effort to fix it, they were all burned out, and the board was so soaked I don't think it would have functioned.

What I did was buy the whole spoiler off ebay. It was slightly different, like I said. The red piece at first glance looks the same, but it is actually a different part. The rest of the spoiler was spot on, and the color matches perfectly. I was really hoping I could just replace the red piece, but no luck there. So, me and a friend took the whole stock spoiler off and replaced it with the after market one, the lights hook up to the same connector, and it looks identical. This was last august, I'll look up the ebay seller.

[Slaander]

Originally Posted by qwho

I tried that first... the red plastic housing is all one piece, not easily opened. It is also not for sale anywhere as far as I can tell. I would have had to cut the plastic open to replace the LEDs, and I think the same problem would have happened eventually, if not sooner with my jerry-rigging. Plus, by the time I made an effort to fix it, they were all burned out, and the board was so soaked I don't think it would have functioned.

What I did was buy the whole spoiler off ebay. It was slightly different, like I said. The red piece at first glance looks the same, but it is actually a different part. The rest of the spoiler was spot on, and the color matches perfectly. I was really hoping I could just replace the red piece, but no luck there. So, me and a friend took the whole stock spoiler off and replaced it with the after market one, the lights hook up to the same connector, and it looks identical. This was last august, I'll look up the ebay seller.

I have to take out mine to see what is inside to tell you how to open it, and again, you you don't really care they are led or a bulb, you can always drill a hole and use the old way with a bulb, is add on break light anyway, for me I rather keep couple hundred in the pocket then give to the deal, everybody knows dealer is evil

and if the board can't be fix, try use this, which I believe you can cut it down to the size you want by each 3 led, and I also don't think you will believe the price on this led
http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-RED-LED-30cm-...item5635b26c7f

[Habs_Fan]

I too have the same problem w/ my spoiler brake light, it doesn't work at all. It also looks like the previous owner trid to fix it because I can see a bit of white glue on it and its a real eye sore. I'm wondering if the wire is even connected, where would I see this??? If I can confirm that all wires are hooked up probably I might just try and replace the LED using this: http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-RED-LED-30cm-...item5635b26c7f

although removing the brake like from the spoiler seems like its going to be a pain in the ass... anyone know how to remove it??

[02p1]

if you attempt to pull the spoiler itself, you might check out

05 corolla spoiler mounting

i had severe trouble finding all of the right hardware to get the spoiler reinstalled correctly.

long story short, i was able to find the answer.

[Slaander]

I spotted aftermarket Spoiler with LED break light, It is ebay brand spoiler for US$30+shipping

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Primer-03-08-Coro...item3358cf081e

[qwho]

Originally Posted by Slaander

I spotted aftermarket Spoiler with LED break light, It is ebay brand spoiler for US$30+shipping

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Primer-03-08-Coro...item3358cf081e

yeah, plus $45 in shipping

There is no 'cheap' option, only less 'ridiculously expensive'....

I like the rope light idea, (for someone else as mine is fixed now), but the problem is the housing is one piece, and I don't think after opening it and replacing the LED's, that you could ever get it water tight again, especially since it wasn't water tight in the first place.