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I've got condensation in my side markers

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Old Nov 24, 2003 | 06:39 PM
  #1  
limsandy's Avatar
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I've got condensation in my side markers

So, how do I fix it? Silicon right? Where can I buy some, and how do I apply it? Search is down.


~limsandy
Old Nov 24, 2003 | 06:45 PM
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I found a free flowing type of silicone (lower viscosity) that I thought was particularly good for this application. At Autozone smallish white tube by the gasket permatex type stuff
Old Nov 24, 2003 | 06:48 PM
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Oh, and where the lens meets the housing just 2 light applications seems to do it. The lower vis stuff flowed into the gap just right.
Old Nov 24, 2003 | 06:56 PM
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scopium
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dude just forget bout it ... no matter what u do .. its gonna come back.. it'll go away by it self....
i left my alone and it went away
Old Nov 24, 2003 | 06:58 PM
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mine went away too as soon as some sun hit it
Old Nov 24, 2003 | 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by scopium
dude just forget bout it ... no matter what u do .. its gonna come back.. it'll go away by it self....
i left my alone and it went away
It goes away until I wash my car or drive it in the rain. It only affects 1 light though.
Old Nov 24, 2003 | 07:16 PM
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scopium
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and i'm pretty sure its your drivers side...
mine does that to all the time.....
just leave it alone
Old Nov 24, 2003 | 07:39 PM
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To get rid of the condensation I think you have to pop them in the oven at a very low heat for a really short period of time. I remember reading that if you don't do this, it will condense again even after applying silicone.

Then apply a bead of silicone around the edge of it. I did the silicone when I 1st got my clears, and haven't had any problems yet...
Old Nov 25, 2003 | 05:02 AM
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Originally Posted by scopium
and i'm pretty sure its your drivers side...
mine does that to all the time.....
just leave it alone
Mine is the right rear.
Old Nov 25, 2003 | 07:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Triple8Sol
To get rid of the condensation I think you have to pop them in the oven at a very low heat for a really short period of time. I remember reading that if you don't do this, it will condense again even after applying silicone.

Then apply a bead of silicone around the edge of it. I did the silicone when I 1st got my clears, and haven't had any problems yet...
I did the samething also and haven't had a problem yet.
Old Nov 25, 2003 | 07:23 AM
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BiggD23
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Originally Posted by scopium
dude just forget bout it ... no matter what u do .. its gonna come back.. it'll go away by it self....
i left my alone and it went away
No, do it right the first time and you won't ever have this problem. My clears have been on for about 8 months without even a bead of condensation in one of them. You need to carefully seal all the edges with silicone before installing. One application won't do it as there are small bubbles that form in the silicone while drying. But after 2-3 applications you should have a good seal.
Old Nov 25, 2003 | 07:45 AM
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i ordered my sidemarkers from custommaxima... and i haven't had a problem with condensation whatsoever.... never had to seal or anything...
Old Nov 25, 2003 | 08:29 AM
  #13  
BiggD23
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Originally Posted by skandalouz
i ordered my sidemarkers from custommaxima... and i haven't had a problem with condensation whatsoever.... never had to seal or anything...
No offense to skandalouz, this comment is meant in a general sense and not directed straight at him. But this is exactly the reason that people get condensation in their corners. I don't understand it...people are willing to pay $50+ for clear corners but then they're either too cheap or too lazy to spend the $2 and maybe 1/2 hour total that it would take to get a little tube of clear silicone and seal them up right before installing them. Then they seem surprised when they get condensation.
Old Nov 25, 2003 | 08:33 AM
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Originally Posted by BiggD23
No offense to skandalouz, this comment is meant in a general sense and not directed straight at him. But this is exactly the reason that people get condensation in their corners. I don't understand it...people are willing to pay $50+ for clear corners but then they're either too cheap or too lazy to spend the $2 and maybe 1/2 hour total that it would take to get a little tube of clear silicone and seal them up right before installing them. Then they seem surprised when they get condensation.
No offense taken here. I did not put any clear silicone on my clear sides. I only get condensation in one of them. I did not expect any at all because when I buy a new product, I expect it to be up to the task. I am going to buy some new rears and do the dam* silicone thing this time.
Old Nov 25, 2003 | 08:35 AM
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no offense taken.. when i bought my sidemarkers i just figured that i would put them on... and if i ever got any condensation..THEN i would get that dessicant? and silicone sealant to go through the whole sealing procedure... but it's been 11 months so far... with plenty of carwashes and rain.... and no problems whatsoever....
Old Nov 25, 2003 | 12:08 PM
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where would you pick up this low viscosity silicone?
local hardware/autoparts store??
thanks
-frank
Old Nov 25, 2003 | 12:26 PM
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BiggD23
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Originally Posted by frankieduxAE
where would you pick up this low viscosity silicone?
local hardware/autoparts store??
thanks
-frank
I got it at Autozone...it was $2 for a small tube. It is called "RTV clear silicone". I'm sure you could also find it at Pep Boys, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc.
Old Nov 25, 2003 | 03:14 PM
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I let mine go and wait for the sun to bake them.
Old Nov 25, 2003 | 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by BLaZin 2k MaX
I let mine go and wait for the sun to bake them.

Does it come back after you "bake" them? I mean even when you "bake" them, nothing metls right? So, I would think that the condensation would come back if you "bake" them in the sun.


~limsandy
Old Nov 26, 2003 | 07:37 AM
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BiggD23
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Originally Posted by limsandy
Does it come back after you "bake" them? I mean even when you "bake" them, nothing metls right? So, I would think that the condensation would come back if you "bake" them in the sun.


~limsandy

Yes, "baking" them in the sun (or in the oven or using silica gels) is only to get rid of whatever condensation is in there now. It won't prevent it from happening again.
Old Nov 26, 2003 | 08:10 AM
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just dry-out the existing condensation with a hair dryer. it takes 10 minutes. hold the housings with the holes facing the ground, so the water can drain out of the housing. then buy some clear rtv silicone. using it, make a thin seal around the edges of housing. then you will be fine.
Old Nov 26, 2003 | 08:20 AM
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i hate condensation..... i have it on my driver side too...... sigh
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