Melting Tail Lights???

[User113]

Hi, all. To me, this issue of mine seems really bizarre.

I have an early 2004 truck, manufacturing date 9/25/2003.

I bought the truck in June of 2014, with 260K miles on it.

I drove it around for a couple of years, and all was well.

Then I noticed, in just the last few months, that there was water in the back-up lights. And algae. All I needed was a goldfish. Both sides!

So I took them out to look. The holes for the back-up lights were totally melted. The right side was so deformed I could not even get the bulb out of the opening anymore.

The sealing surface was pulled away from the rubber seal by about ⅜ of an inch.

What I don't get is, according to the mold, the tail lamps were made in July 2003. They've been on the truck for close to fourteen years. But, it's only the last little bit where the back-up lights melted the housings.

I don't get it.

 

[mwilson]

Sometimes just before bulbs blow they generate more heat.. but both sides is unusual... maybe the reverse lights have been staying on as a result of a bad switch or aomething?!!!

 

[mwilson]

What number bulb are they? Possibly wrong bulbs installed before you bought it.....

 

[User113]

Possibly wrong bulbs. Manual says 3057, actual bulb was 3157. Same 3157 bulbs in the other holes as well, which also call for 3057s. Some catalogs say those two part numbers are interchangeable...

I replaced the lamp housings and circuit boards. The one circuit board was cracked, the other was not giving me a good connection to the back up bulb any more, showing a lot of rust. Anyway, I am now using LEDs for the back up lights, hoping it won't happen again. At least not for another 14 years.

 

[sag2]

Many years ago we had tail lights melting on vehicles waiting to cross the border in summer. Turns out when it is 110° outside and you have your foot on the brake for a couple hours the housing would melt. Not sure there was ever a fix as the brake lights were not designed to stay on for hours at a time. LED bulbs back then would have fixed it.

 

[Tuesdak]

You should check your 3rd brake light housing for melting and correct lamp #'s as well. Even the LED bulbs "burn out" in the 105-121 degree heat... LED 3rd brake lights and traffic lights are known for burning out. LED long life is frankly a myth as they are capable, but, cheap design doesn't allow the long life to be reached.

 

[GCroyle]

Mike, Ya missed the boat on this one it's got dual exhaust and high EGT's that's cooking the lenses. Get the EGT's below 2100 F and all's well.

:-laf

 

[Mark31]

Mike, Ya missed the boat on this one it's got dual exhaust and high EGT's that's cooking the lenses. Get the EGT's below 2100 F and all's well.

:-laf

Gary, don't quit yo day job

 

[GCroyle]

I wish I could quit the day job and fix a burned up bulb once in a while!

Happy 4th.

 

[User113]

You should check your 3rd brake light housing for melting and correct lamp #'s as well. Even the LED bulbs "burn out" in the 105-121 degree heat... LED 3rd brake lights and traffic lights are known for burning out. LED long life is frankly a myth as they are capable, but, cheap design doesn't allow the long life to be reached.

Yet another example of planned obsolescence. It's high time we took on the corporations that engage in this sort of subterfuge by doing something about it. The really shameful thing is that the Europeans, and even the French, are way ahead of us on this.

 

[Mark31]

Yet another example of planned obsolescence. It's high time we took on the corporations that engage in this sort of subterfuge by doing something about it. The really shameful thing is that the Europeans, and even the French, are way ahead of us on this.

I wunder does de Franch an udder Europeens set in drive thru lines wid dey foot on de brakes like we'uns do?

 

[User113]

I wunder does de Franch an udder Europeens set in drive thru lines wid dey foot on de brakes like we'uns do?

So here are a few details:


EU Targeting Planned Obsolescence

French Planned Obsolescence Law

Another French Planned Obsolescence Law Article


Something I think would be a good thing here. We're already out classed, out gunned, out maneuvered, out done when up against these giant companies.