[Pyroboy5000]

help! 3rd brake light has condensation and pollen




ok. so this is my 3rd brake light. it isnt a current picture, but its a specdtuning 3rd brake light. it has somehow gotten pollen inlide the clear plastic edges (the plastic where the screws are) and it has also gotten condensation in the led center. if i can get these out i would like to seal them up and i was wondering the best way to do this. silicone? if so could i use silicone you buy for a caulk gun? i think i might have some but i have no idea how to seal any light fixture properly.

as far as getting the pollen out i think i might be able to use a pipe cleaner, but ill just have to see what happens for that. i dont think a pipe cleaner would scratch the plastic. would it?

 

[mikeski]

If you have pollen in there then it is not sealed. And if you can get in there with a pipe cleaner to clean the pollen out there's a hole in it. hahaha. Just watch out for the wire end so you do not scratch the lens. Have you tried compressed air to get the pollen out?

If you are getting pollen in and around the screw area and it is sectioned off from the lights. I would use a little RTV or similar. Just a bit, tad or scosh on the backside of the head of the screw. You do not want it oozing out and getting on the outside.

Condensation. First you have to get that out. Then you can reseal it. if it's glued together I would get a thing of superglue and hit all the joints. Also check where the wires go into the unit. Maybe some RTV is needed there????

Also, was there a seal of any kind on the old light between the light and the body? All the water on the roof get's pushed back at speed and that light is right where it can roll on, around and under it.

And.... be real careful with the super glue. Let it dry before touching. Not only can you become one with the part. You can leave unsightly marks on your nice lens.

Mikeski....

 

[Pyroboy5000]

yeah, so the pollen gets into the plastic that is around the light. there is a gap about 1/8 in that it can get into all the way around. i tried getting it out with the water hose from all angles. then the next day i got condensation cause it managed to get past the rubber gasket. i really want to use something clear to seal it like silicone, but i dont know if thats what they use for headlights. i need whatever it is they use for headlights that is clear. as far as compressed air goes that is a great idea. i dont want to sctatch the lense. and superglue is out of the question. and im pretty sure rtv would show up because the gap is pretty big and the lense is clear so that is out.

 

[mikeski]

Hmmm, If you want to get it apart again silicone will be a problem. You will need to cut it open.

If the gap was just a seam then the super glue would work. But not on a gap.

I believe that stuff is butyl rubber. You can get it as calk or in a roll like that foam window sealer. I have seen black and white. There is all kinds of choices a quick google or amazon search away.

Seeing as you managed to pump some water inside. If it will come apart you should clean it all out before you seal it. Or you can bake it at 200 in your oven(not toaster oven) for a couple few hours. Or leave it in direct sunlight for a day or two. That should get rid of the water.

Had anyone else noticed the pollen in it? I bet not. Sux to be so anal about this stuff eh?? ;-)

Mike...

 

[Pyroboy5000]

well i dont really need to take it apart at all. there is a rubber gasket where the water got inside. im pretty sure it got inside from me washing it. the gap i want to use some kind of clear sealer cause it will show up otherwise. i think silicone is my best bet. i will try to clean it out today and see what happens. i think i could use the caulk silicone to fill the gap. it should be easy enough to do. i just have to make sure to not get it on the exterior of the lense.

also if the air doesnt clean it. ill try the pipe cleaner. i think i can bend it into a loop to stick in the gap to try and get it out.

 

[mikeski]

Or something thin and a cloth. And, depending on how deep the hole is you will need to watch for air bubbles.

mike...

 

[Pyroboy5000]

im only looking to bridge the gap to seal it not fill it completely.

 

[mikeski]

How big is that gap and it's depth?? You might be able to find some round window type stripping you could stuff in there nicely. You could use that to give it a nice clean look and then hit the edge with the silicone.

By doing that you will have a nice clean look instead of the possibility that the silicone goes deeper into the channel in one place than another place.

I know the stuff comes in grey.

Mike...

 

[Pyroboy5000]

i think ill stick with just silicone then because any other color but clear will show up. and you can see the seal on the light in the center. its some kind of clear sealer. it will just end up looking like that around the edges as well. thanks for all your input and help.