These are the Parts needed to complete this repair- Motorcraft Headliner Cleaner- amzn.to/2mTYna0 High Mount Stop Lamp: 2004-2008 Model Years- amzn.to/2myOImy 2009-2014 Model Years- amzn.to/2n3KPJj
bought mine 07 brand new and since i have replaced 4 third brake light, back when it first happened i just smelled it then saw the healiner. the florda sun dry rots them extremly quick (3 years or so) before they rack and leak
FordTechMakuloco whats up buddy... i have a cuestion.! i have a 2004 triton 5.4 ford f150 ... i have a problem when is running at 4 gear..! it make a noise, sound like a kick and it does one or two times during acceleration you know... i dont know if is transmission or somthing else..! by the way awesome vidios...!
Thanks again, I ordered the light and cleaner last week. Changed the light yesterday and cleaned the headliner tonight. All went well. It's raining tonight so that will be the test.
Should be a recall period. I've never had a leak in my 2009 that I am aware of....but now I have to wonder if it's just been a small one all this time.
Thanks for this. I had an unknown water leak and someone pointed out the stains in my grey headliner. I thought it might be related to the rubber strips with rivets on each rear exterior side but this is most likely the answer. I have a 2013 model and have never changed or checked this.
On my ‘10 F150 it ended up being the rear window that was leaking. On the top left I could clearly see a gap in the seal. When I put a water hose up to it my headliner immediately got left. Fixed it with Flowable Silicone. No more leaks or wet headliner!
Great video as always! You can also use distilled water and a clean white cloth. Saturate the towell, then wipe the area. Then use a hair dryer to dry. Has worked great on mine 2 times now!
Same here. Biggest automotive regret of my life, and I am old! Ford Motor Company is a trash outfit now. They have lost my business for life! Should have bought a GM.
Heard that leak can drain down and contribute to the rocker panels rusting out. I know water gets in when I wash it but didn't know it was this easy to change it. Thank you.
I can 100% agree with you my inner and outer rockers are clean my cab corners are shot and I honestly believe that that was the culprit to my corners rusting
I just fixed my 2014 f150, the recommended part did not solve the problem, this gasket compressed paper thin. I appreciate you videos especially the ones relating to f150"s.
I had this issue with my 2010 and it rusted my cab corners out. I was a few days past the 5yr corrosion warranty by the time it achieved the "rust through " required by Ford and then Ford denied my claim and I had to pay out of pocket to fix it. Not sure how this hasn't ended up as a recall or in court as a class action lawsuit. Good to know there is a replace to to fix the issue and also how to get the stains out of my headliner. Be ordering both soon. Thanks for the tip on cleaning the headliner!
hello friend..and neighbor.... i hope you don't mind me commenting.. as far as stains along inside of headliner.. i used damp rag (wringed out) and put some Shout Laundry spray stain cleaner on it.. and wringed it out again... just a few sprays on the rag.. and wiped all along line...(totally cleaned it within an hour it was dry and gone)... just a thought... thanks for the video!
Awesome tip on the headliner cleaning. I'm due to get my hands on a new-to-me C-Max soon that I know has some mild staining on the headliner and this will come in really handy.
cost me 154.00 but I did it today after watching your video! thanks, my cab corners are starting to rust and bubble from the inside and the lamp would fill with water each time I washed it (added led lamps while I was in there), but no headliner stains, Thanks for the info!!!
Just bought a brand new ford light assembly on eBay. I don't have the leak yet on my 2011 (I do have the old style light) but want to swap it out before it starts to leak! Read all over online forms that this is a common issue. I figured stop it before it starts!
I don't have the water showing on my 2013 AF-150 headliner but in the light has all kinds of moisture .... maybe I should replace it before it does leak?
Had the same leak on my 2008 Superduty. I sure wish ford would sell the gasket without the light. I fixed mine by pulling off light, cleaning all surfaces, and using some RTV to form a gasket. Back seat is dry as a bone now.
Had this issue on my '04 F150 and my current '09 F150. Thankfully I caught it both times before it stained the headliner. Replaced the light on my '09 a couple years ago and went with a recon light instead of oem. The dealer wanted $250 for the oem light and I didn't trust it was going to be any better than the one I was replacing. The recon had a much thicker gasket and was less than $90 when I purchased it.
the 2004-2008 can develop a leak on the passenger side under the kick panel and carpet edge molding/trim. (could be confused with a firewall A/C drain leak) Water sets in the channel and rots the floor near the kick panel (low spot where the wiring lays). Reseal the floor inside and underneath the cab. (floor grommet located on bottom side, under passenger right foot area, will rot-out and lets water sneak between sheets of steel floor) check behind the fuse panel area on the passenger side too. (There is a grommet there as well as the wiring connector from the door could leak). Also, front fenders may have gunk/old leaves etc building up at the bottom ...open door slightly to see into bottom of fender...spray with hose until it clears. (fenders may not be related to the interior leak but while you're down there...) Use POR15 quart can with a brush for floor and wiring channel.
