I just noticed that the driver's side rear brake light housing is steamed up with water condensation. I checked the housing for cracks, but none were visible. Anyone else have this problem?
Steamed Up Brake Light Housing
- Thread starter charleysung
- Start date
do your search and you will find that a small hold drilled into the housing on the bottom will take care of that problem.
charleysung said:
My car came from the Houston/Baton Rouge area, and the L and R tail lights were misty inside when I bought the car. Sacramento is very dry, and I've not seen moisture since, but the evaporated water of days past left annoying water stains on the inside. This bugs the heck outta me! I am buying new lenses, and to prevent moisture from appearing again, I'm sealing the hot-glued transitions and drain holes with clear silicon before installation. From one of the threads referenced above, this seemed to work for one Prime member.
Jason
Jason
No need to buy new lenses. Just take them off and clean the inside (and outside too if you wish) with some 3M Finesse-It II.Autophile said:
Thanks for the advise KGP. I didn't mention in my post, but one of my lenses has a couple of small but visible cracks, and all of them have some light scratches, etc. So, the water stains were not the only reason for my decision to purchase a new set.
Ah, and I almost placed that caveat in my post.Autophile said:
Hey, 440 Cuda huh. Go to the Mopar National last weekend?
I would be very hesitant to pull the tail light housings apart. This is not a job for the faint at heart as it is a far tricker job than it looks.
The glue holding these things together is really strong and it takes quite a bit of heat to loosen it. I used a heat gun to do mine and it's a very fine line between loosening the glue and melting the plastic!
The glue holding these things together is really strong and it takes quite a bit of heat to loosen it. I used a heat gun to do mine and it's a very fine line between loosening the glue and melting the plastic!
KGP said:
Nah, that was on the other side of the country. My car isn't ready for a show yet anyway. I've gone to the show in the past, and had a great time, everytime.
BB said:
BB, if you were directing to me, I won't be attempting to separate the housing parts. I'm just going to seal the outside seams with a bead of silicon.
I don't trust myself for trying the kind of job you're talking about!
Reason I asked was because one of my partners has two of his Cuda converts there. Supposedly one of them stold the show.Autophile said:Nah, that was on the other side of the country. My car isn't ready for a show yet anyway. I've gone to the show in the past, and had a great time, everytime.
Search for the word moisture - you'll get plenty of info.
Drilling a hole on your tail light only creates a route to let the water escape, that more or less covers up, but does not resolve the issue: the seal on the tail light is bad.
The only alternative would be to:
- cover them with sealant
- have them dis-assembled and reassembled with new sealant
- purchase new ones
- Mike
The only alternative would be to:
- cover them with sealant
- have them dis-assembled and reassembled with new sealant
- purchase new ones
- Mike
old_S13 said:
wrong.
both my left and right lenses were fogged up.a series of small 2mm holes drilled along the bottom of the lights on the inside has solved the problem.even when i wash the car and run the hose along the edge of the boot(trunk)with a fair water pressure i get no more fogging.
Charlie, before you try anything major make sure that there is no moisture in your trunk!! The rear of these lights are open to the trunk and can collect as well as loose humidity to the trunk space depending on if the trunk is wet or dry.
My left tail lamp fogged up when water got into my trunk. I left it opened for a few days to dry the trunk and the condensation dissapeared. It has been 7 months now with no condensation in the lamp
My left tail lamp fogged up when water got into my trunk. I left it opened for a few days to dry the trunk and the condensation dissapeared. It has been 7 months now with no condensation in the lamp
jaytip nsx said:
In a way I agree with Old_S13. I was thinking about drilling the holes, but I bought some weather strip seal and simply put an additional layer of seal around the original tail light seal and I have never had a condensation problem since. I think drilling the holes help allow the light to vent before condensation builds up, but sealing it seems to prevent water vapor from entering the light in the first place. Either way works. I guess it just depends on which way you want to tackle the problem.
Smoothaccel said:
I second this comment. I had the exact same problem a few years back. It was caused by a wet car cover left in the trunk one day.
I really don't think it's necessary to drill holes or pull the units apart in order to get rid of the moisture. Just pull the carpet back in the trunk around the lights, remove the light bulbs and other things that stick into the back of the units, and let the air naturally dry out in there. Try that first before anything more drastic.
