OK, I'll settle this. Addressing the root cause is always the best course of action. Therefore, after drying, get the new gaskets or use silicone to prevent moisture intrusion from recurring.

 

What are you talking about? I didn't imply anything about anyone.
The method one chooses to fix something, does imply their character type. That was all I was stating, nothing derogatory either way.

 

Ok, so I found some used taillights at the junk yard for a good price (100 bucks for both) to replace the ones I cracked.....


The driver side is in excellent condition, but the passenger side was full of nasty ice and crap. I think it was mold. Anyway, I got all the ice and mold crap out, but there is still a soap scum looking film in many spots of the lens and even on the chrome reflectors.

My question- what's the strongest cleaner/solvent I can put in the taillight without damaging the plastic of chrome reflector surface?

 

i think some people have mentioned using vinegar or distilled water.

 

I still get condensation on my taillight, even after Mazda "fixed" them by drilling holes in them.

 

I cleaned off the gasket and sealed the whole thing with black silicone sealant. I topped it off by surrounding the edges with Frost King black foam tape. This thing can go through tsunami and come out dry. Sure beats buying a new gasket or drilling holes. Can you spray water directly at your taillights with holes in it and not have any moisture in it? I can.

 

Drilling holes in the lights gives moisture a way in, which is exactly what you are trying to stop.

Just plain stupid.

The housings are supposed to be sealed. They fog because Mazda didn't allow adequate clearance between the lights and the trunk lid, which bangs into the lamp and causes the seal to crack. It is compounded on the right side of the vehicle because of the key-hole seal.
Just reseal it and you are done.

Cyanoacrylate is particularly good for this because it wicks into the seal and then closes it.

 

If you want a good clean and clear debate I hear the premix thread is a good place to start

 

You've seen water get in with holes drilled on the bottom of the housing?
Not saying its impossible... guess I've been lucky the past few years.

Though I did laugh when I looked at the taillights on my Mazda3 and each one had a single hole drilled in the center of each lens.
Of course I laughed thinking about this thread, but I don't agree with a hole in the lens itself.
Oh well... I can tell more people want to beat a dead horse on this topic...

 

HA... no thanks!
I know better than to step foot in that thread.

 

Drilled? No. I don't have any personal contact with anyone foolish enough to try drilling holes in their taillights in order to relieve the effect of a hole in their taillight.
I have seen water get into the taillights through holes in the bottom cased by the reason that Mazda has a TSB on the subject (though they subsequently rescinded the condensation-specific TSB [09-007/08] with a new TSB, calling the phenomenon "normal", which I'm sure is a less expensive solution for Mazda).

EDIT: BTW - Put one of those "DO NOT EAT" silica packets in there for one sunny afternoon and it'll fix it, too.

 

It's possible that the condensation is occuring because the air was relatively moist when you sealed the lamp. Remember warm air can hold more moisture than cold air. So if you sealed the lamp when the air was warm and moist, when the lamp gets cold the moisture in the air inside will condense because cold air cant hold as much moisture as warm air.

I've heard people recommending removing the bulbs and leaving the car running for a while with the air conditioning running to dry out the air.

 

Ok, I'll try the vinegar. Maybe I can recycle what I use as salad dressing...

What about CLR?

 

Not sure if CLR will have an ill-effect on the reflective coating and plastics. I used a gallon of distilled water for both headlights and it got the job done well.

 

how'd you dry them out after the rinse? i tried mine yesterday and couldnt get them all the way dry before i had to reinstall

 

I shook the headlight to get most of the standing water out, then tried a shop vac. One tube sucking through one hole and another tube blowing through another hole (no homo). I got tired of the noise after an hour and it hardly made a difference.

I ended up letting the taillights bake in the sun, which was more effective.

 

hmm. it's rainy up here...

i shook them out and baked on low in the oven for awhile but that didnt do it either.. maybe i have to wait for a sunny day to fix em.

 

this is long overdue, but OP is a jackass

 

i did. and i tried those steps. i got *most* of the water out but the last bit wouldn't dry out. i tried towels, blow dryer, oven, etc to no avail.

i think i'll try that silica idea or a sunny day next..

 

Exactly Jeff. Or the revised thicker Mazda gaskets, which really do work well.

Cap'n, we have a dilithium chamber containment leak!"

 

So having used the new Mazda gaskets and still getting water in the housings, I went and bought weather stripping from Home Depot for $5. The rain no longer gets in. Works like a charm. And for the naysayers, I did install the new OEM gaskets correctly, and no they didn't work. Not sure what was wrong with them. I'm not saying they don't work for everyone, but I *am* saying that the weather stripping way is probably the way to go.

I'm pissed I spent $90 on the Mazda gaskets.

 

yes.

no need to be a dick.

 

Sorry to hear that. I got mine under warranty and no further moisture instrusion and I even had to remove the lights/gaskets once to replace my bumper and they went back on aok and are still dry. And we've been as wet here as you out there lately. The gaskets are significantly thicker than the former ones, so hopefully they gave you the new rather than old. But common weatherstipping or silicone is still better than drilling holes!

 

thanks that's a lot more helpful. i could only do short min sessions in the oven and i probs only help the blow dryer on it for 5-10 min, not 10-15 so i can try that again.

thanks!

 

Here's what the taillight looks like- and the film is from mold (I assume).

http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/...-taillight.jpg