Ford’s rear Lightbar a bust.

[Luminin]

Despite the cost, I had the dealership order Ford’s breaklight/turn signal/reverse Lightbar for the Maverick, among several other accessories. They then installed it for me, total cost was almost $700. I noticed the next day that my turn signal was blinking rapidly, as if I had a taillight out, it continued to happen intermittently, direction didn’t matter.

Long story short, after the dealership spent several hours today trying to figure out what was wrong, they called Ford Parts. It’s a known issue and they’re “working on it”. Dealership gave me a refund, including labor for the install. Typical FoMoCo, quantity over quality.

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[Dad]

Despite the cost, I had the dealership order Ford’s breaklight/turn signal/reverse Lightbar for the Maverick, among several other accessories. They then installed it for me, total cost was almost $700. I noticed the next day that my turn signal was blinking rapidly, as if I had a taillight out, it continued to happen intermittently, direction didn’t matter.

Long story short, after the dealership spent several hours today trying to figure out what was wrong, they called Ford Parts. It’s a known issue and they’re “working on it”. Dealership gave me a refund, including labor for the install. Typical FoMoCo, quantity over quality.

Normally, a rapidly blinking turn signal lamp indicates a lack of resistance. Since LED's have less drain than incandescent there is less resistance meaning less of a time interval between bulb turning on. Usually, that only occurs if one is replacing an incandescent bulb (OEM on the Maverick turn signals) with an LED. Adding on an LED usually doesn't affect the blinking rate, but your case might be a different reason.

 

[K5Blazer]

Seen too many rear light bars on beat up, pimped out, trailer trash trucks to even like them anymore..

This thing seemed like a knee jerk reaction accessory by Ford to begin with.

Sorry about your experience.
Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Ottocycle]

It's made for ford by putco. They honesty make really good stuff but the one they made for ford is not up to putco standards. I have their 48" version and have no issues with it. I used a curt wiring harness to wire everything up.

 

[dennish]

Despite the cost, I had the dealership order Ford’s breaklight/turn signal/reverse Lightbar for the Maverick, among several other accessories. They then installed it for me, total cost was almost $700. I noticed the next day that my turn signal was blinking rapidly, as if I had a taillight out, it continued to happen intermittently, direction didn’t matter.

Long story short, after the dealership spent several hours today trying to figure out what was wrong, they called Ford Parts. It’s a known issue and they’re “working on it”. Dealership gave me a refund, including labor for the install. Typical FoMoCo, quantity over quality.

Me too - Putco sent me a replacement under warranty and it still had the same drivers side issue as original. They asked me to send back to their engineering department so we will see. Will have to dispute with CC company if no resolution found.

 

[PanchoBarrancas]

Wouldn't it be possible to fix via Forscan? There's the option to select what kind of tail ligh bulbs you have, including LED and incandescent, wouldn't setting that to LED fix it?

 

[dennish]

Wouldn't it be possible to fix via Forscan? There's the option to select what kind of tail ligh bulbs you have, including LED and incandescent, wouldn't setting that to LED fix it?

Unsure - but it is not both taillights - only the drivers side for me. More likely wiring harness issue?????

 

[Montana]

Forscan - disable turn signal outage detection.

Or, add resistors to compensate for the LED's that are likely not CANBUS.

TBF, you are complaining about overpriced labor from a stealership for a simple light bar. Seems personal and subjective. Anyone who can install one themselves would be able to easily fix this issue. PUTCO makes a generalized product. They honored their warranty and did what they should. It's not their fault the installer doesn't know how to compensate for the CANBUS system.

What's the old adage? If you want something right, don't pay for overpriced labor and expect someone else to care? Something like that or close to it I'm pretty sure... At least they did the same thing PUTCO would do and honored a return/refund.

 

[K5Blazer]

You’re blaming the OP?

Nice.

 

[Luminin]

TBF, you are complaining about overpriced labor from a stealership for a simple light bar. Seems personal and subjective. Anyone who can install one themselves would be able to easily fix this issue. PUTCO makes a generalized product. They honored their warranty and did what they should. It's not their fault the installer doesn't know how to compensate for the CANBUS system.

I guess it could be construed that I was referring to the labor cost, the price I referenced was mostly the Lightbar itself; $400 plus tax. The dealership installed a ton of other accessories for me, this was the only issue I had. They ran codes on it, as had I (via FORScan), the primary code of the 3 or 4 was a grounding issue. I assumed the dealership hadn’t soldered the wiring where they tied it into the existing wiring harness very well. Being a product designed for Ford, it probably should’ve been more…compatible.

