Taillight seal fiasco!
06-04-2008, 05:32 PM
#1
Somba master
Thread Starter
Taillight seal fiasco!
Well, I bought those great taillight seals to "cure the dreaded drip".
Since they were on special
Supposed to be an easy install.
Let me tell you something. I followed the instructions TO THE LETTER.
Cleaned up with window cleaner, cut to size, peeled off the paper from the sticky side, and put 'em on. So far so good.
Now the fun REALLY begins. Just TRY to reinsert the taillights properly,
(even after lubricating the pizz outta them). Yeah, then TRY to find the screw hole in the little clip. Uh, huh, can't find it. Pull the light out, reinsert ad nauseum until after sufficient profanity, you finally get the screw to start. Oh, by the way, remember to recheck the little metal clip every time lest you push it back and it's lost forever in the black hole behind the rear fascia. Another little gem of information is that the stickum on the back of the seals doesn't stick so good once you have applied the lube. It will start to come away from the plastic as you repeatedly try to get the screw started. Repeat X4.
Done? Not quite. Look at the mess you've made of the rear fascia. There are smudges and fingerprints all around the taillights where your lubricant covered fingers went.
So what has your $39.99 got you? At least an hour of blue language, a tail that needs to be cleaned, and hopefully, no more "dreaded drip".
This sheite better work exactly as advertised
That is all.
GM
Since they were on special
Supposed to be an easy install.
Let me tell you something. I followed the instructions TO THE LETTER.
Cleaned up with window cleaner, cut to size, peeled off the paper from the sticky side, and put 'em on. So far so good.
Now the fun REALLY begins. Just TRY to reinsert the taillights properly,
(even after lubricating the pizz outta them). Yeah, then TRY to find the screw hole in the little clip. Uh, huh, can't find it. Pull the light out, reinsert ad nauseum until after sufficient profanity, you finally get the screw to start. Oh, by the way, remember to recheck the little metal clip every time lest you push it back and it's lost forever in the black hole behind the rear fascia. Another little gem of information is that the stickum on the back of the seals doesn't stick so good once you have applied the lube. It will start to come away from the plastic as you repeatedly try to get the screw started. Repeat X4.
Done? Not quite. Look at the mess you've made of the rear fascia. There are smudges and fingerprints all around the taillights where your lubricant covered fingers went.
So what has your $39.99 got you? At least an hour of blue language, a tail that needs to be cleaned, and hopefully, no more "dreaded drip".
This sheite better work exactly as advertised
That is all.
GM
06-04-2008, 05:40 PM
#2
Safety Car
Member Since: Jun 2006
Location: Fort Lauderdale FL
Posts: 3,603
Received 87 Likes
on
37 Posts
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Hmmm, got mine from southern auto parts. Took less than 15 minutes for all 4 to install and work great. You have to remember to crack a beer open first.
Last edited by jdurhan; 06-04-2008 at 07:00 PM.
06-04-2008, 05:43 PM
#4
Safety Car
Member Since: Jan 2006
Location: Miami FL
Posts: 4,598
Received 69 Likes
on
45 Posts
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
I thought I heard something when I was in Bowie MD recently, must have been you turning the air blue.
I took my taillights out, drilled a 3/16" hole at the 6 o'clock position just inboard of the edge of the red lens, and have no drips after washing. The extra rinse water goes down the hole and eventually gets to the ground. No additional seals needed.
I took my taillights out, drilled a 3/16" hole at the 6 o'clock position just inboard of the edge of the red lens, and have no drips after washing. The extra rinse water goes down the hole and eventually gets to the ground. No additional seals needed.
06-04-2008, 05:49 PM
#6
Somba master
Thread Starter
06-04-2008, 05:49 PM
#7
Moderator
Member Since: Dec 2002
Location: Lakewood Ranch, FL
Posts: 40,065
Received 3,578 Likes
on
1,619 Posts
Well, I bought those great taillight seals to "cure the dreaded drip".
Since they were on special
Supposed to be an easy install.
Let me tell you something. I followed the instructions TO THE LETTER.
Cleaned up with window cleaner, cut to size, peeled off the paper from the sticky side, and put 'em on. So far so good.
Now the fun REALLY begins. Just TRY to reinsert the taillights properly,
(even after lubricating the pizz outta them). Yeah, then TRY to find the screw hole in the little clip. Uh, huh, can't find it. Pull the light out, reinsert ad nauseum until after sufficient profanity, you finally get the screw to start. Oh, by the way, remember to recheck the little metal clip every time lest you push it back and it's lost forever in the black hole behind the rear fascia. Another little gem of information is that the stickum on the back of the seals doesn't stick so good once you have applied the lube. It will start to come away from the plastic as you repeatedly try to get the screw started. Repeat X4.
