Damn you all!
 

I never had tail lite condensation till I read it here that I was suppost to. Now the thing practicaly has standing water in it.

So what is the fix for leaky taillites?

Take the assemblies out, let them dry, clean and reverse (or replace) the gaskets and reinstall.

Make sure your assemblies aren't cracked anywhere.

The cure: Don't turn them on. The heat from the bulbs is transfered to the air inside the lamps, pushing the air out. When the lamps are turned off, the temperature drops and cool, moist air goes back in and condenses. Same thing happens at the tailpipe. Have you noticed it fogging and dripping on cool mornings?

So Beav, what your're saying is that there's nothing you can do about the internal tailight condensation? I took mine apart resealed the gaskets and still to my suprise the condensation came back.

I took mine out, and dried them with a hair dryer. Used my own gasket sealant with the old gaskets,

Then on the top I placed black electrical tape along the seams. (this is where some water can enter) I will try to take a pic and post it to show exactly where. You don't even notice the tape.

The condensation has been reduced significantly.

Tapper

I replaced the gaskets on "Patience" and the condensation has gone.

I replaced the gaskets on Evil Twin this weekend, and the condensation is beginning to leave.

Earthworm had a great idea on drying them, however: Using a hair dryer in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner. One bulb orifice serving as inlet and the other, as outlet. :)

Kinky!!!!! :D :D :rolleyes: :confused:

:p :D :p As soon as I read that post from Aredub, I knew that Mike would have something to say about it... Sure enough, he did!!!! Just what I was thinking too!!!!:cool: :D :D

So, if "The Jeep's a-rocking" and we hear the sound of a Hoover, we should steer clear, at Reading? :p :D

At least their not blowing their gaskets!!:D :D

Hmmmmm . . .
 

Apparently the "heated-needle-through-the-bottom-edge-of-the-lens" method has fallen out of favor.

Progress is a wonderful thing. ;)

The condensation has been getting worse in my taillights ever since cleaning and reversing the gaskets. They were good for a while but the condensation came back. My next step will be to replace the gaskets and also try the tape thing as well.

I, unfortunately, have a large crack in my passenger side taillight. Anyone want to donate to my "condensation freedom" budget? :D

OK, so this gasket, does it go between the lens and the housing?
Aren't they glued together? Is the light assembly gooed to the body or does it have a regular gasket?

The assembly is glued together. The assembly has a gasket between it and the car's frame.

I did this as last weeks project. After careful trial and error I developed a permanent solution.

Basically I dried out my headlights within 2 days by hanging them behind my dehumidifier (there was a lot of water in the headlights.)

I purchased new gaskets from subaru for 6 bucks a piece and bought silicone sealant and applied it between the tail light and gasket to make a good seal. Then after it dried 24 hours later I bolted everything back up and plugged them in.

It was a sunny day so I washed the car. To my amazement water leaked in so I stopped immediately and took them out to let them dry. Then I applied silicone sealant all between the lens and the housing and then I bolted it back to the car. I noticed there was a gap between the tail light and the body. I decided to play it extra safe and fill the entire gap with silicone and let it dry. Now no more water gets near the gasket, however, water runs down directly off the taillight and alters the drainage. However for me it was worth it since I didnt have to deal with foggy taillights anymore. The pics are in my locker under headlights.