Tail Light Condensation

[N1rve]

Has anyone tried plumbers putty for this fix?

[wdninja]

Originally Posted by N1rve

Has anyone tried plumbers putty for this fix?

Nope, but I do have some black Sugru to try.

[wheelhaus]

Originally Posted by dem00n

So it's back again and pretty bad.

I'm past the warranty (over 36K miles), is the taillight still a TSB and i can get it replaced for free? Or am i screwed now?

I picked up some silica packets, i'm going to give those a try. Also going to try and sealing the taillights.

It's an easy fix, a lot of people are blowing it out of proportion and treating it like the end of the world. I agree its a problem we shouldn't encounter, but it's small and easy to resolve. The taillight assembly is fine, its the gasket that fails and allows water by, which then seeps in past the bulb sockets.
I made an earlier post outlining how I fixed it permanently if you don't want the visible snot method mentioned above.
Here's a stepped version:

1- pop out trunk liner (enough to get to the fender)
2- remove 4 small nuts and two light connectors and remove taillight
3- remove bulbs (note the bulbs are not gasketed, this is how water gets in once the foam gasket fails)
4- gently remove thin foam gasket and clean with soap and water or isopropyl alcohol
5- pool water into corner and turn upside down to remove as much water as possible
6- set up hair dryer on lowest possible heat and tape up a cut soda bottle or cardboard to funnel air into the largest bulb socket
7- let sit and monitor for an hour or two until dry
8- squeeze a small bead (1/8" (3mm) diameter) of silicone sealant onto the taillight side of the foam gasket anywhere it meets the plastic flange and around the hardware (the foam will be squished in these areas)
9- carefully place gasket onto the taillight, and repeat silicone bead on fender side of the gasket
10- reinstall taillight (note the plastic tab on the outer edge must be inserted first) and lightly torque nuts. Done.

[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by RFB

Depending on how much water - an alcohol wash or drier packs

Then silicone seal gaskets and snot



CERBERUS

When you say alcohol wash - what exactly do you mean?

[RFB]

Originally Posted by wheelhaus

It's an easy fix, a lot of people are blowing it out of proportion and treating it like the end of the world. I agree its a problem we shouldn't encounter, but it's small and easy to resolve. The taillight assembly is fine, its the gasket that fails and allows water by, which then seeps in past the bulb sockets.
I made an earlier post outlining how I fixed it permanently if you don't want the visible snot method mentioned above.
Here's a stepped version:

1- pop out trunk liner (enough to get to the fender)
2- remove 4 small nuts and two light connectors and remove taillight
3- remove bulbs (note the bulbs are not gasketed, this is how water gets in once the foam gasket fails)
4- gently remove thin foam gasket and clean with soap and water or isopropyl alcohol
5- pool water into corner and turn upside down to remove as much water as possible
6- set up hair dryer on lowest possible heat and tape up a cut soda bottle or cardboard to funnel air into the largest bulb socket
7- let sit and monitor for an hour or two until dry
8- squeeze a small bead (1/8" (3mm) diameter) of silicone sealant onto the taillight side of the foam gasket anywhere it meets the plastic flange and around the hardware (the foam will be squished in these areas)
9- carefully place gasket onto the taillight, and repeat silicone bead on fender side of the gasket
10- reinstall taillight (note the plastic tab on the outer edge must be inserted first) and lightly torque nuts. Done.

11 - snow man snot.

Otherwise the continual erosive action of the water will eventually break the seal.

Think of the Grand Canyon.

If you spray your back window with a garden hose, watch the water stream coming out over the top of your tail lights -

You will be convinced.



CERBERUS

[RFB]

Originally Posted by N1rve

Has anyone tried plumbers putty for this fix?

It would work but I used tack adhesive because the plumbers seal was softer and messier (kinda plasticine ish).



CERBERUS

[RFB]

Originally Posted by civicdrivr

When you say alcohol wash - what exactly do you mean?

Methyl Hydrate (gas line anti-freeze).

Completely harmless to all plastics.

Swish it around let it drain out and air dry only (no heat).



CERBERUS

[FLYFISHR]

Originally Posted by wheelhaus

8- squeeze a small bead (1/8" (3mm) diameter) of silicone sealant onto the taillight side of the foam gasket anywhere it meets the plastic flange and around the hardware (the foam will be squished in these areas)
9- carefully place gasket onto the taillight, and repeat silicone bead on fender side of the gasket

Might I suggest using a Removable Caulking as quote

"Use this weather-strip caulk when you need it and then simply peel it away when you don't. Its temporary watertight and weatherproof seal prevents air and moisture penetration"

This should remove any worries about gluing in your tail lights with silicone. It is usual clear and could be used instead of the snot. Just make use it is a thick enough bead that it will hold together when you pull it off.

[RFB]

Originally Posted by wdninja

Nope, but I do have some black Sugru to try.

Its good stuff but 18 bucks verses 99 cents !



