Rear Tail Light Repair 2025 Lightning Flash

[Mach Turtle]

Do we know what kind of plastic is used to make the taillight lenses? For some types such as acrylic, there are solvent based glues that can fill in and seal cracks, in some cases making the damage nearly invisible. The glue would probably even cost less than $1000 per use.

Using the wrong glue would give no or even harmful results, so one would want to be sure about the chemistry before trying.

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[chriserx]

Its hardness and clarity does at least suggest it's acrylic but the black plastic is almost certainly ABS

 

[bc1]

I would get a lens from a bad tail light and experiment with melting the plastic with a soldering iron or similar heating device and melt it in to seal the crack assuming it works on the old piece of lens. They do this all the time to fix plastic cracks and its a matter of matching up the right kind of plastic. Plenty of Utube vids on it. A heat gun on the tail light should dehumidify it to remove the moisture as well as prep the plastic for the welding procedure.

If you want to seal it for now with super glue first, epoxy second, or silicone third, then a heat gun/hair dryer first will warm it up and spread the crack a little so the glue/sealer will enter the inside of the crack surface and get a better glue job.

 

[GoodSam]

I noticed yesterday that I have a crack on my left rear tail light, not sure how that happened. I called Ford Service to see how much the repair would cost and OMG $3,042.50 parts and labor... Wow, that seems a little crazy

Would comprehensive insurance cover this? Like getting a dent in a parking lot from a wayward grocery cart?

 

[davehu]

I noticed yesterday that I have a crack on my left rear tail light, not sure how that happened. I called Ford Service to see how much the repair would cost and OMG $3,042.50 parts and labor... Wow, that seems a little crazy

Had a mishap of my own making backing out of the driveway at night and sidescraped a fence damaging the tailight. I got the same estimate. the taillight assembly is $2k all by itself.

Reminded myself that I am driving a $70k vehicle. That's what insurance is for. I have $500 deductible and the repair is schedule for the week after the new year.

 

[gbuydos]

Mine cracked and has a small hole. I going to patch with clear Flex Tape till i get it fixed.

 

[bc1]

Would comprehensive insurance cover this? Like getting a dent in a parking lot from a wayward grocery cart?

Should be comprehensive unless you were driving and struck something. Those parking lot incidents, grocery carts either rolling or pushed, vehicle behind you backed into it, vehicle next to you side swiped it, vehicle next to you opened a door into it, person walking by damaged it, rock chips thrown by moving vehicles, wind blown limbs out of trees, hail, theft, criminal damage, or collisions with animals account for a lot of comprehensive coverages. I pay extra for the zero deductible on comprehensive. Too many deer and other animals and too many rocks on the road. The state in their infinite wisdom put in rumble strips on the sides and down the middle of the highways that deteriorate over time when driven on and that along with pot holes and pot holes filler has just turn the highways into big gravel roads. Windshields are expensive.

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