Community Forums

B Dubya · 06-23-2016, 05:20 PM

This ridiculous. My tail lights are perfect, but the gasket/seals are shot. Monaco doesn't sell these, but will sell me new tail lights with the seal for $82.50 plus shipping. What? I don't need the whole assembly. I need the flimsy, thin, seal. But Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

I'm sure someone else has gone thru this. Besides making my own out of a silicon based product which might turn out kind of sloppy and/or ugly, what have others done? I know there's a fix for this!

BFlinn181 · 06-23-2016, 06:28 PM

I've built my own lens gasket by using masking tape and Permatex liquid gasket. I used the tape to make a 'wall' about 1/16" high around the edge of the lens. I then squeezed out the Permatex to form a gasket up against the tape, tapering down to the inner edge of the lens. Let is cure overnight, remove the tape, and gently screw into place.

B Dubya · 06-23-2016, 07:41 PM

^^^That's my last resort, but a good idea. I was hoping someone could suggest where I could buy malleable trim and form it. I'll bet that doesn't happen.

Ray,IN · 06-23-2016, 09:31 PM

Any reputable auto supply store sells paper gasket sheet material. I make a print of the lens on the gasket material, and cut it out with sissors. The inside line is made at the same time as the outside by coating the edge of the lens with food coloring, then pressing the lens solidly on the sheet gasket material. Allow it to dry, the cut outside the lines.
Real good project for a rainy day.

B Dubya · 06-23-2016, 10:15 PM

Thanx Ray, but you say paper? I've been working on vehicles for 40+ years, and I'm ashamed to say I have no idea what ur talking about. A little more info, please.

Dubya

BFlinn181 · 06-23-2016, 11:17 PM

There's all sorts of gasket materials you can use to make gaskets.

Gasket Material at AutoZone.com - Best Gasket Material Products for Cars, Trucks & SUVs

B Dubya · 06-23-2016, 11:21 PM

Thanx Bob. I've bought sheets of rubber at NAPA, so I'l run down there and see what they have. Caveat,,,,,,a razor blade in my hands is a dangerous thing!!

IC2 · 06-24-2016, 06:50 AM

Some of this vintage of several 'premium' line RVs used a '92-'94 or later Ford Econoline taillight. Our now gone Titanium 5th wheel used them - I don't recall the price but they weren't too expensive for the entire light assembly

nomad95 · 06-24-2016, 03:30 PM

you could buy vacuum hose or windshield washer hose at auto parts store. take a razor blade and cut a slit down the length of the hose . slide it over the tail light lens. cut to size . put mating ends at bottom of lens and install lens. maybe put some silicone in the slit. wipe clean . cheap fix. good luck. do both so it looks the same.

B Dubya · 06-24-2016, 03:37 PM

^^^^^ Not a bad idea. They're both bad, so I gotta do both. Right now I'm looking at different 'U' shaped trim on the net. This stuff comes in an amazing array of sizes and thicknesses. I haven't pulled the light yet, but once I determine the thickness of the fiberglass cap, this might be the way to go.

Ray,IN · 06-25-2016, 07:21 AM

As aside to new gaskets that seal is my experience. The clearnace lights on our 5er were the source of a water leak that rotted a wall.
I had resealed the roof, around windows, and around clearance light to no avail; still had a water leak.
I removed a clearance light lens, thinking I would completely remove the light base for a better look for a leak. Then I noticed a water mark in the light base directly in line with the hole for the wiring.
Result_ the lens had been filling with water up to the wiring hole. Water was then running along the wiring, into the wall.
My solution was to drill a 1/8" hole in the bottom of each lens, preventing water retention. It worked very well, NO MORE WATER LEAKS!
That's why I used paper-type gasket material, it still cushions the lens-to-base connection.