Robnation I sure am glad I found your comment on this video. I hear water sloshing around in my passenger floor board. Will be checking all this stuff you mentioned tomorrow. I’ll let you know what I find.
@@davidshockley2383 It seems to happen more often with the nose is low (backed into driveway) Check your 3rd tail light but you may want to buy some new bulbs prior to sealing it. Good luck! (I was considering putting a plug with a drain tube in the passenger side channel (pull up the wiring channel near the front door) There is a plastic plug there already.
I did a temporary fix on my old third brake light The rubber gasket foam was no good I cleaned it up as best as possible I put a bunch of marine grease underneath Try not to put too much because it’ll run out on your paint when it’s raining
i thought my 2010 was leaking around the 3rd brake light, but after replacing it i found out it still leaked water at the top left of the glass from inside.turn's out it was the seal around the outer edge of the back glass that was the gremlin, the corner had slide out of place,replacing it was easy, so you might consider a video on that issue if you have the time. a $15 roll of 3M 3/8" window sealant fixed her right up with plenty of tape to spare,plus in an afternoon your good to go,tho cleaning the old sealant off is a big pain lol
Hi. Thank you so much for being here!💗👍I have a 1997 Ford Escort and there's a water leak and it pools in the right rear area. It's the area where the wrench for turning your lug nuts if you have a flat tire. The little indentation and it's filling up with water is there a way that I can figure out where it is coming from and how to stop it? Thank you so much for any and all help!💗
This video is gold. Now I'm going to get the OEM replacement and the cleaner. instead of the aftermarket junk. Had no idea that there was an "updated" version of the light, let alone headliner motorcraft headliner shampoo. Thanks for the video
My 2016 f150 has the same issue already and is out of warranty, Ford really needs to re design this 3rd brake light/seal to better keep water out. My cargo,puddle,tailgate,bed lamps also have a mind of their own and turn off and on all day and night I wonder if this is related..although I suspect the switch it the bed is the reason for this... Your videos are great 👍
Silicone or butyl caulk would also seal up the poorly designed seal area. This water leak has also lead to many a rusted out cab corner on many a F150. I think designed that way on purpose, so they do not last as long as the older well built trucks. And it is not just Ford, it is the way everything is engineered these days.
Great video, that cleaner looks to be awesome stuff. I have a 14 F150 that had that problem, and even the new cover and gasket didn't fix. I ended up making my own gasket out of 3/4" outdoor weather stripping from HD, hasn't leaked in over 2 years now. The new gasket Ford uses is very porous, and actually absorbs water like a sponge instead of repelling it. The 15 and up F150 appear to have the same brake light assembly, have you seen any water issues with the new body style?
Resolve carpet stain cleaner did a very nice job for me. An alternative is to put a bead of clear silicone on the gasket of the old lamp and reattach it. It's been 3 years now and not a drip.
Silicone is a cheaper alternative but many silicones cannot be used because they are acidic and the outcome can be inconsistent and messy. Also most times the lens is cracked or has a water ingress issue so its just best to replace with all new especially at the prices on Amazon. Also it has to be accessible to change the bulbs in the future.
I thought about silicone myself, but good point. It'll be a pain in the ass if it needs to come off again for whatever reason. Plus I make a mess with silicone 😇😇
I used SHOUT on a wet rag for inside liner on my ram.. lines were not as bad.. but they came clean and dry after wiping down pretty well... dabbing and rubbing as i am cleaning.. not hard wiping ..just normal strength... it's like brand new
First, I appreciate all you videos. As opposed to buying a new third brake light cover, why not just use a bead of silicone caulk on the inside and outside? The brake light covers aren't cheap and what's to prevent it happening again? Heat gun should help remove silicone when it's time to change brake lights, right?
Leave it to Ford engineers to design a roof where the hole sits directly below the brake light. If you dont want to buy a new brake light a good silicone sealant will solve your problem.
My 2010 F150 has shown leakage this year (2021) during the monsoon season in New Mexico. I did the antenna fix a couple of years ago and should have addressed this issue at that time, now I have to deal with the water stains.
mine was leaking from roof panel meets back window , had to take back window out and they had to double caulk to fix . Same symtom head liner stained same as the third brake lite.
