Moisture in the tail lightbar

[SnakeJazzismyjam]

If out of warranty and no mandatory NHTSA safety recall making Ford fix it, it looks like one might do one of three things:

1) drill a series of small drain holes along the bottom so water can drain out B4 it causes and electrical problem; or
2) locate the source of the rain water and seal the hole(s) up with a good quality silicone caulk, for example; or
3) relocate the back-up lights to the tail lights somehow, maybe by replacing the existing tail lights with ones that have the back-up lights in them - maybe a lower trim level one would fit - then the light bar would be merely decorative and if it fails to light up due to water, so be it.

If Ford tries to fix it 3 times (the usual) and it still fails, have Ford buy back the truck under the lemon laws in your jurisdiction, or give you a new Lightning. (just kidding)

I appreciate the advice - it’s like seems reasonable/complicated fix, but with the potential complications from that, I refuse to go that route.

And I’m confident that Ford will fix it before I escalate things. My pettiness is unrelenting.

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[chl]

I appreciate the advice - it’s like seems reasonable/complicated fix, but with the potential complications from that, I refuse to go that route.

And I’m confident that Ford will fix it before I escalate things. My pettiness is unrelenting.

LOL, hope it works out eventually.

Well the hole-drilling would be the least complicated I guess if done carefully.

Silicone a bit harder since one would surely have to take the dang thing off to find the place the rain gets in.

Ford had to do a recall on their leaky sunroofs to replace the drain recently, and so many videos about Ford doors filling with water...

One wonders: who the fudge designs these things?

I know they have "wind tunnels" but maybe they ought to have "rain and wind tunnels" too?

 

[luebri]

If Ford tries to fix it 3 times (the usual) and it still fails, have Ford buy back the truck under the lemon laws in your jurisdiction, or give you a new Lightning. (just kidding)

I completed my buyback today over this issue... which was very beneficial for me, however was never something I thought I would seek out. Situations forced my hand, and if Ford could have resolved during the original recall we would never be here. Hat tip to @jimhlee for the assist to a fellow Packer backer for his posts advising on this. I hope Ford does the right thing and makes this right for everyone, in warranty, or out of warranty.

 

[jimhlee]

I completed my buyback today over this issue... which was very beneficial for me, however was never something I thought I would seek out. Situations forced my hand, and if Ford could have resolved during the original recall we would never be here. Hat tip to @jimhlee for the assist to a fellow Packer backer for his posts advising on this. I hope Ford does the right thing and makes this right for everyone, in warranty, or out of warranty.

So glad to hear it went well. I also didn't want to have my truck bought back, but the situation created the need to do so and from it I felt the outcome was very fair.

I'm hoping to get another Lightning soon. I just ordered one spec'd the way I'd like it and it's being built in a few weeks. I'll either choose to buy that or something else. I am currently driving my wife's Rivian and as much as I love the specs on it, the seating and storage is horrible.

The Lightning, tailgate issue aside, has been the best vehicle I've owned.

#gopackgo

 

[luebri]

I've posts where people with extended warranty w/light add-on are getting denied as Ford claims it is not a light and it considered a trim piece

@Granger Ford Can you provide some clarification for those that have purchased the extended warranties with lighting option? Is the tailgate light bar moisture ingress causing failure of reverse lights and/or reverse camera failures covered or not?

 

[It's Just Me]

So this weekend I got to tinkering. Took out the passenger side rear tail light to investigate the condensation issue.

I opened up the rear of the assembly where the blind spot detector is and tilted the assembly. I swear about half of a cup's worth of water minimum came out of that tail lamp.

I flipped it upside down, angled it, and the water just seemed to have kept coming. Like no way is a half o cup of water supposed to be in a light assembly three years after buying a truck and NOT have it covered under a warranty.

So got all the moisture out that I could and I redneck repaired the lamp by putting an air flow through the lamp for about 18 hours. Seems to be dried out nicely.

So far no issues with the light. Though most of my issues come during rain storms or after the truck has been washed.

 

[chl]

Water leaking into Fords is a popular topic on YouTube. Doors, lights, roofs, etc.
Seems they should have a better idea when it comes to weatherproofing.

 

[Zprime29]

I just noticed a lot of condensation built up in my rear lightbar. I guess I'll have to keep an eye on it now. We had a little rain a couple weeks ago but its been very dry since then. The funny part is that I never had a problem with the original part and now I see the water with the recall part installed. Go figure.

 

[wapple24]

I've posts where people with extended warranty w/light add-on are getting denied as Ford claims it is not a light and it considered a trim piece

I had mine replaced once before the recall, then during the recall, and now it has condensation again. They told me it was a wear and tear part and not covered under my top of the line extended warranty. Even contacted Ford and they told me that I had to pay out of pocket to replace it.

 

[luebri]

I had mine replaced once before the recall, then during the recall, and now it has condensation again. They told me it was a wear and tear part and not covered under my top of the line extended warranty. Even contacted Ford and they told me that I had to pay out of pocket to replace it.

That absolutely sucks. At minimum file with NHTSA https://www.nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem#index

A cursory search of Lemon law in New Jersey doesnt look great for your timing as it stated a claim needs to be made in first 24 months of ownership.

I would also continue be a complete thorn in Fords ass on this

 

[RLXXI]

I can give first hand info on water ingress where any external lighting is concerned with Ford. 93-04 I worked for them at a dealership not long after all this began with the new "aerodynamic" assemblies in the late 80's. Their word not mine.

When they first started hitting my dealer for this problem back in the 90's Ford was replacing them no questions asked with just a little moisture in them, as time went on and these instances begun piling up, Ford came up with a fix, drill small holes at the lowest point of the housing to allow the water to run out.

Their claim was condensation due to atmospheric changes, pressure, temp, humidity was the primary factor. They also had a rule to go by, if the housing just had moisture beads, drill the hole(s) and inform the customer (if asked).

If the housing was "pooling" water as opposed to beads, then they would warranty the housing, (ONLY POOLED WATER) .... now let's pause a moment and consider what happens to beads of water if left alone in the same atmospheric conditions for a period of time, what happens? You get warrantable part failure.

Hate to say it again but it is what it is. Moral of the history lesson is if you notice beads, don't wait, pull it out and drill a small hole at the lowest point where it won't be seen and gravity will do the rest.

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