Rear light condensation cured!

[gcon45]

The rear light condensation was something that really bugged me so I decided to go about curing the problem.

Firstly - with the lights removed you can clearly see the problem - water escapes through the gap at the top of the lights, rests at the bottom of the lense, gets heated from the exhausts and turns into condensation:
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/6819/p1020767.jpg

I drilled the usual little drainage holes along the bottom of the lights:
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/7199/p1020774r.jpg

And left the lights on a radiator for a couple of days to get rid of as much of the moisture as I could:
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4893/p1020775h.jpg

[gcon45]

I then removed the black plastic covers on the top of the lights:
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/5666/p1020777i.jpg

I used a PU adhesive called Tiger Seal:
http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/2733/p1020778d.jpg

This is the equivalent of Sikaflex or Omni-seal. I used it to seal around the top of the lights where the water gets in (remember to get into every gap you can see):
http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/3748/p1020779.jpg

And voila - 2 damp, humid weeks later and no signs of the condensation re-appearing:
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/2400/p1020785o.jpg

[jaytip]

Nice one. When i did mine i just drilled the holes in the bottom and it was job done.I didn't use/need any sealant.

[AR]

Great job, I did the same with my T reg one,the R seemed OK. The current 02 plus lights on mine seem OK, they are JDM R ones, with new seals etc.

[gcon45]

Nice one. When i did mine i just drilled the holes in the bottom and it was job done.I didn't use/need any sealant.

Yeah the drainage holes should be enough if done right mate.

However, if they're not done right the water will still get trapped and eventually turn into condensation.

I thought that since I had the lights off I would seal them up just in case.


Great job, I did the same with my T reg one,the R seemed OK. The current 02 plus lights on mine seem OK, they are JDM R ones, with new seals etc.

Cheers Ary. I suppose it varies from car to car in relation to how well sealed up they are from the factory and how much they become porous over time.

[amo]

still need to do mine lol 3 years on lol hope to have them done some time this summer lol

thx amo

[AR]

still need to do mine lol 3 years on lol hope to have them done some time this summer lol

thx amo


Next time you get down here let's give it a go.

Cheers,

AR

[Thunder]

I had made a similar article on NSX Prime, i was obliged to replace tail light oem because the first owner had made holes, there was much mud and of dust i has; interior of the plastic, impossible has to remove, i bought new tail light and put a hermetic seal with liquid rubber, since this time, my news tail light are always clean and without condensation

http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103369&highlight=tail+light+removal

[Sudesh]

Nice work Connor! Hopefully it stays free of condensation for you. I done mine also a few years ago but condensation is back again. I think the real cure would be to replace the seals.

[AR]

Thunder, nice write up. i do not know if you did it thid way, but I noticed that if you take the center piece off first, it is easier to remove the lights. Also I only drilled 3 holes for the main lights and two for the lights. I actially drilled the clear plastic light from underneath, so in theory it is covered by the bumper and should minimize water and crud getting in.

Cheers,

AR

[Thunder]

i had removed the nuts of the wings not to tear the joints foams about it too fragile, maintaining 3 years that i made the rubber seal and it there does not have condensation has interior, I think that it's better to do this work because the dust of the road between has interior of the plastic because of the small holes!

[Rob_Fenn]

Good write up, nice one!