Tail light question

[DansFLHTI]

I have a water filled tail light on my new to me 2016 GT convertible.The rubber plug that the wires feed through on the back of the light wasn't seated properly. In my search for a replacement I have seen some lights are called a level 4 tail light. Wondering what "level four" refers to?

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[ORRadtech]

I believe, but am not 100% sure, level 4 refers to the overall light output.
I'm curious why you don't just drain the current light and reseal it once it has dried out? It's free to try and might save you a couple hundred dollars.

 

[Rick#7]

If the light is still functional, take it out NOW!!

Getting it completely dry will take time, but maybe a hair dryer will help if you can aim it inside the plug opening.

I had a 50 year tail light that I noticed one day had some condensation inside the lens, but it still worked so I left it in use until I had time to work on it. By the time I got around to taking it out the condensation had accumulated to puddles inside the lens and the center running light had stopped working along with the blinker function. I set the assembly with the plug removed and the opening aimed down to drain, after a week there was still moisture inside. After forgetting about it for a month it finally looked dry so I plugged it back in to test but it was dead.

I never did figure out how the water got inside, I guessed it was a bad seal around the lens but I'll never know for sure.

 

[DansFLHTI]

I believe, but am not 100% sure, level 4 refers to the overall light output.
I'm curious why you don't just drain the current light and reseal it once it has dried out? It's free to try and might save you a couple hundred dollars.

I did drain the water out,went as far as to drill a very small hole in the bottom of the lens and let it set a few days removed from the car to get it completely dry. The out side segment of the light was toast.I assume there is some electronics in the body of the light that got fried.

 

[Rick#7]

Yup, there's a PCB inside the housing to control the LED's, and yup it's toast. I recall seeing someone that sold replacement electronics for these but can't remember where I saw it. I wouldn't want to try opening up the housing then resealing it after figuring out the electronics so it wasn't something that I thought to make a note of.

FYI - level 4 refers to the trim level of the car, i.e. S, SE, Titanium, etc. I have no idea which model "level 4" refers to on the Mustang (maybe a 401a trim package?), or what (if any) difference in the light being for Level 4 trim makes in the light itself. If I had to guess, I imagine that since the higher trim levels on newer models contain more advanced electronic features, that level 4 lights have electronics that are somehow different than other models to be compatible with the specific BCM in level 4 cars, but as I said, that's just a guess.

 

[DansFLHTI]

Yup, there's a PCB inside the housing to control the LED's, and yup it's toast. I recall seeing someone that sold replacement electronics for these but can't remember where I saw it. I wouldn't want to try opening up the housing then resealing it after figuring out the electronics so it wasn't something that I thought to make a note of.

FYI - level 4 refers to the trim level of the car, i.e. S, SE, Titanium, etc. I have no idea which model "level 4" refers to on the Mustang (maybe a 401a trim package?), or what (if any) difference in the light being for Level 4 trim makes in the light itself. If I had to guess, I imagine that since the higher trim levels on newer models contain more advanced electronic features, that level 4 lights have electronics that are somehow different than other models to be compatible with the specific BCM in level 4 cars, but as I said, that's just a guess.

I bought a used one from a salvage yard. These tail lights are rare used and new ones are crazy expensive,but now I have a proper functioning tail light. I'm thinking the plug on the back was never seated properly from day one.

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