Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

tail light fix??

Thread Tools
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 09:19 AM
  #1  
JdAirCustoms's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: chicago il
tail light fix??

hey guys i just picked up my 8 yesterday and i noticed that the right tailight is fogged up from water getting in. is there any quick fix for now until i buy a new tailight?
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 09:22 AM
  #2  
cyclone1208's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 323
Likes: 1
From: Arlington, TX
Search is your friend...this has been repeated so many times

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...light=tailight
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 09:40 AM
  #3  
9krpmrx8's Avatar
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 33,788
Likes: 462
From: San Antonio, Texas
Do not follow that post!! It is not necessary too drill them. All you have to do is use black RTV on the factory Gasket and it will be fine. Just let the tail light dry out. If you look at your gasket you will see water marks where the water is seeping through.

Last edited by 9krpmrx8; Sep 2, 2009 at 10:01 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 02:33 PM
  #4  
TheWulf's Avatar
My 8 looks like a Smurf
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,742
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Sigh.

Don't drill into your taillights. That's just sad.

All you need is a new, updated taillight gasket. It takes 5 minutes to install and available at your dealership parts counter for about $30.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 03:59 PM
  #5  
9krpmrx8's Avatar
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 33,788
Likes: 462
From: San Antonio, Texas
TX

Originally Posted by TheWulf
Sigh.

Don't drill into your taillights. That's just sad.

All you need is a new, updated taillight gasket. It takes 5 minutes to install and available at your dealership parts counter for about $30.
Yeah or that too.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 06:26 PM
  #6  
Munchy's Avatar
RX n00b
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 821
Likes: 2
If you're out of warranty, take this bulletin to your local Mazda dealer and ask how much it will cost to get done with the parts OR just take the part numbers from the bottom of the bulletins and order them and do the labour yourself.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...05-09-2055.pdf
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 07:50 PM
  #7  
Lebren's Avatar
RX8club group buy vendor
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 525
Likes: 1
what they said, i used this runny clear crap that ended up dripping INSIDE the light which I now see every time I leave work and look at that light. don't use too much, and you can use the factory gaskets that came with it. Congrats on the purchase!
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2009 | 11:36 AM
  #8  
Slick8's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Philly
Thumbs up

Originally Posted by JdAirCustoms
hey guys i just picked up my 8 yesterday and i noticed that the right tailight is fogged up from water getting in. is there any quick fix for now until i buy a new tailight?
Put this on for $5.



It's Frost King black foam tape they sell at Lowes or HD, it's been 2-1/2 years now since I put it on, no water at all, none. Just wrap around rim edge on the taillight where the gasket would seat, make sure to clean the tailllight and seat area with rubbing alcohol first. Also, make sure the seam faces down (water can not run uphill) where the tape meets up together, and butt it/bunch it up there to create a tighter seal. I used 3/4" X X 5/16" X 10'



I have some pic of my install from two years ago some where, I didn't post it because I wasn't sure that it would work, test out period. I think 2-1/2 years is pretty good evidence that it works.

Last edited by Slick8; Sep 12, 2009 at 11:46 AM. Reason: New info
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2009 | 03:22 PM
  #9  
Lebren's Avatar
RX8club group buy vendor
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 525
Likes: 1
I'll try this when my driver side starts acting up again!
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2009 | 06:53 AM
  #10  
8upbad's Avatar
Jared
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 777
Likes: 1
From: South Florida
I just did the anti rain dance... but yeah that didnt help so today I'll go get a new gasket from the nice dealer people.
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2009 | 08:15 PM
  #11  
Slick8's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Philly













Originally Posted by Slick8
Put this on for $5.



It's Frost King black foam tape they sell at Lowes or HD, it's been 2-1/2 years now since I put it on, no water at all, none. Just wrap around rim edge on the taillight where the gasket would seat, make sure to clean the tailllight and seat area with rubbing alcohol first. Also, make sure the seam faces down (water can not run uphill) where the tape meets up together, and butt it/bunch it up there to create a tighter seal. I used 3/4" X X 5/16" X 10'



I have some pic of my install from two years ago some where, I didn't post it because I wasn't sure that it would work, test out period. I think 2-1/2 years is pretty good evidence that it works.

Last edited by Slick8; Dec 23, 2009 at 08:19 PM. Reason: bigger pics
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2009 | 10:38 PM
  #12  
9krpmrx8's Avatar
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 33,788
Likes: 462
From: San Antonio, Texas
That'll work too hopefully.
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2009 | 12:47 PM
  #13  
Slick8's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Philly
3+ years now and no moisture.

Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8
That'll work too hopefully.
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2009 | 12:57 PM
  #14  
Slick8's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Philly
water and dirt runs directly from the truck lid drainage channel into the gasket seam


Water and dirt collect into a pocket at the gasket seam and erodes away the seal, see where the seal is compromised at the blue arrows


Speculation that removing the excess gasket seam would fix the problem
Attached Thumbnails tail light fix??-bodyside2.jpg   tail light fix??-gasketside2.jpg   tail light fix??-gasketside3.jpg  
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2009 | 01:57 PM
  #15  
9krpmrx8's Avatar
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 33,788
Likes: 462
From: San Antonio, Texas
TX

Originally Posted by Slick8
3+ years now and no moisture.
Very good, a less messy alternative to RTV.
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2009 | 02:02 PM
  #16  
Chad D.'s Avatar
Spinnnnnnnnnnn
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,549
Likes: 2
From: Windsor, Ontario
very nice diagram.
Reply
Old May 11, 2017 | 05:45 AM
  #17  
Dennis Woo's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Slick8


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I followed the instructions on how to open the tail light and also to seal up the hole with silicon from this YouTube video -





Then I removed the foam and replaced it with this Extreme Climate Rubber Tape after learning about this method from Slick8.




Last edited by Dennis Woo; May 11, 2017 at 05:51 AM.
Reply
Old May 11, 2017 | 08:40 AM
  #18  
SayNoToPistons's Avatar
Wheels, not rims!!
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,527
Likes: 68
From: LA
Damn near 6 years for me since I used that solution. Taillights still tight as a vault.

My RX-8 sits outdoors and its even been through "Hurricane Sandy", though my area was not flooded. I challenge someone for a better and more economical solution.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-...-223143/page4/

Last edited by SayNoToPistons; May 11, 2017 at 12:21 PM.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Carbon8
RX-8's For Sale/Wanted
42
Feb 27, 2020 08:39 AM
JimmyBlack
Series I Major Horsepower Upgrades
273
Feb 10, 2020 10:23 PM
RXFEVER
RX-8 Parts For Sale/Wanted
38
Aug 29, 2018 10:14 AM
RXFEVER
West For Sale/Wanted
17
Sep 11, 2016 02:51 PM
DVerdeyen
Series I Trouble Shooting
6
Sep 13, 2015 11:19 AM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:55 PM.