Tail-light sealant melted
Discussion
I came home yesterday after a 200 mile drive and found this black streak inside my back light
I took the light out tonight and found the sealant used around the light had melted
I thought originally it was the heat off the exhaust that had caused the problem but it seems the sealand was just a poor quality and, since I had the lights on all the journey, the heat of the bulb melted it.
I scraped the sealant off, wiped it down with white spirits, and it ended up like this
As this is a complete light enclosure fitted inside the original back lens, I have left out the sealant.
Hopefully this is the end of this stupid problem.
I took the light out tonight and found the sealant used around the light had melted
I thought originally it was the heat off the exhaust that had caused the problem but it seems the sealand was just a poor quality and, since I had the lights on all the journey, the heat of the bulb melted it.
I scraped the sealant off, wiped it down with white spirits, and it ended up like this
As this is a complete light enclosure fitted inside the original back lens, I have left out the sealant.
Hopefully this is the end of this stupid problem.
They're not on all the time, I'm sure of that.
But the heat of the tail light bulb for 200 miles may have done it if it was softened by other journeys.
I reckon the prevoius owner never used the car much.
The mileage on the service receipts showed the car wasn't used very often.
Plus the headlights were all over the place when I got it so I reckon it hardly ever was out at night and he didn't turn the lights on too often.
But the heat of the tail light bulb for 200 miles may have done it if it was softened by other journeys.
I reckon the prevoius owner never used the car much.
The mileage on the service receipts showed the car wasn't used very often.
Plus the headlights were all over the place when I got it so I reckon it hardly ever was out at night and he didn't turn the lights on too often.
jensena said:
I'd put sealant back on - it is there for a reason. I use Silicone External Roof & Gutter sealant from B&Q, and that doesnt melt!
That stuffs pretty nasty. Think it has some bitumen products in it.
Black RTV from loctitie is best. I use it to seal engine blocks and it NEVER leaks.
ridds said:
jensena said:
I'd put sealant back on - it is there for a reason. I use Silicone External Roof & Gutter sealant from B&Q, and that doesnt melt!
That stuffs pretty nasty. Think it has some bitumen products in it.
Black RTV from loctitie is best. I use it to seal engine blocks and it NEVER leaks.
No - they do 2 types, one has bitumen in it - nasty, I bought it by mistake necause it has nearly identical packaging, the silicone one is good.
I reckon the one on mine definitely had some trace of bitumen in it.
As it is a "lens behind a lens" set-up I'm not sure if I need the silicone between the lamp and the outside lens.
There are no leaks from the outside to the inside and it should also allow heat that may build up to escape.
I'll try it for a week or two and chack it again.
It's not a big job to add sealant if I find it is required.
Since I haven't done anything to the RHS one I can always use that to compare with.
As it is a "lens behind a lens" set-up I'm not sure if I need the silicone between the lamp and the outside lens.
There are no leaks from the outside to the inside and it should also allow heat that may build up to escape.
I'll try it for a week or two and chack it again.
It's not a big job to add sealant if I find it is required.
Since I haven't done anything to the RHS one I can always use that to compare with.
jensena said:
ridds said:
jensena said:
I'd put sealant back on - it is there for a reason. I use Silicone External Roof & Gutter sealant from B&Q, and that doesnt melt!
That stuffs pretty nasty. Think it has some bitumen products in it.
Black RTV from loctitie is best. I use it to seal engine blocks and it NEVER leaks.
No - they do 2 types, one has bitumen in it - nasty, I bought it by mistake necause it has nearly identical packaging, the silicone one is good.
Yup be careful about this - it's very easy to get the two mixed up, the labeling is awful. I've used the B&Q silicone sealent on my clutch master cover. You can get a very smooth join with it.
byker28i said:
jensena said:
ridds said:
jensena said:
I'd put sealant back on - it is there for a reason. I use Silicone External Roof & Gutter sealant from B&Q, and that doesnt melt!
That stuffs pretty nasty. Think it has some bitumen products in it.
Black RTV from loctitie is best. I use it to seal engine blocks and it NEVER leaks.
No - they do 2 types, one has bitumen in it - nasty, I bought it by mistake necause it has nearly identical packaging, the silicone one is good.
Yup be careful about this - it's very easy to get the two mixed up, the labeling is awful. I've used the B&Q silicone sealent on my clutch master cover. You can get a very smooth join with it.
Think I must have gotten the wrong one then when I selected it last time then.
I would have said the bst sealant ot use,which i'm sure was the origional stuff, is Sikkens (or similar) polyurethane adhesive and sealant, its expensive at a tenner plus, but oh does it stick well and is fairly firm out of the tube so more or less glues parts into place and can be over painted. Just the surfaces have to be clean.
The answer to gazzab as how to take the light units out is, there are screws through the light inside the boot behind the carpet covers. The clear lens has to be cut out.
The answer to gazzab as how to take the light units out is, there are screws through the light inside the boot behind the carpet covers. The clear lens has to be cut out.
I don't know, but I would have thought cut it with a really sharp knife from the outsidebut if you can get in from the inside it would be safer for the paintwork, and the nerves
Does the lens need to come out? It doesn't need to be removed to just change the light unit that just unscrews from the inside of the boot.
Does the lens need to come out? It doesn't need to be removed to just change the light unit that just unscrews from the inside of the boot.Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff