Sealing Clear Corner Light
 

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to seal up my clear corner lights. Currently, my right clear corner light manages to get moisture in it somehow. I am guessing that it somehow got a crack in it when I removed the reflector. Last week, I took the light off and dried it out, and I searched for the leak but couldn't find it. I tried submerging the light in some water to see where bubbles formed, but none did.

The only other thing I think it might be is a bad seal between the housing and socket, but I don't think that's the case. But after having washed my car again yesterday, there's moisture in it again and I'd like to solve the problem. Can someone recommend a good sealing method? Thanks in advance.

Use some slicon on the seal? Like the stuff you use to seal a tub.

Or some other similar silicon. You did the first thing I would have done by checking for cracks.
Did you check the sides? As in where the clear plastic is sealed/connected to the gray backing plastic?

Yeah, I tried to find a spot where the gray plastic housing could have cracked away from the clear lens, but didn't have any luck. I tried submerging the mousing and blowing into it to make bubbles form, still no luck. I tried both blowing air into it and sucking air out of it to see if there was someplace for air/moisture to get in/out, and didn't find any. I guess it would lead me to believe it's the socket seal that is bad, but maybe I'll put a bead of silicone around the housing/lens seam just to be safe. I've somehow got a couple tiny little rust spots inside the lens, which is why I want to get this taken care of ASAP. Thanks for the tip Alex.

Just buy new ones.

^ +1

Why would I spend $70 on two new corners when I only need one and I can probably fix the problem with a $1.79 tube of silicone? I'll buy new ones if I have to, but if I can fix it myself, it seems kind of silly to spend the extra money. Plus, we've got to pay to fix my girlfriend's car now (thanks, hit and run scumbag) and we're moving in a month, so even though corners aren't that expensive, it's money I'd rather save if I can.

just make sure you don't seal the water vapor inside the lens...then it will be stuck in there. maybe it would be worth while to do what some others did with the tail lights and drill a very small hole in an inconspicuous spot on the back. This will let the light be the same as atmospheric conditions...keeping condensation down.

:dunno: cheaper than buying new...

All this talk about drilling the lights... :icon_no2:

I sealed mine with exterior window clear silicone. Pretty straight forward, get the seams. Blow-dry before hand to make sure all the moisture is out. I highly recommend against drilling any holes. But while you're at it, go ahead and remove that silly deflector inside.

If you do end up buying a new one, I BELIEVE not sure that mazdaparts.com sells individual ones?

RA-Eight - I've already pulled the reflectors out - pretty sure that's how it got the crack or whatever is causing the leak in it in the first place. Thanks for the tip on the exterior window silicone. I'll give that a try this week. And of course I'll blow dry it before I seal it, I just hope moisture isn't getting in through the socket.

I have an issue with the right clear corner getting water in it. I plan to try to seal it up this weekend with clear silicone to see if it helps.

Welp, I bought some GE Kitchen/Bath Silicone II last night, and pulled the corner out to seal her up. I managed to find the source of the leak, along the bottom seam. So I sealed it up with the silicone along that seam (and along other parts of the seam that looked like they might be prone to developing leaks) and put them back on.

Drove to and from lunch in a light rain today and when I got back to my office there was no moisture inside. Still too early for a Johnny Drama style "VICTORY!" but the outlook is pretty good from here.

$4.20 tube of silicone >>>> $70 for a new set of corners :D:

$4.20 tube of silicone FTW!!!!

It looks like I have to do something like this as well. I noticed what appeared to be rust inside one of my corners....closer inspection reveals moisture as well. Dammit!

jds