MyGalsFusion Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Hello everyone! My girlfriend got rear-ended on her way to work the other day, and aside from the bumper cover, bumper reinforcement, tail light, and dent in the trunk lid, there are some other issues that are unrelated that I need to fix. License plate lights: Looks like the metal tangs inside one of them have rusted and broken off, so I need to replace at least that section of it. The other side is rusty as well, so I may end up buying a pair of them, if I can find them. While attempting to pull the sockets to check them, a friend of mine managed to break off one of the tabs that clips the socket into the 3rd brake light... so, I may need one of those as well. I guess my question is whether or not anyone else has run into this same corrosion problem, and if there are any fixes that would prevent this from happening again. Really frustrated with the fact that I've already had to scrub one of them free of rust to get the bulb to work and now I have to replace them both. I've been told by a couple mechanic friends of mine that it's a really common issue with these Fusions and Focuses. Fog light: We also found out that the project globe on the driver's side fog light is broken and I'll have to replace that. Seems pretty straightforward. All of that being said, are there any suggestions for vendors or places you guys have had luck buying from? Just looking for any help I can get. Thanks! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueOval2010 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 (edited) I had to replace both plate lights on my 2010 due to corrosion and cracked lenses. You'll need to get them at the dealership, and I think they were about $25 each. Parts guy told me to save my receipt, as these are the same ones that were used on the Taurus, and those were recalled and replaced at no charge. I doubt that they will recall ours this late in the game though. Part # is 8T5Z-13550-B Edited January 18, 2016 by BlueOval2010 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyGalsFusion Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 The dealership wanted to charge her a $50 deductible on her maintenance plan to replace the socket almost 3 years ago when a bulb went out. So, I told them to buzz off and I pulled the bulb and did my best to clean it all up myself. Put it back in and it all worked fine until a week or so ago. When she was rear-ended, I happened to notice that the same bulb was out again. Went to replace it and one of the tangs rusted and broke off. Ordered some of those ebay LED replacements, tried to replace them the other day and they don't fit. Well, not with the stock screws. Saw somewhere that I could have used longer ones, overlapped the existing one, and hoped that the tangs kept contact. In the process of trying to figure out how to make those work, we removed the stock sockets and managed to break off one of the retaining snaps on one of them. So, I Googled that part number and found a few fairly cheap places to buy it - ebay, Amazon, etc. - rather than go to the dealer again. I think I'll just buy a couple of those and replace them myself.... you know, after the car gets back from the body shop. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TNEQJ9U Last bit of business with the fog lights - I think that the tow truck might have actually done that damage, but I suppose that I can't prove it. I know that they had some issues getting the tow arm down far enough because of the snow/ice built up on the side of the road in front of the car... might have swung a bit and ended up breaking up the fog light projector. Either way, I can't prove it, so I'll need to buy one of those, too... and man are they expensive... $80?! Wow... Anyway, thanks for the help. That part number will definitely come in handy. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyGalsFusion Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 So, I'll follow up on this thread. I ended up purchasing new license plate bulb sockets. Managed to break a retaining clip on one while trying to get it out and figured with all of the rust on the lenses, I should just get them both... cost me around $30 on Amazon for the pair. Long story short, I couldn't believe how much corrosion I saw not just of the screws and metal clips inside the lenses, but of the socket part of the wiring harness, too. Some of the pics below show how rusty the lenses got from the screws and clips inside, others show the corrosion that showed up on the sockets, but I think it actually originated in the wiring harness socket. Had to squeeze some of the bulb socket connection to where it clips into the wiring harness to break up the oxidation and break it loose, as it had swelled up a bit and wouldn't come apart. Anyway, I also bought some stainless steel screws to replace the OEM ones, hoping that it will be one less thing that can or will start rusting and causing issues. Seems to be holding up pretty well so far. Hope this helps some people that are having the same issue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drolds1 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Thanks for following up! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Do you have a part number/link for the replacement socket, MGF? TIA! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyGalsFusion Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 Do you have a part number/link for the replacement socket, MGF? TIA! Bought them on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00TNEQJ9U/ $7 each, free shipping right now. Part number should be in there somewhere. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWWPerfA_ZN0W Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 8T5Z-13550-B - got it, thanks! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyGalsFusion Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 You're welcome! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyross Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I looked at my 2011, and they don't look bad. The screws are somewhat rusty, but the lenses and interior look clear. I assume there is some sort of seal when properly screwed in? Maybe yours were not fully sealed, allowing moisture to get in and rust. Or there was a crack in a lens or housing. