Upgraded2Ford

So motorcraft again or Dorman?...or other?

That's right...the third light on my 2010 screw has cracked again and is leaking.

This time, it stained the headliner.

I don't remember how old the first one was when it cracked. But one day a passenger in the back got totally drenched during a heavy rain. I inspected the lamp and it was cracked across the top.

I blamed it on the sole non-touchless car wash I'd used. But it doesn't have the weekwacker blades,...only the velvet curtain/drapes that wiggle back and forth.

Anyway, I didn't go and blame them,...I just changed the damn thing for 100 bucks. Now, a couple of years later, ...noticed one of the bulbs was out. (I changed all bulbs the first go round.)

Got up there and looked,...cracked. Looked inside,...water stain.

Damn...how hard is it to design a 50K truck to have a lens that doesn't crack?

Anyway, which lens is the best to order? So far the motorcrafts don't hold up.

I don't have the part number of the ford lens I bought handy. But, at the time, the parts dude tole me the suffix indicated a 5th or 6th design IIRC.

Damn Ford,...it's not that hard.

ps - should I change to LED while I'm in there? If so, please link me to a good source.

(note...might be my first post)

DirtDawg

Yes, your first post - welcome!

jerparker1

Make sure to run a bead of RTV silicone all the way around the gasket when installing. The foam gaskets are junk!

Chrisj

Im on my third as well, and this one is leaking again (only in the hardest of rain).


Im thinking about ordering one from ANZO, its LED and around $60

chickenwire

OP - can you post a pic of the cracked lens? (I have worked in plastics molding for over 30 years - would like to see if I can track down the cause for a possible improvement or preventive steps.)

techrep

iTrader: (1)

Cracked from the screw hole ... too tight

Raven2210

This is why I went aftermarket, with the recon smoked 3rd brake light. Hasn't cracked or leaked again and it looks much better on the truck too.

joe mcmillan

Still have the original Ford light on my 2004.
Made a new gasket 4 years ago as the original started leaking.
No complaints here other than the cheap gasket that only lasted 8 years.

chickenwire

That and the fact that "knit lines" form around holes during molding. Gasses and possibly mold release agents collect at these knit lines making it the weakest point in the molded lens. Then you torque a screw into that hole and . .

Even if it doesn't snap immediately, the residual stress, over time, can cause it to let go.

The OEM is 99% most likely to be acrylic because it's on the rear of the vehicle. Front facing lenses will be polycarbonate because it has much higher impact strength (but is more expensive.)

Aftermarkets may or may not be polycarbonate.

gDMJoe

As seen on ebaY® .....