Water in rear light bar

[luebri]

The part finally came in an the dealership replaced it. They said they also would need to replace the cap on top of the tailgate, but I'd need to come back for that since they didn't have it and didn't know it needed to be replaced with the light bar. They said they would have to order the cap and it would come in a couple of days. It turned out, there was another customer with a water logged light bar in the queue due for replacement the following week, and they had his tailgate cap, so they gave me his and will give him the one they ordered for me. So far so good with the replacements. It hasn't rained, but I've been through the car wash a couple times and no issues.

I should have asked about the tailgate cap. They "started my repair" today and when reading through the process realized that Ford stated the cap should be discarded. So they did not proceed with my replacement until they get the Cap. Which will probably be next week now.

I did not ask them specifically about it as I figured my "I read it on the internet" research wasnt going to get me very far. So, Lesson learned for the rest of you. When your dealer orders your replacement light bar, make sure they order a Tailgate cap as well.

I went and picked up my truck and will have to reschedule the repair.

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[ctuan13]

So after coming back to this thread and reading through updates, according to the dealer the only way to access and remove the light bar is to go in from the top of the tailgate and probably break the cap in the process? Is this right?

I'd been meaning to try and get into it myself and essentially reseal the entire perimeter of the light bar myself with clear RTV, but I hadn't gotten around to it yet. I'd just figured I'd be able to gain access by removing the tailgate back plate that gives you access to the electronic release mechanism. But I guess I was wrong...?

Well now I definitely need to pull that panel off when I get a chance and see what is accessible.

 

[bg226]

So after coming back to this thread and reading through updates, according to the dealer the only way to access and remove the light bar is to go in from the top of the tailgate and probably break the cap in the process? Is this right?

I'd been meaning to try and get into it myself and essentially reseal the entire perimeter of the light bar myself with clear RTV, but I hadn't gotten around to it yet. I'd just figured I'd be able to gain access by removing the tailgate back plate that gives you access to the electronic release mechanism. But I guess I was wrong...?

Well now I definitely need to pull that panel off when I get a chance and see what is accessible.

Careful that you don't void your warranty! The first thing the dealer did was make sure it wasn't damaged before they would replace it.

 

[ctuan13]

Careful that you don't void your warranty! The first thing the dealer did was make sure it wasn't damaged before they would replace it.

Oh I'm aware, I'll be sure to avoid damaging it. Probably won't even take it apart, instead I'm just gonna opt for running a bead of clear silicone along all seams and just hope that works!

 

[MRButtler]

Oh I'm aware, I'll be sure to avoid damaging it. Probably won't even take it apart, instead I'm just gonna opt for running a bead of clear silicone along all seams and just hope that works!

Definitely better than RTV

 

[ctuan13]

Definitely better than RTV

Well it'll still be RTV, just clear silicone. RTV just means room temperature vulcanizing

 

[Chezwick619]

I noticed a problem with mine a few months ago, only thing missing is a trout to swim around in the lake inside my light. I went to the dealer they told me the taillights were back ordered. They ordered it two months ago and I’m still waiting, frustrating they can still build trucks and put them out but they can’t fix my tail light on the truck I already paid for.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

Oh I'm aware, I'll be sure to avoid damaging it. Probably won't even take it apart, instead I'm just gonna opt for running a bead of clear silicone along all seams and just hope that works!

I’m curious as to why you’d do this. You just bought a high-end mega-expensive truck. Now you are going to do a dime-store temporary preventative repair on a part that is KNOWN to have a potential reliability and water intrusion problem. Let’s assume yours is one for which this would be a problem and you manage to put enough silicone patch on it to keep this from occurring. What you have done is only temporary. However, it MAY work well enough to push you past the warranty period and you’ll be stuck with the bad or superseded part. What we should all want is to have this part go bad as soon as possible if it is going to fail. Further, we should not be spending any of our valuable resources (time or money) trying to prevent an issue caused by Ford’s design mistake. We should let it happen or not, and if it does, make it their warranty problem at the next regular appointment.

 

[luebri]

I’m curious as to why you’d do this. You just bought a high-end mega-expensive truck. Now you are going to do a dime-store temporary preventative repair on a part that is KNOWN to have a potential reliability and water intrusion problem. Let’s assume yours is one for which this would be a problem and you manage to put enough silicone patch on it to keep this from occurring. What you have done is only temporary. However, it MAY work well enough to push you past the warranty period and you’ll be stuck with the bad or superseded part. What we should all want is to have this part go bad as soon as possible if it is going to fail. Further, we should not be spending any of our valuable resources (time or money) trying to prevent an issue caused by Ford’s design mistake. We should let it happen or not, and if it does, make it their warranty problem at the next regular appointment.

I agree with almost all of this, and I am getting mine repaired but it’s still a big inconvenience having to deal with the service center. I’m 2 trips (and associated service waits and or shuttle trips in) and mine isn’t repaired yet. As someone who is not retired and has young kids to shuttle around between school and daycare anything more than a 15 minute wrench in your day is a HUGE hassle! So I don’t blame a garage DIY mitigation effort

 

[ctuan13]

I’m curious as to why you’d do this. You just bought a high-end mega-expensive truck. Now you are going to do a dime-store temporary preventative repair on a part that is KNOWN to have a potential reliability and water intrusion problem. Let’s assume yours is one for which this would be a problem and you manage to put enough silicone patch on it to keep this from occurring. What you have done is only temporary. However, it MAY work well enough to push you past the warranty period and you’ll be stuck with the bad or superseded part. What we should all want is to have this part go bad as soon as possible if it is going to fail. Further, we should not be spending any of our valuable resources (time or money) trying to prevent an issue caused by Ford’s design mistake. We should let it happen or not, and if it does, make it their warranty problem at the next regular appointment.

