3rd break light & rust

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:22 pm

Guys,

I have noticed a rust spot on my 03 KJ about 2 weeks ago. I asked my cousin who also has an 03 KJ and she had the same rust spot. My uncle who has an 03 KJ as well did not have this rust spot.
Bothe my and my cousin had changed the 3rd break light bulb. My uncle has never changed his and he is rust free.
I met up with Pete (FDEMS) today and asked him if he also had rust by his 3rd break light. He looked and yep there it was. I asked him if he replaced his 3rd break light too and also he said yes.
I wonder by changing the 3rd break light, are we breaking some kind of seal from water that we did not see?????

Here is a picture of the affected area.

Who else is having this rusting problem?

let me know what you guys think about this

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:51 pm

Mine is in the very, very early stages of rust. Yours looks bad enough to get it covered under the rust warranty though.

I started packing the seam with silicone grease at every oil change to help keep the rust from getting worse.

raceinfan · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:59 pm

just sand it & paint it...done :wink:

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:13 pm

How long is the rust warranty?

Pete, I was thnking about sanding it and priming it. Gonna take out the cover and see if there is any drain/channel and kinda correct it.

raceinfan · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:00 pm

see what happens when you REALY clean it & get it all shiny, you uncover stuff like that :twisted:

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:05 pm

ya know Pete, that is what I get for actually washing my KJ this weekend.

HaHa

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:00 pm

The rust warranty is something like 7years isnt it? Its in the owners manual.

You certainly cannot say my rust started b/c of salt.

Dave08 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 4:17 pm **Posts:** 250

I got it, and have not changed my 3rd brake light. I'm between Jeepzilla's and Jeepster. Try spraying Amsoil Heavy duty MP on it if you have it available. Seems to have stopped the spread or at least slowed a rate that I cannot notice over 2 yrs.

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:10 pm

I noticed this myself on my '03 several weeks ago when I was cleaning all my glass. I wasn't concerned enough to worry, but I'm still keeping an eye on it. It may be possible to just sand it lightly by hand and then apply some Dupli-Color. The nice thing is you don't have to make it look professional since it can't be seen when the rear glass is secured.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:29 pm

I have had my brake light out several times, but no rust at all so far and thats even with the great salt stuff they put on the roads in Ohio. But then I have always kept those areas waxed really well.

Tom

Rush345 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:59 am

After seeing this post although my '02 doesn't show any of these rust issue. I am considering replacing the bulb with an LED model and the before reinstallation taking some expanding foam and squirting it behind the the 3rd brake light. Or if needed drill little pilot holes and insert the foam nozzel and fill the offending area.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:30 am

Rush345 wrote:

After seeing this post although my '02 doesn't show any of these rust issue. I am considering replacing the bulb with an LED model and the before reinstallation taking some expanding foam and squirting it behind the the 3rd brake light. Or if needed drill little pilot holes and insert the foam nozzel and fill the offending area.

Dont bother.

This is a problem that is caused by humid wet climates. More likely the expanding foam will trap moisture and promote rust from forming.

This issue has nothing to do with the 3rd brakelight.

Rush345 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:32 am

Sir Sam wrote:

Rush345 wrote:

After seeing this post although my '02 doesn't show any of these rust issue. I am considering replacing the bulb with an LED model and the before reinstallation taking some expanding foam and squirting it behind the the 3rd brake light. Or if needed drill little pilot holes and insert the foam nozzel and fill the offending area.

Dont bother.

This is a problem that is caused by humid wet climates. More likely the expanding foam will trap moisture and promote rust from forming.

This issue has nothing to do with the 3rd brakelight.

Thanks If it ain't broke don't fix it :twisted:

tjkoen01 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:22 pm

I actually have a rust spot developing behind the 3rd brake light. I don't think I have any rust at the joint like the pictures above show.

Dutchy · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:20 am

No problem with my 2003 and our climate is as wet as the climate in Washington state.

I wax my KJ twice a year and I make sure I wax the inside areas of the doors, rear hatch and hood as these areas are always the first to go.

Also check the underside of your doors for rust, especially just behind the rubber strip, if you have rust around your third brake light chances are that you also have rust under there.

I owned a 1980 Nissan Sunny and I learned the hard way that rust can eat your car within 8 years if you don't wax it properly.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:37 am

YEP i just chechec on the doors as you described and yep I have rust there too. And a good amount of it too.

3rd break light & rust

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