upstate_T-RX

hey guys i was wondering how you would get condensation out from the drivers side taillight. dealer said i would need a new taillight, but i figured its just the cover. it may be crackeD? or insecurely fastened? anyhow whats the safest method to get it off and prevent the condensation from building?

WVBoosted8

iTrader: (5)

I just drilled 3 holes in the bottom of my taillight. It honestly looked like a fishbowl beforehand. Hope that helps.

RK

iTrader: (1)

1) Search. There's roughly 62,348 threads about this. General RX-8 Discussion is a better forum for this.
2) It's covered under warranty so if you are still under warranty stop by your dealer
3) If it's not covered under warranty there are multiple methods of fixing it. Pick one you like and can do yourself or that you can get done by someone else.

GL

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

^^^ yup, search is your best friend. There's links to a TSB available that shows it's covered under warranty.

nuke0907

iTrader: (2)

i really hope you did not drill your tail light. it will not fix the problem of moisture getting in your tail light. i just had to get a gasket for my drivers side and hopefully will be making a DIY. i've already had to do the passenger side and its as good as new.

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

i drilled mine as well but i'll have to fix it properly now as it has got worse

TheWulf

iTrader: (4)

Honestly... taking a drill to a taillight with this price tag when you can buy a gasket for $25 that fixes the problem? Ouch.

I had the same problem and the new gasket works very well.

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

we are not talking about a big drill here - you can't see the holes unless you really look for them

WVBoosted8

iTrader: (5)

I dont think a new gasket would have fixed mine, it honestly looked as if it were made for fish. Drilling a couple of small holes isnt that big of a deal.

TheWulf

iTrader: (4)

I'm sorry but this is all that comes to mind:



Drilling holes may help with water, but what about the condensation? I had about an inch of water and constant condensation in mine. The revised gasket took care of it... not a drop of moisture after the latest storm.

WVBoosted8

iTrader: (5)

I've never had a single drop in mine after the first day I bought it by doing the ghetto fix haha. Nice pic btw.

nuke0907

iTrader: (2)

the problem is water coming in through the old gasket. drilling holes is not gonna fix water getting in, only lets the water that does get in drain out. that water still causes damage to your taillight housing. here's what it does to the chrome plating.

living the dream

mine was a fishbowl toO!

i took it out moved it from side to side up and down till i found were the water was coming in at..got all the water out but still condinsation! took a hair dryer blew it through the bulb pockets! till there was no condensation in the tail light! then got clear silicone ran a fine bead around were the water was getting in at!!!

Havent had a problem sence!!

05shinka

I wish i had a dollar for everytime this question was asked. I could retire !

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

Mine has bugs in it.

WantedTwo

iTrader: (4)

Mine has clowns in it.

Socket7

but why even do it when you can just pull the tail light, clean out the water channels beneath it and replace the gasket?

It's a brute force solution when theres an elegant solution thats not significantly more work.

NsprAshuNz 671

YES FISH BOWL !! FTW! jus like the other lazi bastards like myself drilled a hole...its no where near noticable but i think i need more holes cuz it still humidifies a lil bit.... lol.. sorry i was really no help but SEARCH is...

nuke0907

iTrader: (2)

I REALLY WISH YOU GUYS WOULD TAKE MY ADVICE AND STOP DRILLING HOLES IN YOUR TAIL LIGHTS.

that is because you never fixed the problem which is the gasket. now you have holes in it though, so you're still gonna have condensation if you change the gasket. now the only way is to get a new tail light or plug the holes too.

Blackout04RX

I drilled as well lol. What gasket are you talking about. When I did mine, I tried finding the problem, but it seemed to be in a deep part of the light near one of the bungs for the bulbs. I THINK it was the reverse bulb. Can't remember off hand, I did this about two or three months ago. But The holes do make a world of difference. I get minimal condensation now right after a big rainstorm or car wash, but its usually gone pretty quick. I'll see how well it works over the winter though, lots more water round then by me lol

RX8Sinner

My solution, kinda ghetto but worked. What I did:

1: ORDERED A NEW GASKET
2: Waited for it to get delivered
3: Removed taillight and old gasket
4: took shopvac put a 1/2 or 3/4 inch piece of PVC flexible tubing on the end of the shopvac hose, and duct taped it there.
5: Used the PVC hose to because it fit through the light hole in the tail light
6: Sucked the Fishbowl dry.
7: Removed the PVC and covered the center hole with ducttape.
8: put the shopvac hose on the tail light hole and sucked air through the tail light for about 10 minutes to get the rest of the condensation out, and dry it since your pulling air through the entire length of the light as well as sucking the moisture out.
9: put the new gasket on.
10: cleaned the body of the car where the light mounts. Cleaned off all the dirt and pollen and whatnot.
11: Put the tail light back on.
12: Be satisfied with a forever dry taillight now.

BTW the new gasket is about three times as thick as the old one!!!!

But the driverside is now fogging up on me since I did the passenger side. So looks like i'm going to be fixing that one now too.

If your out of warrenty just spend the $60 or so on two new gaskets and may as well do both sides at the same time.

rovic

holes lame, new gasket(s) kewl. Check TSBs.

you can also air dry your tail light. may want to consider rinsing inside of light before re-installig with distilled water to help avoid water spots on the inside.

nuke0907

iTrader: (2)

the gasket is on the back of around the holes. the first pic below is my old one and the second one is the new one. the third pic is my light in the oven to dry it out.

Socket7

I like the people who drill holes in their lights. Lets me know who is interested in actually getting things done the right way and who isn't.

yushinrt

i just drilled a 3 small hole and it fixed problem