Done? Not quite. Look at the mess you've made of the rear fascia. There are smudges and fingerprints all around the taillights where your lubricant covered fingers went.
So what has your $39.99 got you? At least an hour of blue language, a tail that needs to be cleaned, and hopefully, no more "dreaded drip".
This sheite better work exactly as advertised
That is all.
GM
Since they were on special
Supposed to be an easy install.
Let me tell you something. I followed the instructions TO THE LETTER.
Cleaned up with window cleaner, cut to size, peeled off the paper from the sticky side, and put 'em on. So far so good.
Now the fun REALLY begins. Just TRY to reinsert the taillights properly,
(even after lubricating the pizz outta them). Yeah, then TRY to find the screw hole in the little clip. Uh, huh, can't find it. Pull the light out, reinsert ad nauseum until after sufficient profanity, you finally get the screw to start. Oh, by the way, remember to recheck the little metal clip every time lest you push it back and it's lost forever in the black hole behind the rear fascia. Another little gem of information is that the stickum on the back of the seals doesn't stick so good once you have applied the lube. It will start to come away from the plastic as you repeatedly try to get the screw started. Repeat X4.
Done? Not quite. Look at the mess you've made of the rear fascia. There are smudges and fingerprints all around the taillights where your lubricant covered fingers went.
So what has your $39.99 got you? At least an hour of blue language, a tail that needs to be cleaned, and hopefully, no more "dreaded drip".
This sheite better work exactly as advertised
That is all.
GM
06-04-2008, 05:50 PM
#8
Somba master
Thread Starter
06-04-2008, 05:50 PM
#9
Drifting
Member Since: Dec 2004
Location: H.V. PA
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
06-04-2008, 05:51 PM
#10
Team Owner
06-04-2008, 05:54 PM
#11
Safety Car
LOL...I spent nothing to do mine (buddy gave me the stripping for free that he got from Lowes)......They fit, but guess what? MORE dirt collected in the tailight recesses cause there was no free flow ventilation there.. Dealt with that for awhile and ripped them out...I blow dry now so Drip is a non-issue...Car stays cleaner too...
06-04-2008, 05:58 PM
#12
Team Owner
I don't really want to add to your misery, but what kind of Rube Goldberg seals did you get for $39.95? I think I paid like $20 from Southern, and it could not have been more than 15 minutes to put them in. Didn't cut them at all. Just overlapped them at the top under the attachment flange, and it made them nice and tight.
Now are they really necessary is a whole different story. I got them back when I first got the Vette, and thought it was mandatory you had to get all that stuff.
Now I couldn't swear to whether they do anything meaningful or not. I think I just read one too many of those "got mine and love 'em" threads.
Now are they really necessary is a whole different story. I got them back when I first got the Vette, and thought it was mandatory you had to get all that stuff.
Now I couldn't swear to whether they do anything meaningful or not. I think I just read one too many of those "got mine and love 'em" threads.
Last edited by Gordon Shumway; 06-04-2008 at 06:03 PM.
06-04-2008, 06:01 PM
#13
Safety Car
Check the bulb sockets from time to time. The blower may be forcing water into them and causing rust and eventual failure. A shot of dialectric silicone into the sockets twice a year could ward off future problems.
06-04-2008, 06:03 PM
#16
Safety Car
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: Pleasanton California
Posts: 3,786
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I never really saw this as an issue. When I wash my car, an absorbant cloth sucks most of the water out when touching it to the gap between lens and body panel. What's left dries quickly without a drip.
Is this a "problem" that is invented to sell a solution?
Is this a "problem" that is invented to sell a solution?
06-04-2008, 06:03 PM
#17
Drifting
06-04-2008, 06:03 PM
#18
Somba master
Thread Starter
I don't really want to add to your misery, but what kind of Rube Goldberg seals did you get for $39.95? I think I paid like $20 from Southern, and it could not have been more than 15 minutes to put them in. Didn't cut them at all. Just overlapped them at the top under the attachment flange, and it made them nice and tight.
Now are they really necessary is a whole different story. I got them back when I first got the Vette, and thought it was mandatory you had to get all that stuff. Now I couldn't swear to whether they do anything meaningful or not.
Now are they really necessary is a whole different story. I got them back when I first got the Vette, and thought it was mandatory you had to get all that stuff.
Now I couldn't swear to whether they do anything meaningful or not.GM
06-04-2008, 06:13 PM
#19
Retired & lovin' it!
Seems to me that those tail lamp seals are a solution for a problem that doesn't exist. I pull out my shop vac, reverse the nozzle & use it to blow out any residual moisture from around the tail lamps as well as the sideview mirrors & along the trunk deck lip ('vert)....wherever water collects. Quick & easy! 
06-04-2008, 06:17 PM
#20
Safety Car