I just changed mine to an aftermarket smoked light and a few things are different. It was a pain to pull off the rear pushpins for headliner inside cab even with the panel prybar to access the connection point of wire to plug in the new light. there is a pushpin holding the cable/connection point to the truck that is put in from inside the cab. I decided to just pop the pushpin out from outside the truck through the brake light hole and just not secure that back down and the job was much easier and I didn't have to go find the right color headliner pushpin if I broke it getting it out or risk damaging my headliner.
I literally went through this 6 months ago for my 2010. Funny how the OEM seal was only about 1/8" wide and all bunched up when they installed it at the factory.
So Ford cheaped out on the original gasket... and now they sell new light assemblies with "upgraded" gaskets and specialized cleaners to correct their mess? Awesome.
This leak is also sometimes the rear window Butal seal. on mine it had shrunk leaving the same symptoms. Best to runs water on the cab and test the Seal and the Break light.
Nice Video. I have a 2004 Ford f150 crew cab. I removed the third brake light and put silicone around it. It stopped the leak on the side of the floor on rear passenger and driver side where the door is at for a while. Now the rear seats is getting wet. Could it be leaking from the roof channels or the rear back windows seal?
I cannot get the housing to be flush with the truck, I bought an OEM replacement, I think the lack of a 3rd screw in the middle is also a problem. I may go get some transparent caulk and do a bead around the seal.
I was irritated to find the cab corners and rocker panels rusting on my 7 year old 2011 with 85,000 miles on it. The body shop where I went to schedule the repair says they see these all the time. $3000 fix, all caused by a poor design and water ingress. Ridiculous that after all these years not a single manufacturer can build a truck that doesn't rust out in all the common places.
Because the stealerships can charge you ridiculous amounts of money to fix problems that were caused by bad engineering and poor quality materials straight from the factory!
I never saw you mention the Focus hatchback body panel leaks. Old gen and new gen have same issues. Body separation from hatch weight. Seems to have been kept hush even though it's common.
I just bought a 2010 F-150 XLT from CarMax. Just like in the video, mine had electrical tape wrapped around too. But there was no stain on the headliner. No signs of leakage. It just gave me one of those hmm... moments. So just Incase there was a problem i bought the suggested replacement from Amazon. While it was apart I put in three new 912 bulbs too. Will see what happens....
Are usually clean up all my openings with red polishing compound. I clean everything on my gigantic 250 van with polishing compound even the windows it’s the only thing that will remove the rust stains that are coming from the bolts on your windows of your van
First, thanks for all your videos. Extremely helpful. Best out there. Second, do you have a link for the gasket that you’d recommend? My light is fine. The gasket is deteriorated but still not leaking. I did put a aftermarket light that leaked so I’m trying to go back to oem & replace gasket
I had a 2013 F-150, I was washing the truck at the car wash... I went a cross the third light with the high pressure water, and said to myself? Well that sucks! Never fixed it, I traded it in, my 2015 doesn't have the same light fixture? I'M hoping it's been fixed? It's doesn't look the same, the light fixture!
I have read that some of the newest gen F150's, 2015+ CHSML's have been melting from excessive heat. Have you seen one of those yet Brian? Whats the fix if you have? Good vid
So I’m currently at this problem. I just ordered a new 3rd light from Ford and installed it. Went outside after the rain last night and it was dry. Curiosity got the best of me though and I poured a 5 gallon bucket with probably 3-4” of water in it on the roof and it started leaking just like before. What is the problem? What’s my next step?
I had that leak on my e 350 van would drip in rear,remove clean and used rv putty tape,worked great,never caulk or silccone,if you have to change bulb you are in for a fight.
When I took my truck to the dealership to resolve the brake light recall I was told the headliner cleaning nor replacement of it wasn't covered. Has anyone experienced this as well?
About the only problem our service truck at work hasn't had out of the list of problems with that gen of ford truck has had. I think you said there had been issues in the wiring to the cam sensors on the 5.4. like to see a diagnose video as the CEL has been on about 3 years for cam sensors and replacing them didn;t help.
Great video.. but I have a leak coming out of the bottom passenger pillar screw cap.. I check the third brake light seal and it not leaking . I removed the third brake light and stuffed a dry paper towel right behind it. Then I waited for it to rain . I live in the northwest so I didn't have to wait long. Sure enough my pillar leaked. I checked the towel the next day and it was dry as a bone. Next I pressurized the can by turning on the HVAC to recirculate and put my compressor hose in on full blast and shut the door. After that I made up some thick suds and went around all my exterior seals including all window. No bubbles ! I can't find a leak to save my life. Any suggestions ?
I have a 2011 with no visable signs of leakage. Is this something that should be done regardless? I've also heard that this could be a cause of the cab corners rusting. Any truth to that?
