Change tail light bulb

[Topcat]

Does anyone have step by step instructions on changing out bulb?

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[George]

I have not had the pleasure. I understand dealers want $80-$90 to do it, so it cannot be all that easy. Especially if you're a big person.

Anything in your manual?😕

 

[George]

T.C :

There is a Tech service Bulletin, TSB 417-01-1 to remove and replace the assy. Maybe your Ford dealer has it. Or maybe that's too extreme to replace a bulb

I cannot attach one here, but if you PM me your email, I'll send copy to you 🙂

 

[Topcat]

I gave it the old college try and other than a hard to reach nut and a good tug to free up the rubber seal it was pretty easy. Took about ten minutes to complete. One note - be careful when putting back the assembly when done as I noticed a protruding screw at the bottom which could cause you to scrape the paint.

 

[Phlo]

How did you get off the nut that is back in the corner on the end of a 5 inch stud? I don't have a socket that deep by a long shot and there isn't room for a wrench.

 

[Gus Gutz]

How did you get off the nut that is back in the corner on the end of a 5 inch stud? I don't have a socket that deep by a long shot and there isn't room for a wrench.

At Autozone, I got a brake line wrench with a swivel head that worked perfectly. I was able to get on the nut and start it. Once started it comes off rather easily.

 

[Phlo]

Gus,

That sounds like a great solution. I used a small crescent. Both long studs seemed to be in tact when I started and I didn't detect anything breaking while loosening but once I had them loose both long studs on each housing were snapped off. I put in the replacement red sylvania LED bulbs and tested them. I had to start the car before the fast flash and the lamp out message cleared. I pushed the tail light housing back into place and just snugged down the smaller stud on each. I will have to use a Saturday when I can leave the car parked to glue the studs back in place. Or I may find look into the cost of salvage housings.

 

[Elaineinwa]

I keep a deluxe Tiger tool in the trunk. I bought it off Evine.com for $17.99. It is a universal swivel head tool that fits both universal and metric. Here are the stats plus photo... it goes over the long post so you can get to the light assembly bolt and the top swivels so you can get the bolt loose in that tight spot. Great tool!

 

[BluByeU]

If you are not stuck on keeping the hardware exactly as it came from the factory a flat washer, a lock washer & a wing nut make the next bulb change really very easy.

 

[tomstoysy2k]

When having the change a Rear light bulb I found oud it is very easy using a 11mm socket on such a ling bolt. So I have ditched the regular Nut and on the long bolt and placed a Wing-nut and washer there instead. I guess replacing both nuts might make more since.