TuxBlk2010XLT

Went in today to talk to them. My friends buddy is head of sales, hes been taking care of all the issues. Basically told me they are topped out on fixing the truck unless covered by warranty. Which i knew that's what would be said. He did tell me her knows someone that will do it for me for a cheaper cost then a body shop. So we will see what happens. I dont have the money now. But it will be fixed. Ford needs to own up to this leaky light, fix what they have done. Its sad someone paying upwards of $600/mo on a truck that's gonna be rusted out by the time the loans ended. My f250 2003 with 200k miles didnt even have rotted corners.

Bottom Dollah

So..........after 18 months, I'm on brake light leak #4.

Dealer has repaird it 3 times, the first being under warranty, the last two I paid for, $260, each time.

Just ordered a Recon for less than half the price the dealer wants to repair this Ford embarrasment.

Seems as tho the problem is with the light fixture itself, not the gasket.

The lens of the light eventually fills with water which then travels out the light bulb holes then proceeds to soak and stain your headliner, soak your rear seat then make the cab stink.

My 3rd brake light has all sorts of debris on the INSIDE once again along with 1/2" of water.

After 18 months.

VASkinsfan

Let me know if that works, Is the one that you are getting after-market or reconditioned OEM? If recond may have the same problem. Good luck.

Bottom Dollah

It's an after market part that comes with no plug, so some 3M Splice connectors have to be bought.

Zip tie the existing bulb sockets back after using the 'no strip 3Ms', so you can always go back to OE if you want to.

It also projects out further from the cab than the OE which prevents the water from the top of the cab from washing over the lens (and leaking).

Twice the gasket of the original, too.

http://www.gorecon.com/product.php?p...09-14&p_cat=32

If you inspect your 3rd brake light closely and notice any debris like insects, leaves, pine needles, etc, etc trapped in the edges of the lens, it means the outer lens has failed and closer inspection will probably reveal water trapped inside the fixture waiting to soak your headliner.

Like I say, it's happened 4 times to my truck.

I had to drive around with towels trapped behind my rear head rests to prevent the water from soaking my seats.

RES4CUE

I had the leak and never dealt with the dealer, I ordered the recon unit.

I cut and soldered my wires (plan on keeping for a while and don't care to return to stock if traded)

It comes with thicker gasket but I added silicone and have had zero issues in over 3 years.

MnGolfer

Heavy rain here in Alabama last week. Yesterday was taking some items out of back of our 2010 Lariat Crew and noticed dampness on carpet where the fuel funnel is stored. Felt around and the carpet was wet where it meets the back of the cab on both the driver and passenger side. Then noticed the headliner stains on both rear corners. Looked at the brake light assembly and there was moisture and water trapped in it. Forum comes to the rescue again and another common problem that Ford is doing zero about to fix, not repair FIX. We have the ESP until 100K miles, but ESP apparently does not cover this type of failure, so went to the hardware store, purchased some weather gasket and silicon and made the repair. Sad that Ford has known about the problem for years and has done ZERO to fix it. Not a hard fix, but must be beyond the capability of their engineers to tackle or they are working on real issues, not these trivial ones that are a PITA to the truck owners.


Now I have a stained headliner to clean up. Anyone have experience with cleaning the water stains on the headliner? Would appreciate some guidance. Don't want to use something too aggressive and really make it look bad. It looks bad enough already.


Come on Ford...step up and fix the problem. It has been an issue for years and nothing has been done.

Bottom Dollah

I'm wondering why Ford is allowed to replace a defective part with another defective part every 18 months and still get away with it.

Sorta like changing out a defective Takata air bag with another defective Takata air bag......

I realize the air bag recall is a safety issue, not a water intrusion issue, but what really is the difference?

Defective parts is defective parts, safety issue or not.

I think I'm gonna write the Attorney General a letter and ask him the same question.

Bottom Dollah

I had good luck with a dampened "Mr Clean Eraser".

Take the dampened eraser and just press it against the water stains.

Rubbing hard will make the eraser desintegrate, so go at it gently.

And, with my light fixtures, it wasn't the gasket that failed, it was the outer lens becoming 'detached' from the fixture.

The water in my 3 previous Ford lights came in from the water on top of the cab washing over the fixture lens and filling the fixture with water.

Defective fixture, not the gasket in the rear.

After entering the fixture, the water then runs out the light socket holes in the back of the fixture, into my cab.

You might want to check if that's your problem, not the gasket.

Alexander1986

This is a known TSB and is a easy fix, no need to take to a dealer. Remove the light cover and apply a RTV silicone around the outside edge where the damaged gasket is, the same goes with the Satellite antenna leak. This is exactly what the dealership is told to do. As far as the headliner being stained, any Carpet and Upholstery will work. MotorCraft even has there own that is suggested for this fix.

Hope this helps.

Old Smoky

ditto here