Headlamp headlight replacement

[Glen Baker LLC]

I was concerned about the longevity of the headlamps and the exorbitant cost of replacement, too. I wound up replacing the parking lights with switchbacks and changed the DRLs to use those via Forscan. Problem solved.

I would like to do that also. I changed to the switchbacks last year.
Now I just have to get a ForScan set up and someone proficient in using it.
Is there a few other changes I would like to make that requires a ForScan.

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[Mavrik23]

I would like to do that also. I changed to the switchbacks last year.
Now I just have to get a ForScan set up and someone proficient in using it.
Is there a few other changes I would like to make that requires a ForScan.

Not sure if that was a question, but if it is, I enabled TSR and disabled the block that Ford placed on changing music from a USB stick while the vehicle is in motion via Forscan. There were other things I changed, but that's what comes to mind.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Not sure if that was a question, but if it is, I enabled TSR and disabled the block that Ford placed on changing music from a USB stick while the vehicle is in motion via Forscan. There were other things I changed, but that's what comes to mind.

Thank you for the reply.
No question there.
I don't have a ForScan.
If I ever get a ForScan I will have to rely on someone who is already experienced with it, to make changes.

 

[1929]

Added Interior/Exterior Lighting coverage warranty to 75,000 miles, 72 months on my Maverick. Purchased from Granger. Zero deductible.

I don't mind changing light bulbs. On late model vehicles it's been a PITA. Had to remove too many parts to be able to change bulbs. So on the Maverick we'll see if warranty was good decision.

 

[Bob The Builder]

But how long until the lenses turn so yellow they can no longer be polished?

Depends. Truck parked outside or in a garage? If outside, is it parked generally in such a way to get a lot of direct sun? My garage parked Ranger still sported very clear housings after 18 years.

My neighbor's 08 Silverado the housing were very foggy. Always parked outside and backed in the driveway so the sun hit the front of the truck all day, every day.

 

[Bob The Builder]

And the plastic type that automakers use, might be by design.

I had an F-150 for over 20 years of sitting in the sun. The clear headlight lenses turned to a frosty yellow color (not nearly as bad as Toyotas do, though). I finally bought a replacement set of headlight assemblies for it online. $50 for a pair - including the Halogen bulbs. Someone posted on here that the Maverick's headlight assemblies are over $1K each.

I'm hoping by the time these housings need replacing there will be something similar to those $50 el cheapo units you bought. Prolly a bit more than that but much less than a grand.

 

[Blue_Max]

Depends. Truck parked outside or in a garage? If outside, is it parked generally in such a way to get a lot of direct sun? My garage parked Ranger still sported very clear housings after 18 years.

My neighbor's 08 Silverado the housing were very foggy. Always parked outside and backed in the driveway so the sun hit the front of the truck all day, every day.

Your Vermont sun and my Florida sun are not the same.

 

[Cubican]

Each headlight is much much more than $500. No need for bulb changes for a long time though.

There’s after market headlights on e bay for 500 bucks with drl
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1353448970...6r4I6fNS4K&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[AVC]

The Maverick headlights are fixed/non-serviceable LEDs with lifespans that probably approach 50,000 hours, if not more.
The OEM headlight modules will likely outlive a significant portion of this forum…

In most cases, you won't reach the 50,000 hrs theoretical service life (LED half-brightness life). We've all seen new to 15 year old "one-eyed" vehicles with failed LED headlamps or running lamps.

The likely failure will be the power/current regulating part of the headlight; heat cycling, high ambient temps, surges in the 12v power supply (i.e. jump starting with headlights on), solder joint failure (heat and vibration), ceramic cap cracking, tin whiskers on lead-free solder joints...

The second likely failure will be an individual LED; heat cycling and vibration compromising the tiny wire welds or attachment pads, within the encapsulated LED package.

Although Ford doesn't release test data, am guessing closer to 10,000 hrs MTTF. Or 5 to 7 years of headlight run time.

This suspected stat, and decades experience with LED illumination, is also why I disabled daytime running lights right away (U.S. vehicles, only I'm told).

