Rear lights misting up
Discussion
It won't last, polish will react with it and it will soon peel off... I'm sure many have used silicon as had the previous owner of my old chim...
Sikaflex is an a acrillic based sealant which doesn't have the flexibility of silicon but is far far stronger and resistant to car cleaning products, as it if finishing products are silicon based and as said will react with silicon sealant
Sikaflex is an a acrillic based sealant which doesn't have the flexibility of silicon but is far far stronger and resistant to car cleaning products, as it if finishing products are silicon based and as said will react with silicon sealant
Edited by Milky400 on Tuesday 22 April 22:29
Milky400 said:
It won't last, polish will react with it and it will soon peel off... I'm sure many have used silicon as had the previous owner of my old chim...
Sikaflex is an a acrillic based sealant which doesn't have the flexibility of silicon but is far far stronger and resistant to car cleaning products
I didn't realise that silicon reacts with polish. I've used both sikaflex and silicon in the past but for different applications. I must admit, I tended to only opt for sikaflex in less noticeable areas and for more permanent applications, only because its so bloody awkward to work with! Interesting to know, ta.Sikaflex is an a acrillic based sealant which doesn't have the flexibility of silicon but is far far stronger and resistant to car cleaning products
TVRJAS said:
My boot lets no water in but my rear lens still mists up (Drivers side more noticeable)
Of course your right, but the fact that his boot is letting in water as per his other thread was my point. He would need to sort that first as it could be causing the lights to mist up. AV8 said:
TVRJAS said:
My boot lets no water in but my rear lens still mists up (Drivers side more noticeable)
Of course your right, but the fact that his boot is letting in water as per his other thread was my point. He would need to sort that first as it could be causing the lights to mist up. 
Just stating my issue.. Honest
Pretty sure my problem is due to the rubber seal needs replacing at some stage. Other option is not to take it out in the rain 
I would also check that the drainage channels aren't blocked. My old TVR S3 had a leaking boot and I spent hours replacing the seals, re-aligning the boot lid and various other stuff. Only when I shoved a straightened wire coat hanger down the boot drainage channel did I realise it was blocked up and so the water that sat in the channels had nowhere to go.
I did also silicon seal the rear lights on my subsequent Chimaera, as mine misted up too. I remember at the time the PH vogue was to drill a small hole to allow condensation to disperse. At least they were a lot easier to do than the front headlight replacement that I had to do after a stone smashed one of the lenses. That was a complete arse of a job and then I had to do the other side as the new headlight had a nice shiny silver inlay and the old one looked discoloured. My OCD wouldnt stand for that.
I did also silicon seal the rear lights on my subsequent Chimaera, as mine misted up too. I remember at the time the PH vogue was to drill a small hole to allow condensation to disperse. At least they were a lot easier to do than the front headlight replacement that I had to do after a stone smashed one of the lenses. That was a complete arse of a job and then I had to do the other side as the new headlight had a nice shiny silver inlay and the old one looked discoloured. My OCD wouldnt stand for that.
Having had the pain of misting up rear lights and then making a few errors along the way trying to fix them here is my list of do's and donts, all from my own personal experience (and bodges!). I had 3 goes at mine before I got it right and learned a lot along the way !
1. Drilling a small hole in the outer lens will not get rid of condensation
2. Silicon will not work. Looks great for a few months then the lens falls out. You must use sikaflex nothing else will do
3. When refitting the outer lens be sure to reseal around the inner light first between the lens and body or you will be doing it all again
4. While you have the outer lens out use some black enamel paint to paint the bit of bodywork between the inner and outer lenses (or body colour paint if you like)
5. While you have the outer lens off clean off all the black edging, use white spirit and perseverance.
6.Do not repaint the black border inside the outer lens with black enamel paint - it fails and creates a new leak. I found the best result came from using sikaflex and a paintbrush and 2 coats. looks crap from behind but lovely from the front and helps create a good seal when refitting.,
7. Use flexible masking tape (the stuff that can go around corners) to create the border before painting the inside of the outer lens or better yet use detailing stripes (you an get them in halfords) to create an edge, backed by masking tape.
8. When removing the outer lens mask up the paint work with 2 layers of tape first so if you slip with the knife when cutting the old sikaflex you dont damage the paint
9.When refitting the outer pens put a good deep bead of sikalflex on the car then push then lens to it. Then use tape the ensure the lens is held tightly in place while it dries. Make absolutely sure that the lens is in contact with the bead the whole way around. Rear lenses are well known for poor fit and you may need to put a really thick bead of sikaflex in some parts to ensure a good fit/seal.
10.Once the initial fit has set (I gave mine 48 hours) mask off all paintwork and the outer edge of the outer lens then fill the gap between lens and body with sikaflex. Run a finger over to create a nice edge. WEAR GLOVES when doing this or you will spend weeks with black hands
1. Drilling a small hole in the outer lens will not get rid of condensation
2. Silicon will not work. Looks great for a few months then the lens falls out. You must use sikaflex nothing else will do
3. When refitting the outer lens be sure to reseal around the inner light first between the lens and body or you will be doing it all again
4. While you have the outer lens out use some black enamel paint to paint the bit of bodywork between the inner and outer lenses (or body colour paint if you like)
5. While you have the outer lens off clean off all the black edging, use white spirit and perseverance.
6.Do not repaint the black border inside the outer lens with black enamel paint - it fails and creates a new leak. I found the best result came from using sikaflex and a paintbrush and 2 coats. looks crap from behind but lovely from the front and helps create a good seal when refitting.,
7. Use flexible masking tape (the stuff that can go around corners) to create the border before painting the inside of the outer lens or better yet use detailing stripes (you an get them in halfords) to create an edge, backed by masking tape.
8. When removing the outer lens mask up the paint work with 2 layers of tape first so if you slip with the knife when cutting the old sikaflex you dont damage the paint
9.When refitting the outer pens put a good deep bead of sikalflex on the car then push then lens to it. Then use tape the ensure the lens is held tightly in place while it dries. Make absolutely sure that the lens is in contact with the bead the whole way around. Rear lenses are well known for poor fit and you may need to put a really thick bead of sikaflex in some parts to ensure a good fit/seal.
10.Once the initial fit has set (I gave mine 48 hours) mask off all paintwork and the outer edge of the outer lens then fill the gap between lens and body with sikaflex. Run a finger over to create a nice edge. WEAR GLOVES when doing this or you will spend weeks with black hands
Edited by Dodsy on Thursday 24th April 11:46
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