What's the old adage? If you want something right, don't pay for overpriced labor and expect someone else to care? Something like that or close to it I'm pretty sure... At least they did the same thing PUTCO would do and honored a return/refund.

I don’t think I’ve heard that one lol. Not sure if you’re referring for the paid labor caring or the people here.
If the paid labor, I’m a cog in that machine, working for Ford and idc, so I don’t expect them to either (fwiw, I think they do care). When you pay their employer that overpriced number you expect the result you want, but more importantly you expect them to make it right when it isn’t. That’s why I referred to FoMoCo caring about quantity over quality, I’ve seen that first hand over and over and over. Ford Parts knew about it being an issue, you can still order the faulty product from them, no way will they take it down until it’s fixed.
If the people here, this was more of a heads up to any perspective buyers of the product, or a breadcrumb for anyone else having issues.
I have no issues with my dealership, this is the second new vehicle I’ve bought from them in 6 years, they’ve done all maintenance on my vehicles, nothing but praise from me. Liberty Ford in Vermilion Ohio is excellent, never shady, all up front, and honest.

I tried to clarify my post at the points you mentioned, hope it helped.

 

[Luminin]

Unsure - but it is not both taillights - only the drivers side for me. More likely wiring harness issue?????

Primarily driver side here too, but not exclusively.
Here were the hazards:

 

[MM Mav]

Forscan - disable turn signal outage detection.

Or, add resistors to compensate for the LED's that are likely not CANBUS.

TBF, you are complaining about overpriced labor from a stealership for a simple light bar. Seems personal and subjective. Anyone who can install one themselves would be able to easily fix this issue. PUTCO makes a generalized product. They honored their warranty and did what they should. It's not their fault the installer doesn't know how to compensate for the CANBUS system.

What's the old adage? If you want something right, don't pay for overpriced labor and expect someone else to care? Something like that or close to it I'm pretty sure... At least they did the same thing PUTCO would do and honored a return/refund.

@Luminin there's a lot of info about this issue in this thread

 

[Montana]

I guess it could be construed that I was referring to the labor cost, the price I referenced was mostly the Lightbar itself; $400 plus tax. The dealership installed a ton of other accessories for me, this was the only issue I had. They ran codes on it, as had I (via FORScan), the primary code of the 3 or 4 was a grounding issue. I assumed the dealership hadn’t soldered the wiring where they tied it into the existing wiring harness very well. Being a product designed for Ford, it probably should’ve been more…compatible.



I don’t think I’ve heard that one lol. Not sure if you’re referring for the paid labor caring or the people here.
If the paid labor, I’m a cog in that machine, working for Ford and idc, so I don’t expect them to either (fwiw, I think they do care). When you pay their employer that overpriced number you expect the result you want, but more importantly you expect them to make it right when it isn’t. That’s why I referred to FoMoCo caring about quantity over quality, I’ve seen that first hand over and over and over. Ford Parts knew about it being an issue, you can still order the faulty product from them, no way will they take it down until it’s fixed.
If the people here, this was more of a heads up to any perspective buyers of the product, or a breadcrumb for anyone else having issues.
I have no issues with my dealership, this is the second new vehicle I’ve bought from them in 6 years, they’ve done all maintenance on my vehicles, nothing but praise from me. Liberty Ford in Vermilion Ohio is excellent, never shady, all up front, and honest.

I tried to clarify my post at the points you mentioned, hope it helped.

Thanks. Is it designed specifically for the FORD Maverick or simply sold by FORD? Tons of accessories that are not vehicle specific and able to combine with a custom order via the creator online. I can't find any info on PUTCO's site for a Maverick specific lightbar. According to their website, they don't make them for any FORD vehicle specifically - which is odd because the vehicle specific section has a picture of a FORD lol.

 

[Luminin]

Here it is on the Ford Accessories site, listed as a Maverick Lightbar

 

[CTYankee]

Thanks. Is it designed specifically for the FORD Maverick or simply sold by FORD? Tons of accessories that are not vehicle specific and able to combine with a custom order via the creator online. I can't find any info on PUTCO's site for a Maverick specific lightbar. According to their website, they don't make them for any FORD vehicle specifically - which is odd because the vehicle specific section has a picture of a FORD lol.

The light bars themselves are not vehicle-specific, including the one sold by Ford. It's the additional harness that comes with the Ford Maverick kit that is the problem, not the light bar. I've had zero issues with my Putco light bar because I used the Curt T-harness for the Maverick, not the Putco/Ford harness. We also ran the wire to the battery that ensures the light bar controller functions properly.

I'm not aware of anyone who's used the Curt T-harness having any problems.

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