Rear light cluster moisture

[BARNPOT2000]

Hi, has anyone found a successful fix for moisture retention in the rear light cluster please? Obviously a new one would work but looking to repair if possible 🤔.

[Topdownman]

That does look quite bad. Mine were not so bad as that and I recently drilled a small hole in the bottom of each of the 2 clear sections in each side to help with airflow and ventilation. Just been out to check and there is currently no condensation in them. I expect it will come back but at least it should go away again!

Otherwise I guess you would have to dry them out and then try and seal the edges with some sort of silicone?

[BARNPOT2000]

That does look quite bad. Mine were not so bad as that and I recently drilled a small hole in the bottom of each of the 2 clear sections in each side to help with airflow and ventilation. Just been out to check and there is currently no condensation in them. I expect it will come back but at least it should go away again!

Otherwise I guess you would have to dry them out and then try and seal the edges with some sort of silicone?

I

That does look quite bad. Mine were not so bad as that and I recently drilled a small hole in the bottom of each of the 2 clear sections in each side to help with airflow and ventilation. Just been out to check and there is currently no condensation in them. I expect it will come back but at least it should go away again!

Otherwise I guess you would have to dry them out and then try and seal the edges with some sort of silicone?

So did you drill holes in the external plastic lens surface or behind some where so the outside remains waterproof ?

[Topdownman]

I took the lights out, turned them over and then drilled the black plastic underside, I aimed for the middle of the large open area behind the clear lenses. Just one hole in each section with perhaps a 2-3mm bit.

[BARNPOT2000]

I took the lights out, turned them over and then drilled the black plastic underside, I aimed for the middle of the large open area behind the clear lenses. Just one hole in each section with perhaps a 2-3mm bit.

Thanks, I might give that a go, not sure why they are so bad, they were like it when I purchased the car.

[Ardent]

Not sure why it happens, but not un common.

[1979scotte]

Very common can't say it ever caused me a problem in any of my 2s.

[JohnGee]

That does look quite bad. Mine were not so bad as that and I recently drilled a small hole in the bottom of each of the 2 clear sections in each side to help with airflow and ventilation. Just been out to check and there is currently no condensation in them. I expect it will come back but at least it should go away again!

Otherwise I guess you would have to dry them out and then try and seal the edges with some sort of silicone?

Interesting, and two totally different approaches to solving the same problem - keep it out - let it go. My near side was bad at time of purchase (though not as extreme as the image here). I dried it out and sealed it with silicone. Seems to have worked fine, but mostly garaged when not in use which I guess must help.

[J88TEO]

There are actually breather hole at the black plastic back...look for the caps which has sponge material in them.

[Gaz mr-s]

There have been a few threads on here over the years about this. I didn't believe that the o/e foam strip could be a 'seal'. Supposedly buyers of new cars complained to Toyota & didn't get satisfaction. Whether Toyota actually fitted new seals for these customers or not, I don't know. Does anyone?

About 3 years ago I started an experiment to see if I could vent the indicator & reverse lights by cutting a slot in the clear lens that couldn't be seen from the outside. I only did one, & the experiment was very short lived. The car was outside in Autumn, & unused, had no misting.  Once it was used the condensation appeared. The modified n/s lens cleared, & the nearside did not.  For various reasons I haven't done more.

But on Facebook I read of a guy who had bought the seals via Amayama. Solved it, he said.  The Toyota price for these seals is eye-watering.

Another guy on f/book used butyl to seal them. John above using silicon is a similar idea. But since the light lenses are available as a seperate part, it's not something I wanted to do.

I have bought some of this  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114514299502?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=414704649158&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

The recess in the lights for the seal seems quite deep, so I thought a thicker diameter would work better. Mistake. If any of you want to try this don't buy thicker than 4mm.  If I remember correctly 3 metres is needed for two lights.

[Topdownman]

The GT86 has the same problem with rear lights and from forums, many were replaced under warranty. I had one changed myself. I am not sure if that was a whole light unit or a modified seal they produced after the issues. I seem to remember it coming back in the changed light though!

[Joesson]

There are actually breather hole at the black plastic back...look for the caps which has sponge material in them.

There is a, maybe similar, sponge breather feature in the PFL headlights.

[BARNPOT2000]

There have been a few threads on here over the years about this. I didn't believe that the o/e foam strip could be a 'seal'. Supposedly buyers of new cars complained to Toyota & didn't get satisfaction. Whether Toyota actually fitted new seals for these customers or not, I don't know. Does anyone?

