Water leak in ARB foglight

[an000 Member Find all posts View Profile Close an000]

After my 4x4 training at the weekend, one of the ARB foglight on the bullbar was full of water.
This is what's left after two days:

Only one had water, the other was fine.
I went to Brighton ARB who fit the bar for them to check it out, and they didn't seem surprised. Said they could drain the water out, but no replacement (didn't ask if they were going to charge me to drain the water out).
So if you have the ARB foglights, watch out on water crossing.

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

That's a very poor display of customer service from ARB Brighton regardless of whether it is a product flaw. Have them to change the O-rings (if it has any) and seal it up properly with silicone or have the unit replaced at their expense as it's clearly a defective product. Then again they're only $35ish (each) to replace so it might not be worth the hassle... I'd go with the replacement because if it's not drained properly, you'll get that condensation if it's resealed with moisture still inside...

Where do you think the water came in from?

[rhs58 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rhs58]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

There's another thread about the ARB foglights and change from expen$ive IPF ones to the cheaper new version as this one appears to be.
My older versions haven't leaked when taken for a swim.
I agree though that you've been given poor customer service - the product doesn't live up to its expectations having been fitted to a 4x4 and you should reasonably expect that it would take a dunking without filling with water. I'd agitate for a replacement, though, as William says, for $35 is it worth the hassle?

[an000 Member Find all posts View Profile Close an000]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

I think the water came through some poorly designed/assembled gaps. The light was only in water for about 15 seconds with no pressure (at water surface) and it was full of water so it must be a big gap.

The ARB guy was arguing how normal it was, but then couldn't say anything when I pointed out the other light was fine. He was trying to tell me that it would be normal for water to enter the main headlights as well.

So I asked how much the replacement light would be to save the hassle, and he said $75 a pair, and I had to buy a pair. I asked surely in this circumstance (where it was really their product issue), they could sell me just one to replace the faulty one? They wouldn't budge.

I heard many good things about ARB Brighton previously but this was a disappointment. After spending a fair bit on ARB (and non-ARB) accessories with them, I did expect better customer service.
I was going to call up their head-office to complain, but like you said it wasn't worth it for $35. I might just keep the light as a water indicator . Or replace it with a proper IPF.

My main concern was the wiring at the back might get rusted from the water inside the light leaking out, but I think the whole light comes in an assembly so that is not a problem.

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

Seeing as it could happen again, why not buy the pair and set one aside for later?

I too have heard good things about ARB Brighton, this has got to be the first negative thing I've heard since...

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

I assume those fog lights were turned off during the water crossing.
We did a few trips in the last couple of weeks here in VIC and 2 guys with ARB fog lights had them on, both had 1 fog light cover cracked open and bits of glass missing because of the light's generated heat and cold water crossings.

Even if you buy a few more the chances are they will break again...

Cheers,

Stan

[an000 Member Find all posts View Profile Close an000]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

Yes all lights were off. I am not keen to get another one since even ARB say they expect that to happen.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

If ARB expect that to happen then they are selling defective merchandise. Consumer affairs would love to hear about that.....

[rhs58 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rhs58]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

.... even ARB say they expect that to happen.

I reckon that's a cop out on the part of the ARB dealer (or a lazy staff member).
If they expect it to happen, then there's something wrong with the one that didn't leak????
Worth an email to local management and to head office.
- surely ARB, which specialises in off road gear, would be disappointed that a product of theirs, or something that they sell, does not live up to off road expectations.

...Consumer affairs would love to hear about that.....

as I am sure would ARB head office.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

I have the IPF fog lights and never had a problem, mind you I paid $300 for the pair.

[spy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close spy]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

Post removed as requested by the board.

<Admin note> ARB Quality advisors personal details removed as requested by ARB.

[ABR-SIDEWINDER Member Find all posts View Profile Close ABR-SIDEWINDER]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

I too have had water get in the ARB foglamps. (LH side)

It dried out just as fast so I assumed it had a bad seal in the lower section of the housing as it was completly empty of water after about 1 hour. (RH side was fine)

It happened at this water crossing.

[an000 Member Find all posts View Profile Close an000]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

Mine still has the muddy water inside after a week.
Both foglights are out of action as I can't turn them on.

It doesn't look like I can get other lights to fit into the available space (I checked with an ARB store), so I will have to look at chasing this up with ARB HO or buy a pair and fit one in myself for a temporary workaround.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

You should be returning to an ARB store and filling out a warranty claim form, the dealer has to do it for you and send it to HO. This is word from the ARB quality control rep.

[an000 Member Find all posts View Profile Close an000]

Re: Water leak in ARB foglight

Thought I should give an update on this...

I waited until I was going to spend 2k with ARB (not the original store) when I just mentioned the leak on the day and asked them to swap it out. The guy was giving me the official line of how the light was not sealed and should not be sub-merged. He even went to the display and showed me which light was sealed and which was not. I didn't argue with him, but it got swapped out at the end of the day

So it looks like officially the fog lights on the new ARB bar are not sealed (I got the same response from three ARB stores). Mine was replaced not on warranty, but more as a relationship/part of the deal thing. I guess I could argue about suitability for its intended purpose, but I took the easy way out!