CERBERUS

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by wheelhaus

It's an easy fix, a lot of people are blowing it out of proportion and treating it like the end of the world. I agree its a problem we shouldn't encounter, but it's small and easy to resolve. The taillight assembly is fine, its the gasket that fails and allows water by, which then seeps in past the bulb sockets.
I made an earlier post outlining how I fixed it permanently if you don't want the visible snot method mentioned above.
Here's a stepped version:

1- pop out trunk liner (enough to get to the fender)
2- remove 4 small nuts and two light connectors and remove taillight
3- remove bulbs (note the bulbs are not gasketed, this is how water gets in once the foam gasket fails)
4- gently remove thin foam gasket and clean with soap and water or isopropyl alcohol
5- pool water into corner and turn upside down to remove as much water as possible
6- set up hair dryer on lowest possible heat and tape up a cut soda bottle or cardboard to funnel air into the largest bulb socket
7- let sit and monitor for an hour or two until dry
8- squeeze a small bead (1/8" (3mm) diameter) of silicone sealant onto the taillight side of the foam gasket anywhere it meets the plastic flange and around the hardware (the foam will be squished in these areas)
9- carefully place gasket onto the taillight, and repeat silicone bead on fender side of the gasket
10- reinstall taillight (note the plastic tab on the outer edge must be inserted first) and lightly torque nuts. Done.

Haha, you don't think i've done this?

I've done it all under the sun. New custom cut gaskets, double gaskets, silicone and so forth.

I'm getting tired of this bullshit.

36K miles in and this is the 7th time it's happened. Seven.

I have patience for when somethings broken, not flawed from the start.


I'll try the gaulk, but it's the underbody of the taillight of which moisture from the air gets in, not so much the rainflow or waterfowl from the trunk. There have been days where there is no water at all touching the car and i'll still get it. I live near the water, theres moisture in the air all day.

I've spent over $60 on fixing a seal of taillight, boy doesn't that sound stupid?

[RFB]

Originally Posted by dem00n

Haha, you don't think i've done this?

I've done it all under the sun. New custom cut gaskets, double gaskets, silicone and so forth.

I'm getting tired of this bullshit.

36K miles in and this is the 7th time it's happened. Seven.

I have patience for when somethings broken, not flawed from the start.


I'll try the gaulk, but it's the underbody of the taillight of which moisture from the air gets in, not so much the rainflow or waterfowl from the trunk. There have been days where there is no water at all touching the car and i'll still get it. I live near the water, theres moisture in the air all day.

I've spent over $60 on fixing a seal of taillight, boy doesn't that sound stupid?

The pics on this forum of condensation (and all the ones I've seen) show condensation forming on the inside tops of the tail lights.

This is indicative of water getting in on top. If left unchecked enough water gets in to collect on the bottom.

The bottom of the lights have no ingress, but the back does (where the connectors plug in). Moist air gets in that way, but also allows air egress.

It is also important to follow the tsb with regards to peening the car body bolt holes, tightening torque etc. for flush mounting otherwise all else is in vain.





CERBERUS

[wheelhaus]

Originally Posted by dem00n

Haha, you don't think i've done this?

I've done it all under the sun. New custom cut gaskets, double gaskets, silicone and so forth.

I'm getting tired of this bullshit.

36K miles in and this is the 7th time it's happened. Seven.

I have patience for when somethings broken, not flawed from the start.


I'll try the gaulk, but it's the underbody of the taillight of which moisture from the air gets in, not so much the rainflow or waterfowl from the trunk. There have been days where there is no water at all touching the car and i'll still get it. I live near the water, theres moisture in the air all day.

I've spent over $60 on fixing a seal of taillight, boy doesn't that sound stupid?

Don't mean to provoke anyone or hit any nerves. That really sucks, you must be in the worst case scenario for conditions to lead to this.

I'm sure you've accounted for this, but it's possible the thin metal underbody is warped, rendering any dry gasket useless. At least a wet sealant such as silicon or a tacky putty (maybe snowman snot would work in the same way) would fill the tiny gaps and voids left behind by a dry gasket.

When I had the taillight assembly out I believe the only way for moisture to actually enter the assembly was through the bulb sockets, because there's no seal there. (Unless the housings are cracked/damaged/flawed/modified, etc providing another pathway). Apparently the hot/cool cycles each day are sucking moist air into the housings where it later condenses if you live in a humid environment. If the sockets are the only pathway, maybe just use some of the snowman snot mentioned above if its removable? I can't remember how the bulb sockets were shaped, but I imagine it would work either as a gasket inside the socket or packed around the outside.

[TiagoGrohl]

i have the same problem, they change the seals twice 2 months ago and yesterday they change both tail lights. i drove 45 km to home and when i arrive the tail lights have condensation in both. i dont realy know what to do. is the third time

[RFB]

Originally Posted by TiagoGrohl

i have the same problem, they change the seals twice 2 months ago and yesterday they change both tail lights. i drove 45 km to home and when i arrive the tail lights have condensation in both. i dont realy know what to do. is the third time

Dont let the dealer fix it. Do it yourself with all the information on this forum.

A flat body mount surface, a thick glued gasket and a putty dam at the top (dealers mechanics don't do all this).



CERBERUS