In the winter months, I use the local automatic car wash once or twice per week.

Last week, there was a malfunction in my side marker light. I went to the dealership for regular maintenance (oi change and spark plugs) and asked the service adviser to look at the side marker light. He popped it open and it's full of water inside. He removed the water from the cover and used an air fun to blow away the water in the socket. Replaced the lamp and it worked for 2 days and it failed again today.

The service adviser said with automatic car wash, they shot high pressured water horizontally to the car which is not good for the light modules. Any truth is this?

 

Even if you're using an automatic car wash, there shouldn't be any water getting inside the side marker. The bulb twists onto the back and creates a tight seal. If there is water getting inside the side marker, then the seal is broken or there's a crack somewhere on the side marker.

Either way, should be replaced under warranty anyways. Water will eventually get into it when it rains...

 

I had my left front replaced just yesterday morning - the SA at the dealer says they need to put the thing on a rack to get access to the lamp, so I brought it in and they did it. Sounds strange to me, but they washed the car and changed the bulb for a whopping $3.14

 

The back side (silver color) is glued to the orange len. If water remain inside which mean, the crack is from the top. Just reseal it with clear silicon.

 

No, there's 2 ways to remove it. Just pop it out from out side the bumper (this method can easily break the len) or turn your wheel all the way toward the inside and remove 2 fender liner screws then pop it out from inside the fender.

 

Don't ever let the dealer wash your car!