MK2 lens covers / Condensation / Sealing
Discussion
I keep having serious condensation behind (3 out of 4) lens covers on the nose of a MK2. It actually never goes away. In the back I permanently have 3 cm's of water on the right hand side...
Has anyone unmounted these covers, and how much of a hassle are they to seal back in? Any special proceedings/recommendations/advice? By looking at the covers, I can't figure how they stay in place mecanically. Is it only the sealing, or is it an entire unit secured from the back (and the sealing is just to make waterproof)?
I've read some people had Racing Green do the job, but I'm in Switzerland and there is no such thing as Racing Green here...
Has anyone unmounted these covers, and how much of a hassle are they to seal back in? Any special proceedings/recommendations/advice? By looking at the covers, I can't figure how they stay in place mecanically. Is it only the sealing, or is it an entire unit secured from the back (and the sealing is just to make waterproof)?
I've read some people had Racing Green do the job, but I'm in Switzerland and there is no such thing as Racing Green here...
Hi Bert,
I see you have a MK2 convertible,I'll add it to the register, any other info appreciated (build no.,miles etc.)
As for the condensation problem, I find waxing the plastic covers helps, but I've never had pools of water in the lights. Mine have been taken out and resealed when I had a front end respray. I'll try to find out what TVR/Surface & Design use. Make sure there is no leak from the rubber disk in the wheel arch.
Editted..I see the car is on the register when it was at Racing Green...I'll update
I see you have a MK2 convertible,I'll add it to the register, any other info appreciated (build no.,miles etc.)
As for the condensation problem, I find waxing the plastic covers helps, but I've never had pools of water in the lights. Mine have been taken out and resealed when I had a front end respray. I'll try to find out what TVR/Surface & Design use. Make sure there is no leak from the rubber disk in the wheel arch.
Editted..I see the car is on the register when it was at Racing Green...I'll update
Edited by glow worm on Wednesday 29th July 11:42
I recently re-sealed two of mine on my Tuscan 2, following advice seen in previous posts on this site. First remove lenses, I did this by stripping out the existing sealant around the lens with a small screwdriver, then inserting secredriver between the lens and the body to lever the lens out. Be gentle so as not to crack the lens. Second remove all old sealant / silicone from around the edge of the lens and on the inside behind the black painted surround. You will need a sharp craft / stanley knife to do this well. You will probably have found that you have scraped some of the black paint away from the inside of the lens, so touch up with black enamel paint if necessary. Scrape away any old silicone from the body of the car. You are mow ready to replace the lens. Put a liberal amount of Sikaflex 221 with a skeleton gun around the inside of the lens, and press into the car body. Hold in place for a little while. Then, using either Black Ambersil, or more Sikaflex, fill the gap between the lens and the body, wiping dowm with a little white spitit on an old cloth to remove any excess silicone. Leave to dry, then several coats of polish. Ebay is the best place to purchase the Sikaflex and Ambersil.
Practically I am pretty useless, but was surprised at how straighforward this task was to perform to a good standard, and the lights no longer mist up. In my experience, TVR garages have been reluctant to carry out this job, probably because it takes a few hours to do well, and if it mists up again, said owner will no doubt be back asking them to redo it.
Practically I am pretty useless, but was surprised at how straighforward this task was to perform to a good standard, and the lights no longer mist up. In my experience, TVR garages have been reluctant to carry out this job, probably because it takes a few hours to do well, and if it mists up again, said owner will no doubt be back asking them to redo it.
Tuscan Jim said:
Best of luck, it is surprising that the covers are held in entirely by adhesive silicone, but they seem pretty well stuck in to me. Before my tuscan I had a griff, which while having lens covers, it never seemed to mist up. I think this problem is exclusive to the Tuscan 2.
My garage here (no TVR experience... yet) thought the mist might be coming from behind... In which case proper sealing on the front would only be part of the solution.Anyway, I will start by unmounting, cleaning, remounting, polishing then see what happens. I would be quite a job if we also need to do the same from behind.
Tuscan Jim said:
Blimey! Why is it all orange? It looks like rusty water has got in there somehow. My impression is that misted up light covers is more usually a problem at the front rather than the rear.
It IS rusty water. Don't know how it got there, just saw that I was not the first person to try to reseal the lower part...By the way, I think there is quite little space for Sikaflex! The cover is almost a perfect fit!
My main problem is at the front too. Those I will attack this week-end...
Edited by TVR_Tuscan on Wednesday 29th July 22:23
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