Taillight gaskets not sealing

[cwapface]

After replacing my crappy rotted out gaskets with brand new ones and cleaning the taillights and body, I still get rain leaking in. I tested with the hose and it is coming in between the top middle and top outermost bolts. If I push in on the light I can see the drip come to a stop, which leads me to these questions:

1) How tight should I torque down the 6 nuts holding the taillight on? I made all 6 finger tight and then did maybe 3 or 4 full turns down and it still leaks. The nuts give resistance while turning but it never increases, which is a big red flag for my nervous self. I don't have a 1/4" ratchet so I just take it easy on the 3/8".

2) Is there a sequence I should follow to get it sealed better? Both times now I have done it like a headgasket as evenly as possible but it didn't seem to help.

3) Should I use RTV at all? I'm looking for a permanent fix here, should I put a light coat on both sides or what?

 

[ma71supraturbo]

I had a persistant leak on my tailights and ended up gradually tightening them more and more until I pulled the stud out of the plastic on one tailight and had to get another assembly. I used a little RTV on a new gasket for the new one and it sealed fine

 

[cwapface]

I just tried 3 more times to get it sealed, on the last try i put plenty of RTV on both sides of the gasket and when I turn the hose on it still pours in. My light must be busted, because i tightened the other side a little more and it seals fine now. d'oh!

 

[Adjuster]

Check to see if your housing has seperated at all. (Lamp from the lens.)

Might be the source of your leak.

Caulking is your friend I'd say in this case... Just don't use urethane unless you never want to remove them again.... (Without destroying the lamps.)

 

[suprra_girl]

^ yep had the same problem and just figured that out lol

i masked up both sides, and had bout 5mm gap between the lense & black frame/housing and then smeared a nice amount of urethane and took the masking tape off... looks just like stock just the black frame is a little lower than normal heh
tested it again and no more leaks!!! yayyy

 

[Turbo. Targa. Life.]

Slicone is your friend too

 

[shaeff]

i used a generous helping of RTV on each side of mine, and they sealed p perfectly.

-shaeff

 

[SnowMongoose]

the taillights come with gaskets?

by golly, I assumed it was normal to see daylight around them from the inside.