This would have been perfect if we'd have found it sooner, and realized it. But husband is using a company truck now so his 2009 has been sitting. And with all the rain we've had over the summer it now smells of mold in the truck. So now the headliner is going to have to be replaced. You don't happen to have a good video on that do you?
The look on your face when plugging those bulbs in! Haha Brian you crack me up! I just had to splice my new third brake light in. Got to love aftermarket!
Have you ever had to replace the third brake light wiring harness that melted where the bulbs screw into the sockets? I have this issue on my 2000 ford expedition 4.6L V8 Triton XLT and I'm trying to figure out how to do this but I'm getting different answers and some say that area has to be sauntered. Any advice from anyone would be appreciated for this newbie female diy mechanic.💅🏼😊
Safe lite was out to replace my windshield today and pointed out my rear window leaks. The stains are very faint and hard to notice without a flashlight. However, in want to fix it. Is that all it usually is, just the center brake light? He told me it's also the rivets or something under the weather stripping on both sides of the cab.
Great, Thanks for the info. If this is a known issue shouldn't Ford step up and provide free headliners and lights? Their poor desgin caused this problem, or am I mistaken?
Another common issue I see with F150's, according to posts I see on the web, is the rear defroster suddenly stops working. This just happened on my truck. Any videos of you fixing this condition coming soon?
I noticed that my 3rd brake light has some green crap on the inside of the light and I am wondering if it has been leaking into my headliner as well. I have a black headliner and would not be able to tell without touching. I would think I would know since it rains 8 to 9 months a year here in Washington state and there would be some tell tale sign of an issue. I will check this out if it stops raining.
On black head liners I would still see white rings or stain lines. Water ingress in the light fixture is common it doesn't mean the outer seal is also leaking.
I have a 2013 Superduty with inoperative fog lights. I've verified the fuse, indicator on the headlight switch illuminates. Even tested the bulbs. Have you encountered fog lamp relay failures in the body control module?
These are the Parts needed to complete this repair-
Motorcraft Headliner Cleaner-
amzn.to/2mTYna0
High Mount Stop Lamp:
2004-2008 Model Years-
amzn.to/2myOImy
2009-2014 Model Years-
amzn.to/2n3KPJj
Great video, my 2010 has this very issue
bought mine 07 brand new and since i have replaced 4 third brake light, back when it first happened i just smelled it then saw the healiner. the florda sun dry rots them extremly quick (3 years or so) before they rack and leak
FordTechMakuloco whats up buddy... i have a cuestion.! i have a 2004 triton 5.4 ford f150 ... i have a problem when is running at 4 gear..! it make a noise, sound like a kick and it does one or two times during acceleration you know... i dont know if is transmission or somthing else..! by the way awesome vidios...!
Duragloss works better
My 2010 is leaking for there too thought it was the sides towards the back doors
Thanks again, I ordered the light and cleaner last week. Changed the light yesterday and cleaned the headliner tonight. All went well. It's raining tonight so that will be the test.
Nice!
SaltLife no leaks,
Another awesome video. People like you are what make TH-cam great.
Thanks!
Absolutely
Seems this is a common leak point for trucks from the Big 3 manufacturers. Glad to see that there's an updated part for these trucks.
Glad I figured out any/all possible leaks ahead of time, sliding rear glass will also leak.
Should be a recall period. I've never had a leak in my 2009 that I am aware of....but now I have to wonder if it's just been a small one all this time.
Just reseal it to get ahead of it...
Thank you. Waiting on my parts now. 2010 F150 here. Your video is a great help.
Thanks for this. I had an unknown water leak and someone pointed out the stains in my grey headliner. I thought it might be related to the rubber strips with rivets on each rear exterior side but this is most likely the answer. I have a 2013 model and have never changed or checked this.
On my ‘10 F150 it ended up being the rear window that was leaking. On the top left I could clearly see a gap in the seal. When I put a water hose up to it my headliner immediately got left. Fixed it with Flowable Silicone. No more leaks or wet headliner!
Great video as always! You can also use distilled water and a clean white cloth. Saturate the towell, then wipe the area. Then use a hair dryer to dry. Has worked great on mine 2 times now!
I am very disappointed in the Ford F-150, I bought a used 2005, constant fixing!. Thanks for your videos!.
You are a money saver!.
Same here. Biggest automotive regret of my life, and I am old! Ford Motor Company is a trash outfit now. They have lost my business for life! Should have bought a GM.
Heard that leak can drain down and contribute to the rocker panels rusting out. I know water gets in when I wash it but didn't know it was this easy to change it. Thank you.
