### updated with fixes and pictures! ###

2 common octy faults, but I need some help sorting them! Pictures inside!

1) the rear wash works, but all the water comes out of the rubber seal under the rear wiper arm (pictured). There is no water in the boot, behind the CD changer, or coming out the boot lock mechanism.

why is it doing this? How do i fix it? If the boot trim needs removed, how do i do this (could you put arrows on the picture :lol:) ?

2) just one number plate light is working. Presumably the bulb has gone. Is it a festoon shape? I heard it is impossible to replace from outside the car, as the bulb holder disapears / vanishes inside the boot lid.

So again how do i get the boot trim off? or is there a way of securing the bulb holder so i can change it from outside.

I have heard the boot trim rattles after refitting, so anyway of taking off just a bit of it, or as few times as possible is a good idea

thanks!

Edited 20 December, 200817 yr by Gunswick

The boot trim will simply pop off, then gentley tap it upwards. Along the bottom of the screen you will see metal clips that the top of the trim slips into, you then just pop the trim back in.

You are best changing the bulb this way as the holder will disappear if you attempt it by removing the lens.

The rear numberplate bulbs are 501 wedges.

I posted a thread up about LED 501's and found that the 360 degree types seem to give the best light.

Bulb is fine to change from outside! Who told you it wasn't?!

I changed one last night. It's a W5W normal sidelight bulb, not a festoon. 2 x Philips 1 screws hold the lens in. 2min job.

With the washer, pop up that plastic end cover and I expect you'll find the hose has popped off the nipple on the wiper shaft. Just refit it and push the cover back down and your sorted.

Shouldnt take more than 10mins to sort the lot....

Bulb is fine to change from outside! Who told you it wasn't?!

I tried that and the holder disappeared! So I suppose you could try it both ways.

Bulb is fine to change from outside! Who told you it wasn't?!

I changed one last night. It's a W5W normal sidelight bulb, not a festoon. 2 x Philips 1 screws hold the lens in. 2min job.

With the washer, pop up that plastic end cover and I expect you'll find the hose has popped off the nipple on the wiper shaft. Just refit it and push the cover back down and your sorted.

Shouldnt take more than 10mins to sort the lot....

thanks,

powerbulbs.co.uk said it was W5W but I didn't believe them. I have to change the front sidelights next week, so I will recycle the one working sidelight bulb to the number plate.

the bulb holder usually just gets pushed in when you try to push the bulb in. I will try to get the bulb holder out of the car or something, so I can push it in without losing the bulb holder into the boot trim.

i tried to lift that plastic cover up (where the nut and bolt will be holding the wiper on) but I couldnt get it up with just my hands (oh dear :lol:)

i have a hook thing on my swiss army knife so will try that.

not removing the trim = win

The bulbs are NOT always easy to do from outside. Firstly the screws rust, if the heads are gone you have problems. Secondly I'd advise holding the bulb holders with some tiny snipe nose pliers or a sharp miniature screwdriver while you put the new 501 in. Incidentally new shiny crystal clean numberplate lenses with new screws are only about £10 and make it look a whole lot better. They come with new seals too.

Do NOT recycle 501's. They are pence each and if you have the chance just replace the car set. Put a little spray grease in the bulb holder contacts before you fit them to ease ingress and prevent corrosion.

Your leaking rear is the wiper motor assy. The water will cause it to fail at some point, common fault. New ones are around £70 trade, however if you remove the wiper motor (evident after removing boot cover) you can take the back cover off, clean it all out and grease it up and find and clear the blockage (likely in the pin head ball at the top). If you can't fix it on the bench, fit a new one is the best advice. These are getting really common now, having the water go up in the motor causes all manner of problems.

Greg.

I tried that and the holder disappeared! So I suppose you could try it both ways.

Likewise, so when I had the trim off I wrapped the holders in insulating tape!

Thanks Greg

OK so to remove the boot trim.

I have to pull at one end (boot lock or screen end?) Which end do I pull first?

and then slide it out from the opposite end (where these metal clips are).

refitting i think its easiest to pull all the clips on the boot lid, and push the trim onto it whilst sitting inside the car in the boot (parcel shelf removed).

I have faced the same problem when changing bulb. When I pushed the bulb, the holder disappeared. I pulled it using a nose piler again and put a drop of instant adhesive ( fevi kwik ) on the holder edges. Now I was able to put the bulb without problem. Due to frustration, i slightly damaged the holder edge when pulling

Edited 12 December, 200817 yr by palival

Your leaking rear is the wiper motor assy. The water will cause it to fail at some point, common fault. New ones are around £70 trade, however if you remove the wiper motor (evident after removing boot cover) you can take the back cover off, clean it all out and grease it up and find and clear the blockage (likely in the pin head ball at the top). If you can't fix it on the bench, fit a new one is the best advice. These are getting really common now, having the water go up in the motor causes all manner of problems.

Greg.

would this not result in water leaking out of the boot lock / boot lid trim though?

as i have no water inside the car, only outside at that rubber seal.

i have not had the chance to investigate it yet.

any tips on how to get that boot lid trim off?

Which end do I pull first (boot lock or rear screen end? Then I just slide it out of the metal clips at the other end yes?

Edited 13 December, 200817 yr by Gunswick

My advise would be to make sure the rear washer jet is always completely unblocked to stop the hoses popping off.

agreed, so how do i get the boot lid trim off?

Which end do I pull first (boot lock or rear screen end? Then I just slide it out of the metal clips at the other end yes?

Pull the boot lock end outward then slide up out of the top metal clips.

Remember to feed the orange boot closing strap though the hole before you clip the boot trim back.

Orange!

mines black

Bulb is fine to change from outside! Who told you it wasn't?!

I changed one last night. It's a W5W normal sidelight bulb, not a festoon. 2 x Philips 1 screws hold the lens in. 2min job.

With the washer, pop up that plastic end cover and I expect you'll find the hose has popped off the nipple on the wiper shaft. Just refit it and push the cover back down and your sorted.

Shouldnt take more than 10mins to sort the lot....

Correct on both counts

washer pipe had popped off under the rear wiper cover, where the wiper bolt is. push it back on to fix, now all works lovely (picture below to help anyone else with this issue).

the rear number plate bulb problem has a fix.

1. remove the lense (2 screws) and put in the boot.

2. using a 5w bulb, same as for sidelights at the front (looks like a wedge shape).

3. gently remove old bulb with fingers, I had the boot open at 45 degrees (shoulder height for this process).

4. get some narrow nosed pliers, and gently grab the edges of the black plastic bulb holder, and very gently pull towards you, so it sits as high as possible.

5. do that with your right hand, on the bottom right of the bulb holder, and gently keep the pressure towards you so it cant fall inside the boot lid.

6. with your left hand place the bulb very gently into the bulb holder, whilst keeping the pressure with the pliers.

7. if the bulb starts to slip, STOP! retrive the bulb holder with the pliers by pulling at the edge so you can get it out and start again.

this way you can replace the bulbs from outside the car, and just be gentle and you should not need to remove the boot trim.

rear wash wiper washer fix