Sealant around (non leaking) third brake light good idea?

Technical Area Body, Interior & Styling
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  1. My model of MX-5 is: Mk3.75 Venture Sport PRHT
  2. I’m based near:
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Leak prevention on (non-leaking) third brake light

So I’m planning on doing the scuttle seals tomorrow and I reckon I’ve watched enough videos and seen enough instructions to do it. Thanks to the forum and others.

While I’m at it I was wondering if it would be a good idea to put a thin bead of sealant around the base of the third brake light without removing it. I’d appreciate any feedback on doing it this way rather than taking the brake light apart for now.

Thanks

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Leave it alone if it’s not leaking.:+1:

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if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

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I’m curious now. Should I leave the scuttle seals till they’re leaking or should I do them now?

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Do the scuttle seals but leave the brake light. When, and if, the light starts leaking you will need to remove it completely and seal between the unit and the metalwork.

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Do the scuttle seals as it can cause electrical gremlins if the water gets to that small fuse board inside.
I took my scuttle cover off (well lifted it) and luckily the last owner had them sealed👍
Have a couple of spare screw cover caps at the ready, they will surely break especially in this cold weather.:+1:

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Yup Dipstick is spot on.

Sealing on the outside of the brake light or any other item may seal for a while but should be considered temporary in my view. The silicon should be compressed under the item e.g. brake light.

Another technique used by some Kit and Classic Car owners is:

a. Smear a thin film of grease on say the boot lid where the light seals.

b. Apply silicon to the light where it needs to seal.

c. Loosely tighten the light down but not fully.

d. Leave 24 hours or so then fully tighten the light down.

e. In essence this creates a made to fit silicon gasket then the light can easily be removed and replaced if required.

I have used the above technique for such things as cork rocker gaskets and rear light units in order to be able to remove and easily replace. I have not tried on my MX5 yet but will if I need to seal items that need removing to say change bulbs etc.

Roy

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Thank you. I’ve got the parts for just-incase.

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Summer job for the brake light then….maybe. Thank you all for the suggestions.

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My thanks to everybody who replied. I’ve done the scuttle job and now waiting for the sealant to be totally dry and for it to stop raining before I put the wiper arms and screws back in.

The only casualty was the first bung over the windscreen wiper bolt. Not knowing how they come off I flicked it off with a little screwdriver and then heard it bouncing around behind me, never to be found again :joy:

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Yep.
It’s called the “Ping, FukIt” cover

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I bought a replacement from a breakers, fitted it, went for a drive, got back home, parked and it was right there on the ground where I couldn’t miss it :joy:

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