Getting water out of the tailight lenses

Does anyone know a trick to get moisture out of the tailight lenses? There appears to be an inner and outer part to the lense with water trapped between. I haven't removed the assemblies but will if it's necessary.

Most common way is to drill a little hole at the bottom of the assembly to let the water drain out. I had mild success pulling the assembly and lamps and putting a hairdryer in for a bit. Until it blew a circuit in my house. Have now decided to live with it, as I'm not totally comfortable drilling through the assembly. You can use electrical tape or caulk or just about anything to seal up the light better to keep more water from getting in. I'm sure other folks have other solutions...

[Beav]

While it still has water in it why not submerge it and find the leak? Then drain it and use hair drier then seal with hot glue gun.

Beav

[wasions]

I've heard (from Aredub - I think) that if you just change the rubber gasket (after drying them out with a hair dryer or something) it won't come back. I haven't tried it yet - but I need to. Others have suggested putting a dessicant pack in each lens, but the amount of moisture I get would certainly over work anything but a five-pound bag.

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by wasions
I've heard (from Aredub - I think) that if you just change the rubber gasket (after drying them out with a hair dryer or something) it won't come back. I haven't tried it yet - but I need to. Others have suggested putting a dessicant pack in each lens, but the amount of moisture I get would certainly over work anything but a five-pound bag.

I was getting condensation in both my rear tail lights. I changed the gaskets and it eventually went away and hasn't come back sense. I'm now getting condensation in my center section. I'll be ordering new gaskets soon.

I believe this will work (worked for me) if there isn't a sealing problem in the unit itself. And, the trick is, to change the gaskets at the first signs of condensation. If you let too much moisture build up (to the point of puddling at the bottom of the lens), you're all set to perpetuate the problem, since the moisture will continue to condense when the sun hits it.

One member took his assemblies out and put them in the oven (do a search on the Yahoo archive -- aka "Message Archive" at the top of the page), and, of course, the "drill method" has been mentioned.

The hair dryer worked great! I put both tailight assemblies in a box with the hair dryer on low and pointed into the holes on the red end. It took about 3 hours for all the moisture to leave but it did. I put them in a box because things seemed to work better if the whole asssemblies got hot. I bet a convection oven on about 130 deg would work great.
I'm sure new gaskets will keep the water out in the future.

because i'm dumb and lazy, anyone have the part numbers for the replacement rubber gaskets?

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by calmone
because i'm dumb and lazy, anyone have the part numbers for the replacement rubber gaskets?

Gasket, Lamp RH 84940PA000
Gasket, Lamp LH Same as above
Gasket for center panel, R&L 84940PA040 (in other words you need 2)

No need to buy new gaskets... I took them out, coated the gaskets with armorall, put em back in, condensation went away within a week, and never came back.

-Mike

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by Green1995SVX
No need to buy new gaskets... I took them out, coated the gaskets with armorall, put em back in, condensation went away within a week, and never came back.

-Mike

I've considered this for my center panels -- also, just washing them off and swapping sides, since they're the same. My tail light gaskets, however, definitely needed to be replaced. Someone had tightened them too tightly and cut through them in a couple of places.

Yes, if you remove them and they look to be in good shape, just clean them and swap sides -- that may do the trick and save some bucks (although the gaskets aren't that expensive).

[WestCoastSVX]

This problem finally struck me this winter. I took out the assemblies and gave them and the gaskets a good cleaning. Switched the gaskets but they are pretty old, I'm going to order new ones soon. But when looking at the assemblies I was wondering about other problem areas. It seems like they aren't built exactly airtight anyway. The part where the lens attaches to the rest of the assembly. There's like plastic clips holding it on and it seems like I could almost see through a tiny space there into the lens. My lens don't look damaged or aged (aside from the gaskets) so I'm assuming this is normal? Will the gaskets solve the problem? Just seems like moisture could still get in through those spaces but maybe not. Seems like replacing or adjusting the gaskets has worked for every body so maybe I am just being overly paranoid.

[Seraph]

I came home, I opened the hood (trunk) and took the lights out. Took the lights indoors. Drilled 6 tiny holes (3 on top 3 on bottom).

No water since.

lwin

[ensteele]

I became inspired by reading all of the solutions on the moisture in the taillights, and because I also have moisture, I decided to do it too. I pulled them off of the car, and thought I would use my convected oven. I set it to 135 and watched them like very closely to make sure I had no problems. I checked them very often, and after about 30 min. I decided to do the hair dryer and box routine instead. It worked great, and after about a hour, the moisture was gone. My gaskets were almost shot, so I swapped sides, and ordered new ones. I left the center section until the gaskets get here. I think the oven would work, but I was just a little nervous about what might happen in there. I could just see puddles of red plastic in the oven.

Earl

[michael]

I'd strongly suggest not using an oven! Great for the headlights, bad for the tail lights

[Earthworm]

Hope that was the only one. Good thing these are from the less expensive side of the car.