Puddle Light Cleanout Tips

[Syrophenikan]

Anyone have any idea on how to clean out the crud that builds up in the puddle lamp housing under the side-mirrors? Taking the piece off is simple enough, but getting inside is proving difficult. There is some algae now growing because of all the standing water.

Thanks,

Bryon
Johnson City, TN

[AceFrehley03]

I have no idea how big this opening is because frankly, I have no idea what puddle light you're talking about. Must not be on a Mark VII, which is the only Lincoln I'm truly familiar with.

Some suggestions would be to use a toothbrush, a paperclip straightened out, pipe cleaners, etc. Possibly spray it down with something to break everything up and then use a squirt bottle to rinse it out?

[Steve Moran]

I am going to take a stab in the dark and say this is a Lincoln SUV.
If you can take the lens off just toss it in a bowl of hot water and bleach. it will soften up the crud and kill the algae.
I then think you have two options.

(1) Seal up the lens with clear silicone and pit dielectric grease where the light socket plugs in.

(2) Drill a small hole at the lowest place on the lens in the aria that collects the water. even a hole as small as this period >.< will work just fine. It will need to be small enough to not allow the dust to enter or stay long in the lens.

[pro-five-oh]

This might be a 1997-98 Mark VIII. I know you can unbolt the housing from the door by removing the black panel on the inside of the door and unbolting it, but that's about all I know about those mirrors. smile.gif

[SUMOBOY]

I've had two cars with light problems either with crud or water accumulation. Both were remedied with the hole in the lowest area bit. My Mazda MPV had about 18 oz water drain out of the left taillight when i drilled it. I used a hand drill. Don'tlike shocks.