I can 100% agree with you my inner and outer rockers are clean my cab corners are shot and I honestly believe that that was the culprit to my corners rusting
yep, my corners on my 2014 are turning brown (rust) and the bubbling! Sad!
I just fixed my 2014 f150, the recommended part did not solve the problem, this gasket compressed paper thin. I appreciate you videos especially the ones relating to f150"s.
I had this issue with my 2010 and it rusted my cab corners out. I was a few days past the 5yr corrosion warranty by the time it achieved the "rust through " required by Ford and then Ford denied my claim and I had to pay out of pocket to fix it. Not sure how this hasn't ended up as a recall or in court as a class action lawsuit. Good to know there is a replace to to fix the issue and also how to get the stains out of my headliner. Be ordering both soon. Thanks for the tip on cleaning the headliner!
Wow . . . That's why my cab corners rusted out. That really pissses me off! Agree . . . Should have been a recall!
@@SuckerPunchT10recalls are only for safety issues.
hello friend..and neighbor.... i hope you don't mind me commenting.. as far as stains along inside of headliner.. i used damp rag (wringed out) and put some Shout Laundry spray stain cleaner on it.. and wringed it out again... just a few sprays on the rag.. and wiped all along line...(totally cleaned it within an hour it was dry and gone)... just a thought... thanks for the video!
Awesome tip on the headliner cleaning. I'm due to get my hands on a new-to-me C-Max soon that I know has some mild staining on the headliner and this will come in really handy.
have you ever come across the 2 rubber pieces on the left and right rear corners leaking water into the cab?
cost me 154.00 but I did it today after watching your video! thanks, my cab corners are starting to rust and bubble from the inside and the lamp would fill with water each time I washed it (added led lamps while I was in there), but no headliner stains, Thanks for the info!!!
Nice to see you go the extra mile and clean the headliner to like new condition and not just repair the cause.
+DJ R I am just used to doing the complete repair at the dealer is all but it sure does make it like New again!
Just bought a brand new ford light assembly on eBay. I don't have the leak yet on my 2011 (I do have the old style light) but want to swap it out before it starts to leak! Read all over online forms that this is a common issue. I figured stop it before it starts!
I don't have the water showing on my 2013 AF-150 headliner but in the light has all kinds of moisture .... maybe I should replace it before it does leak?
Had the same leak on my 2008 Superduty. I sure wish ford would sell the gasket without the light. I fixed mine by pulling off light, cleaning all surfaces, and using some RTV to form a gasket. Back seat is dry as a bone now.
Had this issue on my '04 F150 and my current '09 F150. Thankfully I caught it both times before it stained the headliner. Replaced the light on my '09 a couple years ago and went with a recon light instead of oem. The dealer wanted $250 for the oem light and I didn't trust it was going to be any better than the one I was replacing. The recon had a much thicker gasket and was less than $90 when I purchased it.
How's that Recon Holding up? I just had this leak issue this weekend, due to all the the recent rain.
the 2004-2008 can develop a leak on the passenger side under the kick panel and carpet edge molding/trim. (could be confused with a firewall A/C drain leak) Water sets in the channel and rots the floor near the kick panel (low spot where the wiring lays). Reseal the floor inside and underneath the cab. (floor grommet located on bottom side, under passenger right foot area, will rot-out and lets water sneak between sheets of steel floor) check behind the fuse panel area on the passenger side too. (There is a grommet there as well as the wiring connector from the door could leak).
Also, front fenders may have gunk/old leaves etc building up at the bottom ...open door slightly to see into bottom of fender...spray with hose until it clears. (fenders may not be related to the interior leak but while you're down there...) Use POR15 quart can with a brush for floor and wiring channel.
Robnation I sure am glad I found your comment on this video. I hear water sloshing around in my passenger floor board. Will be checking all this stuff you mentioned tomorrow. I’ll let you know what I find.
@@davidshockley2383 It seems to happen more often with the nose is low (backed into driveway) Check your 3rd tail light but you may want to buy some new bulbs prior to sealing it. Good luck! (I was considering putting a plug with a drain tube in the passenger side channel (pull up the wiring channel near the front door) There is a plastic plug there already.
