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06-02-2017, 01:44 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Groton, New York
Posts: 150
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Sealing Reverse Lights to Prevent Moisture Entry
We have a 2017 2861DS Forester. Both reverse lights allow moisture / water to enter behind the lens when it rains or when we wash the unit. The red tail lights are fine.
Can anyone provide advice, tips, hints or tricks regarding:
1) How to remove the plastic lens. I'm a bit nervous to just try prying them off if there is an easier / better way to do this.
2) Any recommendations on what to use to seal the lens so they can be removed again, if necessary?
Pictures of our lights are below.
Thank you!
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2017 Forester 2861DS
Chevy Chassis
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06-02-2017, 04:11 PM
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#2
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Citrus County, Fl.
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hernando, Fl
Posts: 2,368
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Just take the screws out on the backup lens and remove it. Let the fixture dry out and run a bead of sealant where it seats and put the lens back in. I did this almost two years ago and no problem with moisture since.
Looking at your picture, your lights are different than my 2016 so it may be different. Sorry.
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2016 Forester 3011DS
2017 Toyota Corolla SE toad
PREVIOUS: 2015 Flagstaff 832IKBS
99 Terry 31G
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06-02-2017, 04:28 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Groton, New York
Posts: 150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GL1800Rider
Just take the screws out on the backup lens and remove it. Let the fixture dry out and run a bead of sealant where it seats and put the lens back in. I did this almost two years ago and no problem with moisture since.
Looking at your picture, your lights are different than my 2016 so it may be different. Sorry.
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Thanks for your input.
Ours does not have any screws holding the lens covers on so I'm thinking the lens covers must pop off somehow. I just don't want to crack them. I think whatever type seal I use has to be the kind that allows me to remove the lens in the future in case I have to replace the LED bulbs.
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2017 Forester 2861DS
Chevy Chassis
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06-04-2017, 04:51 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: N California mountains
Posts: 294
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On my 2017 2861 I also had some water behind the tail light lens, not much and only when we had heavy and prolonged rain.
The lens cover is easily removed, I used a mini pry bar as in the pictures. It snaps back on easily as well. I drilled a hole in the lower part of the base for water to drain, it is 1/8 inch diameter that you can see in last picture, so far I haven't noticed any water so it must be working.
I suppose you could seal the top of the lens with some silicone caulk, the silicone doesn't stick really well so it could be removed if necessary, but so far the drain is what I am doing.
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2017 Forester 2861DS
towing 2015 Jeep Rubicon
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06-04-2017, 05:19 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Groton, New York
Posts: 150
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fobagbob, thank you for your reply. I'll give this a try.
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2017 Forester 2861DS
Chevy Chassis
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06-04-2017, 05:47 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 69
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I used some Loctite 2 in 1 seal and bond around my lights. Seems to work great. I know most people want something blessed for RV use but this stuff comes in a small tube and dries crystal clear and is easy to use. I tried the RV Pro Flex and that stuff was too difficult for me to make clean looking job and was just nasty to work with.
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06-04-2017, 06:43 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Groton, New York
Posts: 150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ronj82
I used some Loctite 2 in 1 seal and bond around my lights. Seems to work great. I know most people want something blessed for RV use but this stuff comes in a small tube and dries crystal clear and is easy to use. I tried the RV Pro Flex and that stuff was too difficult for me to make clean looking job and was just nasty to work with.
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ronj82, thank you for your reply.
Did you remove your lenses and use the sealant on the inside of the lens or did you go around the outside of them with the Loctite 2 in 1? Can you still remove the lenses if you need to change the bulbs?
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2017 Forester 2861DS
Chevy Chassis
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06-04-2017, 07:49 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 69
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I just went around the outside. It's used like a caulk. It should peel off/remove just fine. Use a plastic scraper and some automotive Goo Gone for any residue when you need to remove it.
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06-04-2017, 08:07 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 69
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Also dont be alarmed the clear Loctite 2 in 1 is white until it dries crystal clear.
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06-04-2017, 08:21 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Groton, New York
Posts: 150
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Thank you ronj82.
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2017 Forester 2861DS
Chevy Chassis
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06-04-2017, 08:24 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 69
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You are welcome!
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06-17-2017, 02:37 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Groton, New York
Posts: 150
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Update
So I sealed around the rear lights and did the side clearance lights also. It did rain earlier this week while we were camping and no moisture showed up in the reverse light lenses. We weren't driving in the rain so that will be the ultimate test, but so far, so good!
Thank you for everyone's responses.
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2017 Forester 2861DS
Chevy Chassis
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