Rear light

[Jasonking]

Hi guys, is it possible to remove the left hand rear light unit without removing the fuel tank? Am I missing something?

[Peter Laidler]

Sadly, I think that you're right Jason. Just been there..... Certainly in a Mk2, I realised that while I could wiggle a spanner in between the light unit and the tank to undo the nuts, the nuts would fall in behind the tank.

So far, so good. But getting the nuts back on afterwards........ Nope....., game over and tank loosened and swung inwards.

Working on the fuel tanks, ALWAYS disconnect the battery, only do it outside and ALWAYS keep a fire extinguisher* close alongside

(* large kitchen and garage size extinguishers available from Aldi/Lidl as we speak)

[Jasonking]

What a pain how do I loosen the tank and move it inward?

[Peter Laidler]

Yep, a PITA! I needed to change the rubber rear light seal. Undid the top to bottom strap clamp bolt. I undid the bottom one too and took that strap out - but no need as I recall. Then wiggled the pretty much empty tank about ALLOWING IT TO WIGGLE AND ROTATE INWARDS on the rubber tank outlet*.

Once it is inwards you can get your fingers and a spanner to the rear light AND get the nuts on afterwards. At the same time as doing the main job I sent behind the tank a longish length of that aerosol can nozzle stuff and sprayed a good helping of Supertrol-001 behind the tank and hopefully, well into wheel arch to body side joint.

I changed all of my tank hoses last year for ethanol compliant so they were new and pretty pliable. Good luck

[Jasonking]

Cheers for the advice Peter, all sorted now thankfully and not any corrosion behind tank!