The Motorcraft product worked great following the videos instructions. Thanks,
I did a temporary fix on my old third brake light The rubber gasket foam was no good I cleaned it up as best as possible I put a bunch of marine grease underneath Try not to put too much because it’ll run out on your paint when it’s raining
i thought my 2010 was leaking around the 3rd brake light, but after replacing it i found out it still leaked water at the top left of the glass from inside.turn's out it was the seal around the outer edge of the back glass that was the gremlin, the corner had slide out of place,replacing it was easy, so you might consider a video on that issue if you have the time. a $15 roll of 3M 3/8" window sealant fixed her right up with plenty of tape to spare,plus in an afternoon your good to go,tho cleaning the old sealant off is a big pain lol
HotRod9967 Same with my ‘10. I used Flowable Silicone along the seal. Can’t see it at all and hasn’t leaked since. 👍🏻
Hi. Thank you so much for being here!💗👍I have a 1997 Ford Escort and there's a water leak and it pools in the right rear area. It's the area where the wrench for turning your lug nuts if you have a flat tire. The little indentation and it's filling up with water is there a way that I can figure out where it is coming from and how to stop it? Thank you so much for any and all help!💗
Tried that 4 months ago and it leaks too!! Reaching for the clear silicone now!
This video is gold. Now I'm going to get the OEM replacement and the cleaner. instead of the aftermarket junk.
Had no idea that there was an "updated" version of the light, let alone headliner motorcraft headliner shampoo. Thanks for the video
My 2016 f150 has the same issue already and is out of warranty, Ford really needs to re design this 3rd brake light/seal to better keep water out. My cargo,puddle,tailgate,bed lamps also have a mind of their own and turn off and on all day and night I wonder if this is related..although I suspect the switch it the bed is the reason for this...
Your videos are great 👍
Silicone or butyl caulk would also seal up the poorly designed seal area.
This water leak has also lead to many a rusted out cab corner on many a F150.
I think designed that way on purpose, so they do not last as long as the older well built trucks.
And it is not just Ford, it is the way everything is engineered these days.
It’s called planned obsolescence
Great video, that cleaner looks to be awesome stuff. I have a 14 F150 that had that problem, and even the new cover and gasket didn't fix. I ended up making my own gasket out of 3/4" outdoor weather stripping from HD, hasn't leaked in over 2 years now. The new gasket Ford uses is very porous, and actually absorbs water like a sponge instead of repelling it. The 15 and up F150 appear to have the same brake light assembly, have you seen any water issues with the new body style?
My 16 leaks
I just noticed a leak in my 16 that I have had since new
My 15 leaks
Resolve carpet stain cleaner did a very nice job for me. An alternative is to put a bead of clear silicone on the gasket of the old lamp and reattach it. It's been 3 years now and not a drip.
Silicone is a cheaper alternative but many silicones cannot be used because they are acidic and the outcome can be inconsistent and messy. Also most times the lens is cracked or has a water ingress issue so its just best to replace with all new especially at the prices on Amazon. Also it has to be accessible to change the bulbs in the future.
I thought about silicone myself, but good point. It'll be a pain in the ass if it needs to come off again for whatever reason. Plus I make a mess with silicone 😇😇
I used SHOUT on a wet rag for inside liner on my ram.. lines were not as bad.. but they came clean and dry after wiping down pretty well... dabbing and rubbing as i am cleaning.. not hard wiping ..just normal strength... it's like brand new
First, I appreciate all you videos. As opposed to buying a new third brake light cover, why not just use a bead of silicone caulk on the inside and outside? The brake light covers aren't cheap and what's to prevent it happening again? Heat gun should help remove silicone when it's time to change brake lights, right?
Just changed mine out with a new factory fixture. Thanks for all the advise!!!
Leave it to Ford engineers to design a roof where the hole sits directly below the brake light. If you dont want to buy a new brake light a good silicone sealant will solve your problem.
Right on i have the same problem but it drips only, and my ford is a 99 thanks for the tips
My 2010 F150 has shown leakage this year (2021) during the monsoon season in New Mexico. I did the antenna fix a couple of years ago and should have addressed this issue at that time, now I have to deal with the water stains.
Yes ! Definitely !!! My 2010 F150 , STX super cab headliner looks just like that !!
mine was leaking from roof panel meets back window , had to take back window out and they had to double caulk to fix . Same symtom head liner stained same as the third brake lite.
I just changed mine to an aftermarket smoked light and a few things are different. It was a pain to pull off the rear pushpins for headliner inside cab even with the panel prybar to access the connection point of wire to plug in the new light. there is a pushpin holding the cable/connection point to the truck that is put in from inside the cab. I decided to just pop the pushpin out from outside the truck through the brake light hole and just not secure that back down and the job was much easier and I didn't have to go find the right color headliner pushpin if I broke it getting it out or risk damaging my headliner.
kept having this problem so I bought a bike
Ford really does make some of the best OE branded chemicals.
Nice vids you have going, boy I'd be pissed having a 80k any kind of truck leaking like that and causing a issue
Are there different 3rd break lights for trucks with tow/haul options or down hill control options
Great info by the way thanks !!
