Bulb Replacement: This May Be a Stupid Question, but...

[mrgem]

So I noticed yesterday that the 2017 convertible I just bought has a license bulb out. I know they are LEDs, so I stared at it for a couple of minutes and decided to read the owner's manual.

Much to my surprise, the book said words to the effect "These are LED lights, consult dealer." What???? Take the car to the dealer for a tag light bulb replacement?

So I figured I'd just go to YouTube and find a tutorial. I found lotsa Mustang bulb replacement videos -- but NONE for S550s with LED tag lights.

This is likely a 3 minute replacement, but before I stick a screw driver in there and pry the light housing out and see what I can see, I figured I'd ask the forum.

Is there anything terribly difficult about replacing these bulbs or is Ford just treating customers as though they are stupid?

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[Mr. Met]

From looking at photos of the part it looks like there are just two clips holding it on.

 

[mrgem]

Thanks.
Yep. The bulb assembly housing appears to be held in by two plastic spring clips. You depress one with a small flat-bladed screwdriver and wiggle the assembly out of the hole in the bodywork. Seems simple enough, but I just gotta wonder why in the world Ford would instruct you to take it to a dealer rather than explain what appears to be a straightforward R&R process and let you decide if you are capable of changing it out.

Just thought there might be some odd pitfall like special tool requirements. Sounds like Ford is just being a nanny.

 

[jenksdrummer]

Might be that Ford knows there's a lot of sub-par LED in the market, so suggests going to the dealer for the part but not for the installation.

 

[mrgem]

I considered that possibility, but something else makes me think this is part of a "dumbing down" process that denies (and discourages) owners of late model cars from performing maintenance of what has traditionally been considered routine. Things like bulb changes or oil changes are intended for professionals only.

For instance, my wife has a 2017 Infiniti whose owner's manual won't tell you how to replace an air filter. Had to find the process on YouTube.

What concerns me is the fact that Ford's original lamp has failed in only 2 years makes me wonder about the quality of THEIR part. I know they source this stuff from all over the world.

The web site SuperBrightLEDs.com (a popular online retailer that has sold LEDs for home, commercial, industrial, and automotive use for as long as they have been on the market) says this about the tag lights for 2015 and later Mustangs:
"Not Available. Not serviceable by user."

Interestingly enough, Ford will sell you a replacement unit for $35. A number of online retailers will sell you a SET of Two (from China, no doubt) for less than 15 bucks.

Think I will try the Chinese replacements to see if they hold up. For $15, I don't have much to lose, as far as I can tell.

 

[HeelToeHero]

If it's only 2 years old warranty it. Normally bulbs aren't covered but leds should last a long time.

 

[Hidalgo]

If it's only 2 years old warranty it. Normally bulbs aren't covered but leds should last a long time.

Why wouldn't a bulb, LED or not be covered in the warranty, (3 yr)?

 

[HeelToeHero]

Why wouldn't a bulb, LED or not be covered in the warranty, (3 yr)?

'Usually' bulbs, wiper blades, tires, and clutches are excluded. They have a (much) shorter warranty. Now when I worked in the industry they weren't using LEDs.

Given a replacement is 35 bucks it wouldn't hurt to try .

 

[mrgem]

The bumper to bumper warranty has expired as the car has over 38k miles. The car is still covered by a 12/12 Certified Pre-Owned bumper to bumper warranty BUT -- it has a $100 deductible. My guess is that the flat-rate for lamp replacement is 1/2 hour or about $50. The bulb (from Ford) is $35 so I still wouldn't make the deductible.

I'm just amazed that Ford considers replacement of the tag light to be a dealer-only operation, when it should only require a common screwdriver and about 3 minutes to replace.

In researching this problem, it looks like LED replacement on these cars in general is problematic. I've read that the tail lamps for instance cannot be serviced -- you must replace the assembly (for $1000!) -- and replacement of other lamps with LEDs on the car (that draw different amperage) can drive the car's Body Control Module (computer) crazy which can manifest itself in tail light failure and other strange symptoms.

Sounds like I am pioneering here. I'll wait until my replacement (Chinese) LEDs arrive, install them, and see what happens. Yes, they may be lower quality than a US-made component, but obviously the original Ford lamp failed prematurely and is of dubious quality itself.

Welcome to the new world of auto maintenance where everything is computer controlled and non-serviceable. Good stuff until something fails, it seems.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I just gotta wonder why in the world Ford would instruct you to take it to a dealer rather than explain what appears to be a straightforward R&R process and let you decide if you are capable of changing it out.

Industry tradition? Years ago, Buick made a modification to the owner's manual in the form of a new page to be slipped between two existing pages. They mailed a letter to every owner telling them to take the car into the dealer to have that done.

 

[Mr. Met]

I have the cpo warranty also and I dont think it even covers any of the lights inside or out.

 

[mrgem]

I have the cpo warranty also and I dont think it even covers any of the lights inside or out.

Yeah -- I think stuff like lamps, filters, wiper blades, etc., are considered "wear items" and not covered.

We'll see how well these replacement lamps hold up.

 

[mrgem]

I considered that possibility, but something else makes me think this is part of a "dumbing down" process that denies (and discourages) owners of late model cars from performing maintenance of what has traditionally been considered routine. Things like bulb changes or oil changes are intended for professionals only.

For instance, my wife has a 2017 Infiniti whose owner's manual won't tell you how to replace an air filter. Had to find the process on YouTube.

What concerns me is the fact that Ford's original lamp has failed in only 2 years makes me wonder about the quality of THEIR part. I know they source this stuff from all over the world.

The web site SuperBrightLEDs.com (a popular online retailer that has sold LEDs for home, commercial, industrial, and automotive use for as long as they have been on the market) says this about the tag lights for 2015 and later Mustangs:
"Not Available. Not serviceable by user."

Interestingly enough, Ford will sell you a replacement unit for $35. A number of online retailers will sell you a SET of Two (from China, no doubt) for less than 15 bucks.

Think I will try the Chinese replacements to see if they hold up. For $15, I don't have much to lose, as far as I can tell.

Got my replacement lamps and went out to replace the factory lamps and found something unexpected. The factory lamps came out of the bumper cover exactly as I expected. Interestingly, the one that was "burned out" came out and was not plugged into a tail lamp harness. After digging around ibehind the bumper I found a wire. Pulled it out and there was the tag light connector -- wrapped up in yellow tape. I unwrapped it, plugged it into the burned out lamp and voila! It wasn't burned out at all. Have no idea if the assembly plant failed to plug it in or if someone -- perhaps a body shop -- did it when refinishing the rear bumper cover. There were no telltail signs of a bumper cover replacement or refinishing. The Car Fax showed 1 owner and zero accidents.

The car was originally sold in Hawaii, and when I began taking trim off the inside of the trunk (in order to gain access to the wiring) I found:
Beach sand
Some luggage keys
a couple of Corona bottom caps
An extra trim piece for around the trunk latch

The good news is that you don't have to go to extraordinary lengths to replace the tag lamps. Stick a screwdriver up in a slot, depress the plastic clips holding the housing in. Remove plug from housing, and reverse to install the new lamps. Should be a 5-minute operation.

Now I have a set of super-bright 18-LED replacement lamps. May never use them -- but they were only 13 bucks. No great loss. Thanks to everyone who offered their views!

 

[LSchicago]

'Usually' bulbs, wiper blades, tires, and clutches are excluded. They have a (much) shorter warranty. Now when I worked in the industry they weren't using LEDs.

Given a replacement is 35 bucks it wouldn't hurt to try .

My wife's Fusion license plate bulbs were covered twice.

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