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Best Way to Seal Turning Signal Bulbs

Old Sep 8, 2011
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Jelly's Ford's Avatar
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Best Way to Seal Turning Signal Bulbs

I have recently purchased a set of black aftermarket headlight assemblies and corners off of ebay. Now after a ton of rain over the past couple of days due to the remnants of tropical storm Lee, I have some considerable condensation on the inside of the clear plastic piece of the headlight assembly. Today I took the lights off and put some water in them to check the seals where the two pieces meet. That was all good with zero water seepage. But the turning signal bulb holder is slightly, very slightly loose in its place in the headlight assembly. I believe this is my culprit of where the moisture is seeping in. In order to get the water out, I put alcohol in the assemblies and set them in front of a fan to dry out overnight.

Thus what are my options to make the seal between the headlight assembly and the holder for the turning signal bulb better? Would teflon tape on the rubber O-ring and on the assembly help? Or would I be better off using some type of water proof sealant to get a better seal there?

Even my stockers did this, so I think its just a Ford thing. But usually the stockers would dry out in less than a day of no rain. I don't want the condensation to mess up my HID bulbs!
 

Last edited by Jelly's Ford; Sep 8, 2011 at 09:29 PM.
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Old Sep 8, 2011
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yeah man my after market black ones off ebay do this too lol wierd...
 
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Old Sep 8, 2011
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Originally Posted by rangerrunner11
yeah man my after market black ones off ebay do this too lol wierd...
Yeah I think it's just the way they are made. Not exactly stock, but close enough for them I guess. The condensation makes the pretty blackness look like crap...
 
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Old Sep 8, 2011
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I've seen foam gaskets before that go around the bulb holder in order to seal the bulb. Maybe a parts store has them?
 
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Old Sep 8, 2011
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^ok man, thanks. I'll look into that in the AM.

I really think that's what the problem is, b/c the turning light bulb holder has never been taken out since I got the truck. When I did remove it to put the bulbs into the new housings, it made a cracking sound when coming out. So that makes me think that all that heat from the lights caused that foam/rubber gasket to become glue and make a water tight seal, and when I twisted the bulb holder to get it out, I broke that "seal".
 
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Old Sep 9, 2011
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Well this morning I put an o-ring between the assembly and on top of the existing rubber seal deal on the bulb holder. Then I placed the bulb holder in the assembly and wrapped the o-ring and such in Teflon tape. I hope this works!
 
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Old Sep 9, 2011
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Pick up some silicone RTV. you might be saying "well what if i want to get them out again"
Man up and break the seal or just put a bit of Gasoline on there, silicone dissolves in it.
but that'll seal 'er up good.
 
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Old Sep 9, 2011
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run a thick bead of silicone around the opening and let it dry before re-assembly.
 
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Old Sep 9, 2011
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Alright thanks fellas. If the o-ring and Teflon tape doesn't work, the silicone will be going on.
 
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