I literally went through this 6 months ago for my 2010. Funny how the OEM seal was only about 1/8" wide and all bunched up when they installed it at the factory.
I’ve had my 2012 68k for 11 years and just noticed the leak, I will try the soap an water method and possibly replace the rear window gasket
So Ford cheaped out on the original gasket... and now they sell new light assemblies with "upgraded" gaskets and specialized cleaners to correct their mess? Awesome.
SevenSixTwo2012 yeah, I replaced my light on my 2013 f150 and it fixed the problem for maybe two months. Now it’s leaking again.
Trash company. Criminals.
Gracias Mr Makuloco, you are amazing.
my 02 explorer had the 3rd light leak, which caused a few of the lights to short and melt. I also had sunroof leak I just used air to free it up.
Thank you sir. 2015 that just started leaking. glad i found this!
same here. hoping this is the problem and its only a 12 dollar fix. are your floorboards soaked too?
This leak is also sometimes the rear window Butal seal. on mine it had shrunk leaving the same symptoms. Best to runs water on the cab and test the Seal and the Break light.
I just see that issues on my 2014 you the best i always wacth you videos tanhk you so much sir
Nice Video. I have a 2004 Ford f150 crew cab. I removed the third brake light and put silicone around it. It stopped the leak on the side of the floor on rear passenger and driver side where the door is at for a while. Now the rear seats is getting wet. Could it be leaking from the roof channels or the rear back windows seal?
I cannot get the housing to be flush with the truck, I bought an OEM replacement, I think the lack of a 3rd screw in the middle is also a problem. I may go get some transparent caulk and do a bead around the seal.
Also had this problem with a Ranger.
ford is not the only one who has this problem common on ram 1500s and many other vehichles
I was irritated to find the cab corners and rocker panels rusting on my 7 year old 2011 with 85,000 miles on it. The body shop where I went to schedule the repair says they see these all the time. $3000 fix, all caused by a poor design and water ingress. Ridiculous that after all these years not a single manufacturer can build a truck that doesn't rust out in all the common places.
Because the stealerships can charge you ridiculous amounts of money to fix problems that were caused by bad engineering and poor quality materials straight from the factory!
Could you show how to replace the P roof drip molding and dust cover on a 2004 4.5 super cab thanks for all the video!
I never saw you mention the Focus hatchback body panel leaks. Old gen and new gen have same issues. Body separation from hatch weight. Seems to have been kept hush even though it's common.
I just bought a 2010 F-150 XLT from CarMax. Just like in the video, mine had electrical tape wrapped around too. But there was no stain on the headliner. No signs of leakage. It just gave me one of those hmm... moments. So just Incase there was a problem i bought the suggested replacement from Amazon. While it was apart I put in three new 912 bulbs too. Will see what happens....
Are usually clean up all my openings with red polishing compound. I clean everything on my gigantic 250 van with polishing compound even the windows it’s the only thing that will remove the rust stains that are coming from the bolts on your windows of your van
First, thanks for all your videos. Extremely helpful. Best out there. Second, do you have a link for the gasket that you’d recommend? My light is fine. The gasket is deteriorated but still not leaking. I did put a aftermarket light that leaked so I’m trying to go back to oem & replace gasket
I had a 2013 F-150, I was washing the truck at the car wash... I went a cross the third light with the high pressure water, and said to myself? Well that sucks! Never fixed it, I traded it in, my 2015 doesn't have the same light fixture? I'M hoping it's been fixed? It's doesn't look the same, the light fixture!
I have read that some of the newest gen F150's, 2015+ CHSML's have been melting from excessive heat. Have you seen one of those yet Brian? Whats the fix if you have? Good vid
Mine on the interior has, and it's leaking now. I am ordering a new one currently.
This Video help me so much to fix my F-150.....You got one more subscriber here
So I’m currently at this problem. I just ordered a new 3rd light from Ford and installed it. Went outside after the rain last night and it was dry. Curiosity got the best of me though and I poured a 5 gallon bucket with probably 3-4” of water in it on the roof and it started leaking just like before. What is the problem? What’s my next step?
rear window seal?
Just had this leak happen on my 2013. Great video, thanks for the info! Gonna order an LED, cheaper than OEM.
Is there any link between the leaking brake light and cab corners rotting out?
This! I have the same question.
I have same problem in my 2001 ford escape. I'll try to Fix it in that way.
I had that leak on my e 350 van would drip in rear,remove clean and used rv putty tape,worked great,never caulk or silccone,if you have to change bulb you are in for a fight.
When I took my truck to the dealership to resolve the brake light recall I was told the headliner cleaning nor replacement of it wasn't covered. Has anyone experienced this as well?
