Holy WHAT-THE-HECK? Loose tail lights (both sides)!

[Joester]

Just finished a trip from Upstate NY to Florida and back. Kept hearing something being buffeted in the wind creating a clunking sound. No real way to trace it while driving. Kept checking the tonneau cover since it was where it seemed to be coming from.
Got home after 3000 miles and noticed the tail lights were loose, both sides!

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[K5Blazer]

These retainers seem to be a faulty design.

 

[paneubert]

Yes, many people have loose tail light housing. Either without having messed with them, or more frequently, after changing the tail light bulbs. Try to loosen the bolt on the inside face of the tailgate, push the housing back in, and tighten the bolt.

 

[ValenciaOrange]

Replace the white and black plugs. I had to do this. No more problems.

 

[K5Blazer]

. Try to loosen the bolt on the inside face of the tailgate, push the housing back in, and tighten the bolt.

Did that many, many times, never worked.

Bought new retainers. That worked. (So far)

 

[LowLeadAV]

Yes, many people have loose tail light housing. Either without having messed with them, or more frequently, after changing the tail light bulbs. Try to loosen the bolt on the inside face of the tailgate, push the housing back in, and tighten the bolt.

And be careful to not over tighten. I had the same thing last week after I installed the bed extender. Loosened the bolts popped them in and then tightened again but not as tight and it’s fine.

 

[Maverick Grabber]

If it is under warranty take it to the dealer and make them get it right, their body shop guys should know what to do

 

[Budbowl]

Just finished a trip from Upstate NY to Florida and back. Kept hearing something being buffeted in the wind creating a clunking sound. No real way to trace it while driving. Kept checking the tonneau cover since it was where it seemed to be coming from.
Got home after 3000 miles and noticed the tail lights were loose, both sides!

I have same problem on the driver side tail light

 

[Montana]

Did you remove the housings recently? Like to install LED's?

 

[Hcopter]

I removed my tail lights to connect some wires and when I put them back the passenger side took a little pressure to push into place where the screws could go in, not much but it seemed a bit springy where before it sat flush, where the screws didn't pull it in when tightened. I noticed that as I tightened the screws it was pulling out slightly at the front edge where the two pins snap in and I could see where over time it might pop them out.

So, today in the daylight I removed it again and looked to see what was stopping it from sitting flush and found that there is a pin at the top of the light fixture that goes into a slotted hole in a flimsy tab on the fender and it was missing the hole and pushing against the tab. Once I bent the tab back to its original location the pin on the light slots into the hole and the housing sits flush against the metal the screws go through and there's no force trying to pop the front edge out.

You can check this pin/tab/hole alignment without removing the taillight by looking into the small gap between the top of the light and the fender, looking in from the side using a flashlight.

Here are pictures showing the tab and pin I'm referring to. The pictures I found show the right side fender and a left side tail light, but you can get the idea.

 

[Joester]

Did you remove the housings recently? Like to install LED's?

I only bought the truck and drove it. Nothing with anything..... yet!

 

[Hcopter]

I only bought the truck and drove it. Nothing with anything..... yet!

I'm curious if your pins are going through the hole in the tab, should be easy to see in there with them already popped out at the front.

 

[noelkuck]

Having exactly the same problem with my 3-month old XLT. Called my dealer and was told that I had to drop it off and they would want 48 hours to diagnose the problem. Nearly 3 weeks out for the appointment! Unbelievable, for what appears to be a simple fix. My dealer apparently hadn’t seen the problem before. Doubt it. My second Ford (after my 64 1/2 Mustang) and perhaps my last.

 

[TheTesterMan]

Some have reported that even after replacing the clips the issue returns, but here are the part #s nonetheless.

Top White Retainer Clip
W177430-S300

Bottom Black Retainer Clip
W718155-S300

Good luck everyone

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