My rear brake light fall off the rear window today in my 03 TL VRX. It was pretty hot today in Sydney but :roflwtf:? The car was parked the whole time and the light only fell when I started the engine. I do have a black vrx with all black leather so it does get hot, but hot enough to melt a plastic adhesive? This is stock rear brake light (LED).

Anyone had similar experiences?

Yeah, i have heard the have a tendency to fall off.

I took a KL GTV-i AWD for a drive the other day, very hot day too, and it fell off, wasn't impressed.

Sure it wont be to hard to fix.

Yeah I suppose its not hard to fix. I just have to workout a way to get rid of two patches of glue left on my rear window! Anyone have any idea how to do that, i'm looking at them now and they seem to have gone back to being useful again i.e. rock solid.

Hey mate! Exact same thing happened to me, just after christmas in the hot spell, in my 04 TW VRX, what I have noticed is that it seems to be the latter model Magnas TL-W all seem to be doing it. Have seen a handful since mine happened just while driving around. Was gonna DIY fix it, but was chatting to my mechanic and i casually brought it up. And he warned me severly. He once re-attached one on a merc with some contact adhesive, sent it back to the customer, and the next day the customer called back claiming his rear window shattered. Turns out, that regular contact glues expand in hear at a different rate to the window (same concept as some paints, but diff story for diff time) and can shatter the whole window. So if you wanna get it re-attached, take it to an automotive glass specialist, will cost very little, and they will clean up the surface and re glue the light. Hope this helps you. HEED THE WARNING THOUGH!

TJ II happened to me too. Haven't fixed it yet, but re-appyling some glue should to the trick like kwik grip.

I'm not bothering with mine, getting a spoiler put on shortly.

Happened to my sisters TJ S1.5 as well, haven't been able to fix it thus far.

HEED THE WARNING THOUGH!

Wow, thanks for that. Was just gona go DIY tomorrow as well. How much did it cost to get it done professionally? I was hoping for a permanent fix, so it will never fall off again. Would your warning still appy if I apply my new glue onto the existing glue patches without touching the window? If the new glue does expand it will not crack the window as it doesn't touch the window...(that's my theory anyways).

Mine fell off too... 00 TH, let me know if you find something to hold it on :P I taped a 30cm led strip up there for now :P

Happened to me as well, but it's so much easier to fix when you still have warranty. :cool:

And me - 09/04 TL VRX AWD. Seems to be a real issue with TL/TW in particular. I used Tarzans Grip (the same as Kwik Grip). I tried regluing the two dimpled rectangular blocks (off the light fitting that slide and click into the fitting itself) to the remaining pimpled patchs on the window. I thought the pimpled and dimpled blocks would ensure correct alignment but you still have to be very careful and obviously use only a very thin coating to ensure the surfaces engage. It fell off again while attempting to slide the light fitting on and am yet to try again.

I bought my TJ without one...

same here i tried glue lasted 4 months fell off agian i got skiaflex been on a year now still good

Two thing I know that worked are sikaflex and loctite 406 (IIRC). remove the little tab/s, and glue that sucker in the right spot, this must be done right or you get light leakage which lights up your rear screen at night.
Let it dry 24hours for sikaflex and 1/2 hour for loctite. Refit and you're done.

Same thing happened in my KH.

I used a very sharp razor to remove the remaining glue left on the window - careful not to scratch the black coat finish on the window. I gave it a final clean with some very fine wet/dry sandpaper.

I then used a very rough sandpaper on the plastic tabs - which would help the glue hold to the plastic. I also used a dremel to drill out any of the dimples that were still clogged with old glue.

When applying the tabs, they should sit about half a centimeter from the edge of the roof lining. In terms of the width, if you look at the actual light fitting, u will notice two little arrows that indicate where u would put a screw driver to remove the light. Use these to help you work out the width.

You could always use masking tape on ur window before applying the pieces as markers to help keep the tabs aligned when you glue them.

The glue I use is Selleys Araldite super strength - which is meant to be heat resistant.

Even though this is a quick set glue, leave it over night to fully cure before attempting to put ur light back on - last thing you want to do is have to do this all over again.

happened to me mate. I just removed mine. I tried to stick it back on but it just kept on falling off. So I just took it off and tucked the cord up in the roof.

To easy.

