Front Sidelight/indicator Condensing

February 8, 2010

I have suffered the most minute of small cracks on my passenger side front sidelight/Indicator lens.

I thought they were replaceable lenses, but I have been told they are sealed units! :angry:

Toyota want about £60.00 for a new unit, and i have rung every scrappy i know, and even registered online with the scrapyards to find one but to no avail.

Do you thinik its repairable?

I was tinking if I removed it, I could put some sealant on it, and then get a hair dryer to blow warm air inside from the lamp fitting area it would dry out the condensation and save me loads!

What do you reckon?

February 9, 2010

Well its worth a try but TBH it is rarely successful.

Don't worry about it and watch eBay but keep in mind there is an early and a late version of the 4.2 headlights.

February 9, 2010

I think it's worth a shot with the sealant. You should however use some type of glue that will fuse the plastic itself, rather than using a sealant that will work as a thin film that covers the crack. Try asking some specialist glue seller :) I don't know how easy this will be, but it sure will be cheaper than a new indicator.

btw anchorman... looks like gadgetsa has a rav4.1, not 4.2

To defog the lamp, a hair dryer will take ages. Try removing it from the bumber (which you probably will have to do to be able to fix it), remove the bulb socket, and stick it into the oven at 50-70 degrees C (but not more than 100!), and leave it there for a couple of hours. This is how I always dry my mobile phones when they have become wet. Works perfectly every time!

February 9, 2010

I think it's worth a shot with the sealant. You should however use some type of glue that will fuse the plastic itself, rather than using a sealant that will work as a thin film that covers the crack. Try asking some specialist glue seller :) I don't know how easy this will be, but it sure will be cheaper than a new indicator.
btw anchorman... looks like gadgetsa has a rav4.1, not 4.2
To defog the lamp, a hair dryer will take ages. Try removing it from the bumber (which you probably will have to do to be able to fix it), remove the bulb socket, and stick it into the oven at 50-70 degrees C (but not more than 100!), and leave it there for a couple of hours. This is how I always dry my mobile phones when they have become wet. Works perfectly every time!

Thanks both, yes you're right... it is a 4.1 Rav - but the facelift model. Original 4.1 had the sidelights in the main headlamp and just an indicator in the bumper.

I'm loving the idea of putting the lamp in the oven for a couple of hours - hadn't thought of that - far more effective than a hairdryer and saves me standing there holding it!! :thumbsup: