Taillight Sealing Problems

[l33tmonkeyman]

hey, i am having troubles with water coming in from around where the taillights come into the trunk. I have tried resealing them a couple times with a couple different sealants. Each time it continues to leak. If anyone has any ideas for a sealant that they know works, the help would be appreciated. I really wanna get it sealed up before it starts to snow.
Ryan

[420sx]

i soooo feel your pain. but i think u just like me keep doing a ghetto riged job on sealing. i have to redo mine - it still leaks. fuck..

[rainier]

same here. thats the only reason why i cant have my subs in right now.

[SimpleSexy180]

I HAD THE SAME prob, but i got a new weather strip from a junkyard and it doesnt leak anymore

[amolao]

My friends, you all need to go to your local auto parts and buy a roll of buthyl, is the only thing you can use on taillights, sealants will not work, trust me on that, I learn from experience....the gap is too wide to use regular sealants......

[l33tmonkeyman]

thanks, ima have to try that. I didnt know soo many people could relate to me, hehe.

[l33tmonkeyman]

does buthyl come in a bead-type? what i used last time is a windshield sealant that came in a black quarter inch bead. I couldnt find anything called buthyl.

[projectRDM]

The dealer sells it for less than $10. Order tailight sealant.

[pr240sx]

Or urethane window sealer.
4.00 per tube and you can do your engine mounts too!!

[projectRDM]

Originally Posted by pr240sx

Or urethane window sealer.
4.00 per tube and you can do your engine mounts too!!

True, but if you ever need to remove the lights you're kinda boned.

[l33tmonkeyman]

ima give the dealer a call either today or tomorrow and see if i can get some of that stuff.

[projectRDM]

I'll post a part number when I have time if they're not helpful.

[CA20Guy]

Hey, am new to these forums. I have replaced a few 240 taillight seals and have installed the kouki tails on my 240 so I have had some experience in this department. Buthyl seal comes in rolls and is the only stuff that you should use. It is what they seal it with from the factory. What sucks is that over time it rotts out and forms those holes on the top part of your tails. That is most likely where the water is coming in at. In removing the old seal and applying the new seal, you will need a heatgun. You have to get the seal tacky as it is sortof like a tar substance. So heat the area that the seals are with the heatgun to remove the tails,(it's alot of fun getting it off of the tails and frame). When applying the new seal, apply it on the tails where the old seals were and after you have the seal on the tails, apply heat to the seals using the heatgun. Once you've gotten it nice and tacky, mount the tails in place. That should be all you need to do. I just put my 180 tails in and just put a new weather strip on the rear, but mine is still leaking from the weather strip. I think it's the spot weld. Not sure though...seems like this things loves to find some way to leak though.
Anyways, hope this helps some for you guys.

[nissan_driver24]

damn i have this problem too... everytime i wash my car or it rains... i get water in my spare tire area... i tried to seal it soo many time with silicon but it doesn't seem to work... it just keeps on leaking but less now... i got my friend to spray into water with the hose at the tail lights and i found one of the leaks... then i tired to fill it again and it still leaks!!! it' sooo annoying i hate this problem... i had the same exact problem on my first 240 (same exact car)..... do that all leak...??? i need to fix this problem before it starts to rain... or my subs might get wet...

[CA20Guy]

Originally Posted by nissan_driver24

damn i have this problem too... everytime i wash my car or it rains... i get water in my spare tire area... i tried to seal it soo many time with silicon but it doesn't seem to work... it just keeps on leaking but less now... i got my friend to spray into water with the hose at the tail lights and i found one of the leaks... then i tired to fill it again and it still leaks!!! it' sooo annoying i hate this problem... i had the same exact problem on my first 240 (same exact car)..... do that all leak...??? i need to fix this problem before it starts to rain... or my subs might get wet...

Yeah if they are S13 hatch's I can almost guarantee that they leak. The tops of the seals dry rot. That's the main cause. Your hatch could also be leaking through the mounts for your spoiler. Those dang factory foamies are famous for rotting mounts that leak pretty good. Had to seal my spoiler mounts with silicone for the time being until I shave the dang thing. Try replacing the buthyl seal...it's really the only way you can cure the leak.

[l33tmonkeyman]

I got the taillight sealant from the dealer and it comes in a bead form that is only really enough for one-1.5 taillights. They charged me like 18 bucks for it though I wound up gettin two and reinstalled it, now i just have to figure out why it is still leakin. heh

[AllenRPS13]

i got the same problem... do u guys also have the OEM spoiler? i think it also the main problem... damn

[kikoeltravieso]

has anybody fix the leaking problem from the s13 hatch tail lights?

[P_856]

yes u need to get some buthyl, i couldnt find any so i just used to silicone from the hardware store....gets the job done no water in my hatch since

[mrmephistopheles]

It's spelled BUTYL, motherfuckers!

Do what Russ says or go to [autoparts store local to you] and ask them for butyl rubber.

Done and done.

[g6civcx]

Go to any Nissan dealer and ask for butyl seal for taillights. $20 for a pair. Enough to do 3 taillights or 1.5 cars.

Originally Posted by mrmephistopheles

It's spelled BUTYL, motherfuckers!

Do what Russ says or go to [autoparts store local to you] and ask them for butyl rubber.

Done and done.

finally, i was wondering who was going to step in and correct all this mis-information.

repeat after me, "BUTYL RUBBER"

it comes in a snake coil like reel in a small box. part numbers are floating all over the net, search and you will find it or just call the dealer and they can get it.

as for using window sealant, silicon, crazy glue, epoxy, jb weld, TIG welding, or any other method of trying to seal the lights - dont. unless you want to leave them on forever and never be able to remove them.

the butyl seal does not require a heat gun (in most situations) as long as its over 75° F. a bit of pressure and it comes apart, its like bubble gum but its a tar-like substance.

you dont need to over-do it honestly, all you need to do is make sure the perimeter of the light is sealed. you can see the perimeter CLEARLY from the interior of the car, its about 1/4" gap between the light housings which enter the vehicle chassis cutouts for the bulb sockets.

thats ALL you need to do, make sure those cutouts are sealed. the reverse lights use a foam seal by the way, which is what i am converting my entire car over to - no more sticky shit seals.

[g6civcx]

300 hits on this thread holy crap!

Too much hand holding. B6553-89965.

http://zilvia.net/f/archive-faqs/103...taillamps.html

[mewantkouki]

I just used a crapload of permatex gasket sealer. No more water in my trunk

[boske]

Originally Posted by g6civcx

300 hits on this thread holy crap!

Too much hand holding. B6553-89965.

http://zilvia.net/f/archive-faqs/103...taillamps.html

That stuff works great. We plugged a hole in my buddies radiator with that shit and it held for months, true story.