About 3 years ago I started an experiment to see if I could vent the indicator & reverse lights by cutting a slot in the clear lens that couldn't be seen from the outside. I only did one, & the experiment was very short lived. The car was outside in Autumn, & unused, had no misting.  Once it was used the condensation appeared. The modified n/s lens cleared, & the nearside did not.  For various reasons I haven't done more.

But on Facebook I read of a guy who had bought the seals via Amayama. Solved it, he said.  The Toyota price for these seals is eye-watering.

Another guy on f/book used butyl to seal them. John above using silicon is a similar idea. But since the light lenses are available as a seperate part, it's not something I wanted to do.

I have bought some of this  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114514299502?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=414704649158&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

The recess in the lights for the seal seems quite deep, so I thought a thicker diameter would work better. Mistake. If any of you want to try this don't buy thicker than 4mm.  If I remember correctly 3 metres is needed for two lights.

That's interesting, so adding extra ventilation seems to work. Did you ever fit the neoprene seal as well?

[Gaz mr-s]

That's interesting, so adding extra ventilation seemems to work. Did you ever fit the neoprene seal as well?

No, haven't got round to ordering the 4mm.  Cutting the vent was only tested once, so inconclusive, & it doesn't stop the condensation occurring, but does allow it to disperse.

[TheTigerUK]

Having read this I looked at my spare PFL rears and noticed this "plug" at the top, is it anything to do with the condensation problem ?

[Gaz mr-s]

It doesn't seem to make any difference whether inplace or out. Maybe, if the seals are effective, it should make a difference....

[BARNPOT2000]

Having read this I looked at my spare PFL rears and noticed this "plug" at the top, is it anything to do with the condensation problem ?

That's interesting, today whilst removing my ns wheel arch plastic one of those fell out. The ns cluster was missing one. The interesting bit "might" be that my ns light has no condensation. The os light which had both caps in place is the problem one. Wouldnt it be great if just removing these plugs resolved the condensation issue? I doubt it would be that simple but I can't help investigating this tomorrow 🤔🤔🤔...

[Gaz mr-s]

That's interesting, today whilst removing my ns wheel arch plastic one of those fell out. The ns cluster was missing one. The interesting bit "might" be that my ns light has no condensation. The os light which had both caps in place is the problem one. Wouldnt it be great if just removing these plugs resolved the condensation issue? I doubt it would be that simple but I can't help investigating this tomorrow 🤔🤔🤔...

Have you had condensation in the n/s before.  It needs car to be outside, have got hot & then rained or humid.

[BARNPOT2000]

Have you had condensation in the n/s before.  It needs car to be outside, have got hot & then rained or humid.

I think it's just been in the os one, it's certainly just that one only atm. The car has been on my drive recently exposed to the recent hot weather, and so I would have expected it to have dried out by now....

[Gaz mr-s]

I think it's just been in the os one, it's certainly just that one only atm. The car has been on my drive recently exposed to the recent hot weather, and so I would have expected it to have dried out by now....

In my experience the n/s is usually worse due to the heat in that corner from the exhaust. So if that light doesn't get it, suggests the seal works.  If you buy a seal for the o/side, when opening the light up, do not try to bend the lens red tabs 'up'. Depress the black edge of the housing down.  The lens tabs break at the slightest provocation.

[Joesson]

In my experience the n/s is usually worse due to the heat in that corner from the exhaust. So if that light doesn't get it, suggests the seal works.  If you buy a seal for the o/side, when opening the light up, do not try to bend the lens red tabs 'up'. Depress the black edge of the housing down.  The lens tabs break at the slightest provocation.

I wonder how Gaz knows that?

[Gaz mr-s]

I wonder how Gaz knows that?

It's a combination of engine bay heat & atmospheric moisture. I've dealt with 3 FL's & each was worse on the n/s.
If the edge seals are really supposed to work, then those 3 cars didn't.
Underneath the caps mentioned above is foam. I suspect these are vents & the foam is supposed to inhibit moisture getting in.

Although the seals are ridiculously priced they are quite intricate....not a solid tube, it's hollow.

I'll get to trying the 4mm I linked to sometime.

[J88TEO]

I bought the 4mm seals but yet to install them. The originals are all squashed up.

[Gaz mr-s]

I bought the 4mm seals but yet to install them. The originals are all squashed up.

If you haven't dismantled one before, check my post above.

[J88TEO]

Yes I have...and did made that mistake!
Luckily I had a spare set!