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I hate it when I do something stupid.

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by cutter44, May 30, 2015.

  1. cutter44

    cutter44 Member

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    It was home project day today, so I took a trip to Home Depot to pick up some deck planks. The good news is that they did fit in the car. The bad news is that while putting one into the car I misjudged my swing distance and smacked the left taillight. Damn. now there's a nice spider-type crack in the light. Frankly, as long as it doesn't leak, I can live with the imperfection. Any suggestion on how to keep it from letting in water or to keep it from getting bigger and bigger? Can I smear some Superglue over the crack or something? Other thoughts? Pic below. Thanks.
     

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    #1 cutter44, May 30, 2015
  2. apt5020

    apt5020 Senior Member

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    It's not bad. Get some clear silicone waterproof sealant.
     
    #2 apt5020, May 30, 2015
  3. cutter44

    cutter44 Member

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    Thanks for the quick reply. So something like this Loctite stuff below? Is there any trick to applying it or just use a small paintbrush or Q-tip right over the cracks?

    [​IMG]
     
    #3 cutter44, May 30, 2015
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    #4 ChapmanF, May 30, 2015
  5. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Maybe even cheaper to find a used tail light, thats the way I would go.
     
    #5 orenji, May 31, 2015
  6. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    Just buy a new one otherwise you will be looking at it each time you get in your car.
     
    #6 Okinawa, May 31, 2015
  7. cutter44

    cutter44 Member

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    Oh, I'm sure I'll end up getting a new one...eventually. Frankly, I figured they'd be a lot more expensive. I've seen a couple of used ones for about $70-$75. But in the meantime, I want to make sure water doesn't get in there and mess with the electronics. I just bought some of that Loctite stuff and put it on there to cover me for a while.
     
    #7 cutter44, May 31, 2015
  8. djdawn

    djdawn Active Member

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    I would be upset with myself if it were my car, but the crack is too small for me to justify spending $80 for a correct fix on it. Silicone has a cloudy texture about it, maybe a clear epoxy so it blends in? That $5 fix would be decent enough for me.
     
    #8 djdawn, Jun 2, 2015
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Would super glue draw into the cracks.

    Still, I'm thinking no matter what glue you use, you're still going to see that star pattern, it's not going to disappear. I just wish I was in the States, up here the cost of that part would likely be double.
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Jun 2, 2015
  10. cutter44

    cutter44 Member

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    Yep, the silicone is a little cloudy, but as long as it keeps the water out, I can live with it for a while.
     
    #10 cutter44, Jun 3, 2015
  11. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I suppose if it were up to me, I would compare the price of the part to the value of my time trying to cook up some other fix ... and then ideally I'd do one or the other ... either order the part and just put it in when it arrives, or fix it with glop and let it be. Glopping it first and then replacing it anyway would mean I was spending both the money and the extra time, instead of comparing the two....

    -Chap
     
    #11 ChapmanF, Jun 3, 2015
  12. cutter44

    cutter44 Member

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    Well, it cost me less than 5 minutes of my time and about $5.00 for the silicone sealant that I can probably use elsewhere around the house to "fix" it, albeit temporarily. If it leaks or if I get tired of looking at it or if it get's progressively worse, then I'll likely replace it. :)
     
    #12 cutter44, Jun 3, 2015
    Mo G likes this.
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