There was a thread about this a few months ago. Someone said to use Selleys Araldite Ultra Clear. Well, after trying several different types of adhesive without much success I bought the Ultra Clear. Seems to have done the job. I prepped mine similar to what onkytonk said. that was a couple of monthst ago and its still hanging on.
With the cost of the Ultra Clear I expect it to work. I think it was about $8 for 8ml which works out to around $1000/litre. and we complain about fuel prices?

bollie7

Just used Loctite Automotive Contact Adhesive that was laying around to glue the light on top of the leftover glue patch that was on the window. Will post back if it falls off again during the next week or so. I think the forecast is for a few hot days at least...

happened to me mate. I just removed mine. I tried to stick it back on but it just kept on falling off. So I just took it off and tucked the cord up in the roof.

To easy.
Keep note this is illegal in a car fitted with a high mount from factory.

I've tried all these in my KJ and the bastard heeps falling off in those extreme heat days.

I give up really.

Has anyone tried the 2 part glue that is used to hold the inside mirror onto the glass

Yeah mate, i have, remember we bought it at your place? its the plastic that seems to be the problem. sticking to it.

Oh wow, something like this isn't doing much for the reputation of Magnas.

There was a thread about this a few months ago. Someone said to use Selleys Araldite Ultra Clear. Well, after trying several different types of adhesive without much success I bought the Ultra Clear. Seems to have done the job. I prepped mine similar to what onkytonk said. that was a couple of monthst ago and its still hanging on.
With the cost of the Ultra Clear I expect it to work. I think it was about $8 for 8ml which works out to around $1000/litre. and we complain about fuel prices?

bollie7

I believe it was me that recommended the Araldite in that previous thread - as I mentioned earlier - it is meant to be heat resistant.

Note: I should mention that not all Araldite is heat resistant. If anyone is interested: http://www.selleys.com.au/Household-Adhesives/default.aspx


Has anyone tried the 2 part glue that is used to hold the inside mirror onto the glass

This adhesive sticks metal to glass - it has a hard time with the plastic. Once again, the Araldite becomes a plastic itself once it cures and bonds to the plastic tabs very well.

lol My wife has a Lancer, with the interior rear vision mirror glued to the windscreen - I'm just waiting for that to fall off! lol

This too happened to me last week. I have just bought some Selleys 401 silicone which is rated up to 205 degrees celcius. I will post when it is done to let you know how it is.

I used the Black Silicon Adhesive Sealant (Item 81158) by Permatex. Was recommended this instead of the sikaflex. Cost me $9 from Auto-One. Need to removed the old glue (recommend some form of adhesive remover - I used what I got from a hospital that was for removing bandage adhesive). Scrap bits slowly (paint scraper cover with thin cloth to avoid scratching windscreen) and then when ready apply adhesive to the plastic mounting bit. Slam against windscreen and make some form of support to hold it against the windscreen.

I use sticks and make sure car is out of the sun for first 24 hrs.

Yeah, unfortunately, constant problem with 3rd Gen. Mine fell off twice and the wife's car fell off once already. Bloody WA weather!

I have a TW Magna VRX AWD and had the same problem. It was under warranty and has had 5 attempts by 2 different dealers to repair. They even called windsreen specialists to have a go but failed.

Eventually I hit the 130k and my warranty ran out but Mitsu ended up replacing the entire rear windscreen under warranty. The mounts come fitted onto the windscreen from the factory so now all is good.

Keep note this is illegal in a car fitted with a high mount from factory.

Go figure. Over the pits 3 times for blue slips and not once picked up for it.

I even told the first guy about it and he said and I quote
' I can't defect something thats not there. If it was there and it wasnt working then it would be a different matter'

Go figure. Over the pits 3 times for blue slips and not once picked up for it.

I even told the first guy about it and he said and I quote
' I can't defect something thats not there. If it was there and it wasnt working then it would be a different matter'

Yeah I think the old tuck and forget may be the best approach after all the great non success stories and stuffiing around posted earlier.

i'll just dig up this old thread.... mine fell off about a week after i got my car (TJ) withiut even thinking bout it just got cleaned off the old glue resin ver carefully with a razor and grabbed some super glue and stuck the f**er back yp.... still hasnt fallen down so its all good......

I bought the KL in December and it was dangling on the wires when I got there to inspect it (Ford Dealer). They just unplugged it before the test drive. They glued it in before I left but it fell off just up the road. I took the pads out off the light, glued with super glue too, four months later all is good.

Forgot to post this, but a few months ago, i contacted Selleys about what to use.

Believe it or not, they Suggested sellys roof and gutter silicone.
Reason being is that it has a 25% movement tolarance and also can resist temps upto 150 deg C.

Been months and had some very hot days in there where the car has been in the sun all day then driven and the light is still holding on there strong.

http://www.selleys.com.au/Selleys-Roof-Gutter-Silicone/default.aspx