I am hoping by the time a headlight fails, there will be robust, cost effective aftermarket choices. Or, I can do surgery on the headlamp.

 

[dochawk]

I'll just replace mine with candles...

Ehh, go for full retro with kerosene headlights:

Your Vermont sun and my Florida sun are not the same.

And then there's high desert sun . . . our tires don't last through their treadlife!

 

[Carlitos_92]

We've all seen new to 15 year old "one-eyed" vehicles with failed LED headlamps or running lamps.

Nope, actually, I haven't. But if I had, odds are just as likely as not that the failed lamp would've been attached with packing tape to a cracked grille and dented fender.

Personally, I have zero concerns about the headlights surviving the lifespan of the truck, but what do I know - I also wait until the truck tells me to change my oil.

 

[Bob The Builder]

Your Vermont sun and my Florida sun are not the same.

True. Our calendar up here shows 9 months of winter and 3 months of lousy skiing.

 

[Bwicka]

So as my Mav approaches e.o.w. (end of warranty) I've been investigating options. That aside, I'm learning that the headlamps have a non-replaceable bulb? Is this true? Does that mean the whole unit needs replacement (rumoured to be over $500?) What are these threads about people doing aftermarket lights- is it everything BUT headlights? Is there a hack where people are manging to change just the bulb in the headlamp? Got a 22 XLT here non-hybrid. Thanks.

Too much worrying, not enough driving .
Live life , there will be ebay replacements within a year or 2 probably barely more expensive than a full tank of gas will be .
Aftermarket has come out with new more optioned versions , probably made in the same small village in china of 4 million as the original cast boxes were at half the oem price . Those will soon have competion down to half price of those ( down to $250-300) which will put used ebay ones down to the $120 level within a couple years . I spent $80 to fill the tank up here in socal just recently , sooooo i wouldnt waste the worry on it . Go adventure with the truck! Park it in the sun , snow , get it muddy and run it through a brushed car wash !
Just dont worry about it! Its a tool to life , and resale is not going to matter in a couple years when average used price of a maverick hits under $15k .
We are already seeing sub $20k .
Its not a resale investment , will never be a collector vehicle, wont even go up in value again ( unless all manufacturing facilities blow up).these will be the $5-6 k entry level truck in high school parking lots in about 5 years .Just the facts .The housing , drivers and leds will probably make the ride to that point no problem with out an accident involved.

 

[710-oil-614]

Too much worrying, not enough driving .
Live life , there will be ebay replacements within a year or 2 probably barely more expensive than a full tank of gas will be .
Aftermarket has come out with new more optioned versions , probably made in the same small village in china of 4 million as the original cast boxes were at half the oem price . Those will soon have competion down to half price of those ( down to $250-300) which will put used ebay ones down to the $120 level within a couple years . I spent $80 to fill the tank up here in socal just recently , sooooo i wouldnt waste the worry on it . Go adventure with the truck! Park it in the sun , snow , get it muddy and run it through a brushed car wash !
Just dont worry about it! Its a tool to life , and resale is not going to matter in a couple years when average used price of a maverick hits under $15k .
We are already seeing sub $20k .
Its not a resale investment , will never be a collector vehicle, wont even go up in value again ( unless all manufacturing facilities blow up).these will be the $5-6 k entry level truck in high school parking lots in about 5 years .Just the facts .The housing , drivers and leds will probably make the ride to that point no problem with out an accident involved.

I agree with everything but the timeline on them being a $5-6k truck. Have you seen what $5k gets you these days?

 

[Tbone289]

Nope, actually, I haven't. But if I had, odds are just as likely as not that the failed lamp would've been attached with packing tape to a cracked grille and dented fender.

Personally, I have zero concerns about the headlights surviving the lifespan of the truck, but what do I know - I also wait until the truck tells me to change my oil.

I agree. I have a 12 year old Ford with 150K miles that still has all of the original halogen bulbs in it, working. LEDs have a much greater lifespan.

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