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyGalsFusion Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 I mostly blame the salt on the roads, but there must have been some moisture in there somehow. Looks like some of the foam seal had deteriorated into a gooey mess in a spot or two. Either way, they were really bad, obviously. Nice to have them fixed for now. Hoping the seals still work with the huge LEDs in there.... Snug fit. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueOval2010 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 I just checked the Ford assemblies I installed last year and they still look new. They must have corrected the issue that existed with the original ones. Hopefully. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stadawim Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 (edited) I'm going to update this because mine also look like this. And i guess i'll get the replacements to fix one that is all cracked and rust spotted. However, i wanted to point out that the foam seal is pretty nice and intact. So i wonder how the rust got in there? Is that the rust problem carried down from the HMSL fixture? I thought i read somewhere in here how to fix that.... But i also wanted to ask - am i like the only one who wants to NOT get bright white or whatever color LEDs in these fixtures? I want no part of authority-types having a BETTER view of my plate than they already have. A nice dull yellowed bulb will be just fine for them and me. Edited October 5, 2019 by Stadawim 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyGalsFusion Posted October 5, 2019 Author Share Posted October 5, 2019 7 hours ago, Stadawim said: I'm going to update this because mine also look like this. And i guess i'll get the replacements to fix one that is all cracked and rust spotted. However, i wanted to point out that the foam seal is pretty nice and intact. So i wonder how the rust got in there? Is that the rust problem carried down from the HMSL fixture? I thought i read somewhere in here how to fix that.... But i also wanted to ask - am i like the only one who wants to NOT get bright white or whatever color LEDs in these fixtures? I want no part of authority-types having a BETTER view of my plate than they already have. A nice dull yellowed bulb will be just fine for them and me. Could be the HMSL, or moisture finding it's way up through the threads of the screw, maybe? Or the foam seals degrade over time with exposure to the elements. Either way, I highly recommend the stainless screws. New parts stayed rust free until the car was (barely) totalled with 140k+ miles on it. As for whether or not I want law enforcement to be able to read my plate? Absolutely I do. I've been stopped while doing 71 in a 65 only to have them tell me that my plate light was out (different car), recommend that I slow down, tell me they're writing me a ticket for the plate light. (Ended up not doing that, but running back to my car, throwing my license back at me, saying "get your sh*t taken care of", and chasing down someone that didn't move into the left lane when they went by - a highly-enforced, relatively new law in NY now.) Anyway, my point is that if you're brightly displaying your plate info, they're probably less likely to think something is up. And unless you're actively hiding from the law, I don't see how a dimly lit plate would be of any help to you. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stadawim Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 (edited) Well i had seen that the HMSL is a common rust cause in the Fusion, so i thought maybe it was filtering through the fixture and getting down to the lights. Maybe? I dunno. I do have the rust starting at the ends of the chrome, so most likely it'd get through, yes? And it's not like the "dimly lit plate" is being any help. I just remember a time when ALL lights were dull yellowed bulbs and it makes no difference to me what color or how bright the plate light is - i don't see it when i'm driving, nor do i use its light. So it doesn't matter what light comes out of it. Just my opinion.? Mine is gonna be a regular ol' bulb back there. Any John Q Laws that don't like it.... meh. Don't care. They will or won't based on their attitude that day. I find that you just can't trust how their day is going. If you get pulled by the cop who just found out their SO is cheating on them, you're gonna get the blunt end of the stick anyway. Quite frankly i make do with regular ol' bulbs in lots of places; LEDs don't 'do it' for me like it does for these other peeps. And i'll NEVER put LEDs in my classics - that's just wrong. Edited October 5, 2019 by Stadawim 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangster Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 Well Michigan (WAG as to where to live, but most states are the same...) has the following rule: Quote Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and placed so as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. So it has to be "white" (even if it is old school school halogen bulb) and there is an amount of light that is needed to see if from 50 feet. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stadawim Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 Yea, that's same here in WI. I think "white" light is the grey area. Lights haven't been white for a long time, and most bulbs can't even produce white light. The 'warm' glow. So that should be sufficient. I've (knock on metal) never been stopped for it before truthfully. But have been stopped for tinting the plate! Though nothing came of it.? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyGalsFusion Posted October 7, 2019 Author Share Posted October 7, 2019 I'm pretty sure that's more to mean that they CAN'T be amber, red, blue, or any other color. I think they can tell the difference between amber and "warm white" which does have a bit of yellow color to it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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