Tail Light Condensation

[wdninja]

Thanks for your order! It'll ship out tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Cope

Just ordered my replacement seals from Gasket Ninja. The seals on my Buddy Club tails finally gave it up after the fourth (!!!) time going to the paint oven at the body shop. Wasn't thrilled to find half a gallon of water in the trunk after a storm, so I'm psyched to get these done!

[GrantedTaken]

@wdninja

I was looking at my tail lights today, and they are sealed in the back.
That gasket is only to prevent water from entering the trunk, not the lights.
It's a mounting gasket so the lights don't vibrate against the body. Not to seal the lights

My tail lights have your Ninja gaskets installed by the last owner, and they still fog up.
So, the product does not work. Who else has installed this product and still experienced water in the lights?

Water is entering from a different place, like where the clear plastic lens meets the rear housing.

Can you explain how exactly your gasket helps prevent water from entering the tail lights?
You can mark the diagram below, and show where the water enters the tail light.

[NCtoBRZ]

In case this hasn’t been posted before... the tail light design was modified for 2017+ BRZs. Here is a snippet from a document detailing the 2017 changes.

[Leonardo]

I had problems with condensation in my tails till I installed new gaskets. They are thicker and have adhesive on one side. I've had ZERO problems since I installed them last December.


I usually DIY stuff like this, but at $12.50 each I felt like they were a good purchase.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-2016-S...A0dm:rk:1:pf:0

[wdninja]

You're not wrong that the gaskets are meant to prevent water from entering the trunk. When the water flows around the trunk seal from the roof, rear glass, trunk lid, etc, it flows over the tail light housing, which has a 1/4" gap between itself and the water channel. The water flows directly onto the gasket, carrying debris, pollen, dirt, and other abrasives. If the gasket fails, then water runs down over your tail light, and some can get into the housing through the bulb openings, either directly or through evaporation if water is anywhere in the trunk.

In the attached image, I've indicated the following:

1. Yellow: Where the factory gasket is sealed, with basically a double sided piece of tape. (Ours are sealed all the way around, if installed according to the instructions)
2. Red: Where the water flows directly onto the gasket.
3. Pink arrow: Bulb and opening
4. Blue arrow: Direction of the water.

The factory gaskets are only sealed at the top edge, and if water drips down the sides or bottom of the gasket, it can pretty easily get in. Our installation method applies adhesive all the way around the gasket, and if done correctly, forms a solid seal so water can't get in. We also recommend applying some water resistant tape or other material over the gap so that water can't continue to assault the fresh gaskets.

There are any number of reasons the tail lights on your specific vehicle are fogging up - the housing is cracked somewhere, they were overtightened on reinstall, the gaskets weren't installed correctly and didn't have a full seal, or the previous owner never dried the tail lights out fully. I'm more than happy to work with you to help resolve this issue however I can, but I don't know that it's fair to say that a product doesn't work that you didn't purchase yourself or install yourself to insure it was properly done.

Originally Posted by GrantedTaken

@wdninja

I was looking at my tail lights today, and they are sealed in the back.
That gasket is only to prevent water from entering the trunk, not the lights.
It's a mounting gasket so the lights don't vibrate against the body. Not to seal the lights

My tail lights have your Ninja gaskets installed by the last owner, and they still fog up.
So, the product does not work. Who else has installed this product and still experienced water in the lights?

Water is entering from a different place, like where the clear plastic lens meets the rear housing.

Can you explain how exactly your gasket helps prevent water from entering the tail lights?
You can mark the diagram below, and show where the water enters the tail light.

[qcbaker]

When I bought my car, the OEM gaskets were leaking so bad, I had standing water in my right taillight. I removed the lights, drained them, got the Gasket Ninja gaskets and installed them according to the instructions. I haven't had any condensation issues since then. For me, the product worked as advertised, and when I eventually get new taillights (the reflective coating on the stock one is a bit damaged from the water), I'll be ordering another set of gaskets.

[wheelhaus]

The water works its way past the gasket and collects debris (dust/dirt/etc). Once enough debris is stuck there, the water can easily drip through and directly onto the bulb socket, where it wicks into the housing.

1- Remove the housing and gently peel off the gasket, one section is taped, just leave the tape on the gasket.
2- Dry the housings using a hair dryer on low heat and a cut soda bottle top to direct the air into the housing. Pour out as much as possible, and occasionally shake the puddled water to disperse it and aid quicker drying.
3- Clean the gasket and let it dry. Clean the housing.
4- Seal the gasket against the housing by applying a small <1/8” bead of rtv silicone and install the gasket to the housing. After putting the fasket in place, do the same to the face that meets the body, just a small bead. (I used a syringe with a wide plastic tip, but any applicator tip will make this easy).
5- Reinstall. I did this 4-5 years ago and have not had another leak.

[qcbaker]

Originally Posted by qcbaker

When I bought my car, the OEM gaskets were leaking so bad, I had standing water in my right taillight. I removed the lights, drained them, got the Gasket Ninja gaskets and installed them according to the instructions. I haven't had any condensation issues since then. For me, the product worked as advertised, and when I eventually get new taillights (the reflective coating on the stock one is a bit damaged from the water), I'll be ordering another set of gaskets.

UPDATE:

I have condensation and standing water in my tail lights again.. I removed them and checked the gaskets/sealant and I didn't notice any gaps in the sealant or wet spots indicating where water is entering.

Anyone have any ideas about where/how the water is getting in?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by qcbaker

UPDATE:

I have condensation and standing water in my tail lights again.. I removed them and checked the gaskets/sealant and I didn't notice any gaps in the sealant or wet spots indicating where water is entering.

Anyone have any ideas about where/how the water is getting in?

Top of the light where the trunk channel drains across the gasket. You may not see it but that is where it gets in.

[qcbaker]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Top of the light where the trunk channel drains across the gasket. You may not see it but that is where it gets in.

So, I need to re-apply the sealant on the top of the gasket then, even if I don't see any gaps?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by qcbaker

So, I need to re-apply the sealant on the top of the gasket then, even if I don't see any gaps?

It is a really wonky design to drain water right across a seal like they do. Water can get through spaces that are damn near invisible. Really the only way is to get the thicker gaskets or apply lots of sealant and hope you catch the spot.


Take a look at the common areas and see which could be the issue.


http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1358748967

[wheelhaus]

The water can wick past the gasket before debris makes it visible, so it can seem like its coming from somewhere else.It then just drips onto the back of the housing where the bulb seats are (the only way in) and wicks past them. Introduce warm/cool cycles and the moisture gets pulled right in.

When you reinstall the light and gasket, (first wash the gasket and let it dry) place a small 1/8” bead of RTV silicone where the gasket is visibly compressed. This will actually seal the surfaces together and nothing will get past.

I did this with my RH tail light 6 years ago, reused the OEM gasket, and its still dry to this day. Just be sure to not overtighten, warping the thin sheet metal can prevent a good seat.