Someone shot my tailights? Someone tell me I'm going crazy

[cdubbed]

You are going crazy.

Out of everyone, you're the only one that gave me what I asked for. Gold star to you.

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[Sticks]

OK, molding experts. Why no similar marks on the headlights?

The headlights are one shot, so they can hide the injection gate on the edge of the lens (not visible when installed). The tails are two colors that are probably injected in stages. You can't hide a gate on a overmold like that.

 

[cdubbed]

Now that I've seen them I can't unsee them. Every tail light I look at my eyes are immediately drawn to them.

 

[cdubbed]

If I used my nitrogen powered .22 cal Umarex you’d know your lights got shot without a doubt.

You guys crack me up. :’P

Yeah I was imagining more like a red ryder. Any air rifle would have probably punched right through

 

[1929]

Here's the story. I noticed some small circular depressions on the tail lights of my Accord the other day. They're maybe 1/8" in diameter and feel like a little crater in the plastic when I run my fingers over them, almost like someone started to drill some holes through it. There are multiple on each light housing/assembly, my initial impression was that someone had shot it with a BB gun. I found the same thing on the tail lights of 3 of the 4 cars in my driveway, an Accord, Focus, and my Maverick. I also found them on the Mavericks 3rd brake light. I googled it and couldn't find anything on it. All of the "damage" is on the rear light housings, I found none on the head lights. All of my cars were parked front-in, rear ends towards the street. Upon further investigation they appear to be symmetrical, in roughly the same spot on each side of the vehicles.

The question: Is this some sort of normal product of the manufacturing process, does anyone else have this on their mavs, or have I been vandalized with extreme accuracy?

You are crazy.

 

[NJBob]

47 years installing and service injection molding machinery and being involved in 100s of mold demos. It's burned into my brain. And I got your screen name the first time I saw it.

Was always going to ask you about that. Your Nic indicated that. 47 years in injection molding here too.

 

[NJBob]

High quality produced molding, either glass or impact resistant plastic not like that they use on the rest of the car doesn’t produce gas bubbles or has pinpoints for injection
All plastics all moldings are not made the same. Some are cheaper cause they just cover up bulbs and if they crack or fog, it’s probably within the warranty. Headlights are government controlled.

Most likely along the edges
Could have compressed air too.
I was in Medical and always was told automotive was even harder.

 

[dochawk]

( Stripper Bar Ejector: A stripper bar pushes against the bottom wall of the molding, providing greater ejection area and suitable for box-type moldings )

Are you sure about that? I've always assumed that a "Stripper Bar Ejector" was a bouncer at a bimbo joint . . .

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Automotive is a, well I can't use the word here, to get approved. So glad I am retired.

You and me both. I worked for a Detroit-based company, unbelievable how vendors worshiped the ground OEM's walked on, always bitched about getting squeezed on price and terms, yet chased the work like there was no tomorrow.

HRG

 

[NJBob]

Automotive is a, well I can't use the word here, to get approved. Last mold approval I was involved in was for an inner fender seal for a new model SUV. This panel could not be seen once on the SUV unless you removed the wheel well liner. The texturing was not deep enough on the first try. It could be scratched with a drywall screw. So several days of sand blasting, which is not a quick process, reassemble the mold, reinstall it, shoot 50 more parts let them cure, then do it again. Took a week to get it right for a part that isn't seen by the consumer. The next issue was the robot arm leaving suction cup marks on the back side of the part. So glad I am retired.

I sure get it. I was more involved with the building and machine maintenence. But I do know what you are talking about. Dad part is most of our molds were built in China
Not many US mold shops left.

 

[NJBob]

I visited several NJ molders over the years. Unfortunately I don't recall the names of them. And 1 new start up on Long Island that based on what I saw when there probably burned to the ground by now. Electrician ran 10 ga wire for power to a machine that had a 250 amp breaker. I refused to commission the machine until the wiring was replaced. The owner told me to leave and he was reporting me to management. I said don't worry I already called management and they said to provide you with the warranty voided documents due to improper installation.

I never seen anything like that. But I did service work and was not allowed to work on the machine unless it had all the current safeties. They were pissed when I told them that.

 

[Mervin the Maverick]

I wouldn’t mess with anyone who could shoot a BB gun that accurately and consistently?

I did, however; have some punk shoot a pellet into my windshield a few months ago. I know it was a pellet gun because the pellet was still embedded in the glass.

Thank you SafeLite and USAA for a quick and fully covered replacement!

 

[Mikecaro]

I never cease to be amazed at the "flaws" people find with Ford products.

Back off JEZZZZ great Vehicle !!!!!

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