Ahh yes so close yet not quite understanding the issue. Of course this is Ford's fault and of course I shouldn't *have* to do this repair myself. But if you haven't been following this thread and others like it, you won't have noticed that countless forum members have been back three to four separate times, spending upwards of an afternoon from start to finish, just to get an identical replacement part with the same inherent built-in flaw of poor sealant from the factory. Within three weeks or less, they're back there again with the exact same issue.

Now as you so passionately decried we would be foolish to be "spending any of our valuable resources (time or money) trying to orevent an issue caused by Ford's design mistake." Exactly and time is money. I dunno about you but my time is valuable and the one thing I'll never get more of. So to me repeated, tired and annoying trips to the dealership, no matter how painless and accommodating they might be, are still wasting my time.

So until such a time as they actually issue a revised part number or bulletin stating all new stock will be manufactured properly. I fail to see how a well-executed DIY fix is a worse solution than a constantly failing lightbar interspersed with proper operation for about a week after each 3 hour long dealership service visit.

But look, if you want to be the guinea pig to have techs repeatedly snap apart the tailgate cap on your truck and replace one faulty lightbar after another, while you wait for three hours, go ahead. I'm just gonna wait until the revised part or recall is issued.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

Ahh yes so close yet not quite understanding the issue. Of course this is Ford's fault and of course I shouldn't *have* to do this repair myself. But if you haven't been following this thread and others like it, you won't have noticed that countless forum members have been back three to four separate times, spending upwards of an afternoon from start to finish, just to get an identical replacement part with the same inherent built-in flaw of poor sealant from the factory. Within three weeks or less, they're back there again with the exact same issue.

Now as you so passionately decried we would be foolish to be "spending any of our valuable resources (time or money) trying to orevent an issue caused by Ford's design mistake." Exactly and time is money. I dunno about you but my time is valuable and the one thing I'll never get more of. So to me repeated, tired and annoying trips to the dealership, no matter how painless and accommodating they might be, are still wasting my time.

So until such a time as they actually issue a revised part number or bulletin stating all new stock will be manufactured properly. I fail to see how a well-executed DIY fix is a worse solution than a constantly failing lightbar interspersed with proper operation for about a week after each 3 hour long dealership service visit.

But look, if you want to be the guinea pig to have techs repeatedly snap apart the tailgate cap on your truck and replace one faulty lightbar after another, while you wait for three hours, go ahead. I'm just gonna wait until the revised part or recall is issued.

I have followed the issue, watch all the threads, don’t conclude it is nearly as widespread as you do. My truck is an early production unit (June 6), lives outside in Florida, gets rained on often, and has not had an issue yet, so what we have so far is anecdotes. I understand your reasoning a bit better, still wouldn’t do it myself, but have a dealer nearby who would definitely get it done in minutes, not hours, and would pick up the truck from my house and return it because that’s how car dealers have to roll in Delray Beach.

 

[luebri]

Well I finally saw my first Lightning in the wild! Which ironically enough was at my dealers Service department just like me! Shuttle driver said the guy had just bought it in last week or so. I did not dig any further... I know it wasnt a light bar issue though because he did not have one. Im fairly certain it was an XLT.


That was the most excitement of my light bar replacement. It took the dealer 3-4 hours from when I dropped it off to calling me to let me know it was done.

From the service report.

"1. Verified concern. Rear tailgate stoplight bar has water droplets inside of it. Referenced GSB 22-7002. Ordered tailgate stoplight strip. Ordered tailgate moulding. Removed and replaced tailgate stoplight strip, and tailgate moulding. Performed IMPA rear camera alignment and test drove. Cleared codes. OK"

Parts
NL3Z 13434A - LENS AND REFLECTOR ASY 1
ML3Z 9941018AC - MOULDING 1

 

[SmoothJ]

Has anyone noticed where the water is coming in? Regardless if it’s under warranty or not, I wouldn’t mind keeping a lookout on a particular location on the light bar itself.

Also, for those that do have water, have you tried to drill a very small hole to drain the water after your concern is presented to the dealer and parts ordered? Then you can patch up the hole with some type of silicone sealant.

 

[queuewho]

Just got my first replacement this morning. Took them from 7:30am to about 9:45am. They did not have to use a new plastic top piece, only had to use new plastic clip inserts. They do look like they have a little difference in their finish, but it seems like they are the same part. The light bar seems to work fine, zone lighting and the red running light mode all check out.

 

[SebR]

Now my tail gate has "a mind of its own". I've had to go from power to manual mode. It will open and close randomly at anytime. Looks bad - goes down a bit, up, down, stop up ... I go into an arena, get a message from a parent that my truck is going off and the tail gate is possessed.

Bleh.

Still no news on any repair for the light bar which is completely off now.

Reported this issue to my dealer back in November.

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