Taillight seals seeping / leaking road grime ?

[nunucello]

After viewing the photos and reading the post by kw86er, the leaking tail lights might just involve the drivers side tail light. Without having our Maverick to work with, I would consider using some flexible foam backer applied from the backside if possible between the sheet metal and tail light to fill the gap. According to how big of a gap is would dictate the diameter of backing needed. I purchased this backing from local hardware store for a few dollars and is 1/2” diameter. If possible I would use a plastic putty knife to pack the backing into the gap around the perimeter of the tail light to seal it. Just a suggestion, maybe someone might offer other options. This diameter will compress to very narrow thickness.

thank you very much

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[Chris_G]

If you take the taillights off its a straight shot to the ground, all the tire kickback is gonna get in there.

Would the addition of mud flaps resolve the problem?

 

[Edge Haley]

After viewing the photos and reading the post by kw86er, the leaking tail lights might just involve the drivers side tail light. Without having our Maverick to work with, I would consider using some flexible foam backer applied from the backside if possible between the sheet metal and tail light to fill the gap. According to how big of a gap is would dictate the diameter of backing needed. I purchased this backing from local hardware store for a few dollars and is 1/2” diameter. If possible I would use a plastic putty knife to pack the backing into the gap around the perimeter of the tail light to seal it. Just a suggestion, maybe someone might offer other options. This diameter will compress to very narrow thickness.

Good suggestion but need to also make sure any puddy type does not capture moisture, which would accelerate rust that would be hidden..

After viewing the photos and reading the post by kw86er, the leaking tail lights might just involve the drivers side tail light. Without having our Maverick to work with, I would consider using some flexible foam backer applied from the backside if possible between the sheet metal and tail light to fill the gap. According to how big of a gap is would dictate the diameter of backing needed. I purchased this backing from local hardware store for a few dollars and is 1/2” diameter. If possible I would use a plastic putty knife to pack the backing into the gap around the perimeter of the tail light to seal it. Just a suggestion, maybe someone might offer other options. This diameter will compress to very narrow thickness.

Probably a good start, but have to make sure any putty type material is not capturing and hiding moisture. Nothing worse than trapped moisture against metal that hides rust. Sprayed on Undercoating on top of any material should help eliminate trapped moisture.

I find Flexseal is a great water sealer.

 

[john218]

If/when I get my Mav and it leaks I'll take it back to the dealer service department and have them fix it.

 

[nunucello]

Good suggestion but need to also make sure any puddy type does not capture moisture, which would accelerate rust that would be hidden..

Probably a good start, but have to make sure any putty type material is not capturing and hiding moisture. Nothing worse than trapped moisture against metal that hides rust. Sprayed on Undercoating on top of any material should help eliminate trapped moisture.

I find Flexseal is a great water sealer.

Which Flex Seal product would you recommend for this ?

 

[Aherpa]

The passenger side has a plastic shield that protects the inside of the fender from tire spray. The drivers side looks like it should have something and doesn't.

Is the passenger shield you describe, the bottom of the 'box' that the bed cubby provides? Also, in the photo of the drivers side that has the exhaust in it - is that little piece of plastic (at least it look like plastic) the bottom of the 110V inverter? If it is, maybe it needs to be open for cooling.
It sure would be tempting to close it up a bit though to keep road crud out.

 

[Larrythelunatic]

After reading your post, I reviewed a posting by Obiewan54 - led tail lights upgrade video to see if Ford incorporated a perimeter seal on the tail light assembly. From the video, it appears as there are no perimeter seal attached. Having worked at Guide Lamp Div. GMC for 26 years I had the opportunity to view hundreds of different tail light assemblies and they all included either a black foam gasket or a vinyl lip around the perimeter of the tail light assembly. The type of seal varies with the the situation for each vehicle. These seals prevent moisture from entering or in the case of the Maverick truck, from leaking from the backside and being deposited on the sheet metal. I am not encouraged from the photo that you attached.

How about pulling the light fixture, then rebedding it with a bead of silicone around it? It won’t keep the back of the light from getting road-crapped on. Just keep the moisture from reaching the exterior.

 

[Edge Haley]

Which Flex Seal product would you recommend for this ?

I was referring to under body "wheel well" probably the quart can of Flexseal (BLACK) paint brushed on to get to obvious places that might leak but in some places the big can of spray-can might work better, mostly depends on access. Flexseal is extremely durable and I've found it excellent in blocking water.

First thing I would do would be to mount the best mud flaps with best coverage. Ford mud flaps don't necessarily look like the best coverage.

 

[Edge Haley]

How about pulling the light fixture, then rebedding it with a bead of silicone around it? It won’t keep the back of the light from getting road-crapped on. Just keep the moisture from reaching the exterior.

I'm fairly handy in body work but I'd leave that up to the dealer...that is what your warranty is for. Once moisture gets inside a light fixture corrosion can be very expensive....especially if the entire headlight has to be replaced. Once you replace water seal material around expensive lighting, they could blame you 2 years down the road.

 

[Oggy]

Has anyone considered that this could be an aerodynamic issue?

The shield on the passenger side could change the flow of air enough to keep this from happening on the other side. I drive enough to check, and conditions in central NY are conducive to procedure similar results...

If someone wants to give me their hybrid/XLT/lux build date, I'll gladly do that testing.

 

[Geep]

Fender well liners………

 

[nunucello]

I was referring to under body "wheel well" probably the quart can of Flexseal (BLACK) paint brushed on to get to obvious places that might leak but in some places the big can of spray-can might work better, mostly depends on access. Flexseal is extremely durable and I've found it excellent in blocking water.

First thing I would do would be to mount the best mud flaps.

Thank You

 

[FriarPop]

Would the addition of mud flaps resolve the problem?

yes, it would not solve but could reduce things a bit.

 

[Newmav]

Seems to me that should be a factory recall

 

[kw86er]

Is the passenger shield you describe, the bottom of the 'box' that the bed cubby provides? Also, in the photo of the drivers side that has the exhaust in it - is that little piece of plastic (at least it look like plastic) the bottom of the 110V inverter? If it is, maybe it needs to be open for cooling.
It sure would be tempting to close it up a bit though to keep road crud out.

The passenger side plastic guard is not the cubby box, the plastic bit you see behind the muffler is the cubby box when I tried it on that side. Other than that it is wide open up the inner bed rails. I don't have the inverter. Behind the blank cover, you can see right down to the ground and the back of the tail light assembly. The wheel well liner does not do a great job in this area. When I removed the blank cover this whole area was dirty from road grime.

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