About the only problem our service truck at work hasn't had out of the list of problems with that gen of ford truck has had. I think you said there had been issues in the wiring to the cam sensors on the 5.4. like to see a diagnose video as the CEL has been on about 3 years for cam sensors and replacing them didn;t help.
Great video.. but I have a leak coming out of the bottom passenger pillar screw cap.. I check the third brake light seal and it not leaking . I removed the third brake light and stuffed a dry paper towel right behind it. Then I waited for it to rain . I live in the northwest so I didn't have to wait long. Sure enough my pillar leaked. I checked the towel the next day and it was dry as a bone. Next I pressurized the can by turning on the HVAC to recirculate and put my compressor hose in on full blast and shut the door. After that I made up some thick suds and went around all my exterior seals including all window. No bubbles ! I can't find a leak to save my life. Any suggestions ?
Like! For saying what the bulb type is. So many videos do not.
Dude thank you so much for this video!
Great informational video as always, thorough explanation. Thanks
I have a 2011 with no visable signs of leakage. Is this something that should be done regardless?
I've also heard that this could be a cause of the cab corners rusting. Any truth to that?
Got the EXACT same problem with my 2014 ram 3500.
Pulled out seats carpet and UNDERPADDING. Underpadding soaked like a sponge just a recipe for floor rot and mold...
This would have been perfect if we'd have found it sooner, and realized it. But husband is using a company truck now so his 2009 has been sitting. And with all the rain we've had over the summer it now smells of mold in the truck. So now the headliner is going to have to be replaced. You don't happen to have a good video on that do you?
The look on your face when plugging those bulbs in! Haha Brian you crack me up! I just had to splice my new third brake light in. Got to love aftermarket!
Hey can you give details on the splicing job done ?
Any fix for the fog lights that keep blowing up in the 2004 F150? Thanks for all the videos.
Shouldn’t this issue have been a recall because of a faulty design of the part?
No recalls generally only pertain to safety concerns.
Makes sense, great video.
Duragloss upholstry cleAner works better without over wetting
You would think a rubber gasket would be better than the foam, both for the OEM and especially the replacement
The new gasket is a of the rubberized foam variety.
I added some little rubber washers that are the size of screw heads.
Not but a couple weeks and my new OEM 3rd brake light from the ford dealer leaked. this time not just inside the fixture .
I really would have liked to seen the finished product.
It came out like new in the end no trace of stains.
Thanks!
Have you ever had to replace the third brake light wiring harness that melted where the bulbs screw into the sockets?
I have this issue on my 2000 ford expedition 4.6L V8 Triton XLT and I'm trying to figure out how to do this but I'm getting different answers and some say that area has to be sauntered.
Any advice from anyone would be appreciated for this newbie female diy mechanic.💅🏼😊
Safe lite was out to replace my windshield today and pointed out my rear window leaks. The stains are very faint and hard to notice without a flashlight. However, in want to fix it. Is that all it usually is, just the center brake light? He told me it's also the rivets or something under the weather stripping on both sides of the cab.
Great, Thanks for the info. If this is a known issue shouldn't Ford step up and provide free headliners and lights? Their poor desgin caused this problem, or am I mistaken?
Another common issue I see with F150's, according to posts I see on the web, is the rear defroster suddenly stops working. This just happened on my truck. Any videos of you fixing this condition coming soon?
+mjfnh70 yes on the newer ones the only fox I know of is to replace the glass
My cab corners have rusted out. No sunroof. I've read the brake light leak is the reason?
I guess I've been lucky with mine.I've got a 2004 that I've had for 10 years.No leaks from the third break light.
I noticed that my 3rd brake light has some green crap on the inside of the light and I am wondering if it has been leaking into my headliner as well. I have a black headliner and would not be able to tell without touching. I would think I would know since it rains 8 to 9 months a year here in Washington state and there would be some tell tale sign of an issue. I will check this out if it stops raining.
On black head liners I would still see white rings or stain lines. Water ingress in the light fixture is common it doesn't mean the outer seal is also leaking.
FordTechMakuloco
I just checked it out and it's nice and dry.
I have a 2013 Superduty with inoperative fog lights. I've verified the fuse, indicator on the headlight switch illuminates. Even tested the bulbs. Have you encountered fog lamp relay failures in the body control module?
Thank you, you saved me $178
Can you please tell me which spark plug i should use in a 1997 f-150 with the 4.2? can't find the original p/n, thanks
These are the latest plugs for your engine from Motorcraft- amzn.to/2nKzo9z
I tried to replace my lights earlier on my 2012 but the light housing is stuck on should I use a pry tool to try and get it off