No More Salvage Yard Tail Lights For Me

[BlueOvalFitter]

About 2.5 years ago I was driving down I-49 at the posted speed limit (75 mph). As I was changing lanes I noticed the drivers side tail light lens go flying off into oblivion. Instead of calling my son for a replacement, I called the nearest salvage yard, after pulling off of the interstate. $25 later and them installing it, I was on my way.
This morning, driving 65 mph on I-10, the drivers side tail light went flying into oblivion, AGAIN! This time I called my son for a NEW FORD tail light. After paying $29.11 + tax and $7.00 shipping over the phone ($38.80 total) my NEW FORD tail light will be here Monday.
And, as the thread title reads, no more salvage yard tail lights for me.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

No guarantee the new ford tail light won't go flying

 

[ecotourist]

Wasn't your first tail light OEM? What did the salvage yard one flying off prove?

Sounds like they were both OEM.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

No guarantee the new ford tail light won't go flying

The factory one took almost 12 years before it went flying. The used one only took 2.5 years to fly away. I think I like the odds of having a NEW FORD tail light.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Wasn't your first tail light OEM? What did the salvage yard one flying off prove?

Sounds like they were both OEM.

Yes it was, and was 12 years old. The used one was from an 08 F150, and OEM. It was 11 years old. Even Stevie Wonder can see this.

 

[PimTac]

I hate to tell you this but it’s not the light that is causing this.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

I hate to tell you this but it’s not the light that is causing this.

Let me guess, the speed limit I'm driving?

 

[PandaBear]

Unless the OEM found a defect in the original design and fix it in the new one they sell you, it will fly off again. It is Ford's fault not the junkyard. Most taillights stay on the car forever, 30 years easily, without falling off.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Unless the OEM found a defect in the original design and fix it in the new one they sell you, it will fly off again. It is Ford's fault not the junkyard.

Yep, I suspect it will fly off again. But, in about 10-12 years, hopefully.

 

[eljefino]

Is there a way the tail gate or bed is flexing and bumping that lens off?

Congrats on having something that takes cheap parts. My wife's saturn outside mirror was $26 on ebay for new or $35 at a junkyard for used.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

I see Stevie Wonder and myself are the only 2 that see the point I'm trying to make here.
Why buy a used, old, salvage yard tail light, trying to save a few dollars, when I can buy a new one and it will most likely last another 10-12 years?

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Is there a way the tail gate or bed is flexing and bumping that lens off?

Congrats on having something that takes cheap parts. My wife's saturn outside mirror was $26 on ebay for new or $35 at a junkyard for used.

Finally! Another member that can see this like Stevie and I.

 

[The Critic]

How are these tail lights attached?

 

[PandaBear]

I see Stevie Wonder and myself are the only 2 that see the point I'm trying to make here.
Why buy a used, old, salvage yard tail light, trying to save a few dollars, when I can buy a new one and it will most likely last another 10-12 years?

If you don't plan to drive it for another 10-12 years?

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

If you don't plan to drive it for another 10-12 years?

Honestly, I'm hoping this is the last vehicle I will ever own.

 

[Dave9]

I see Stevie Wonder and myself are the only 2 that see the point I'm trying to make here.
Why buy a used, old, salvage yard tail light, trying to save a few dollars, when I can buy a new one and it will most likely last another 10-12 years?

Because there's no way to assume that. I wouldn't have assumed the original would fail at that range of 10-12, instead it's a fluke or someone rammed a shopping cart into it or something, and salvage parts tend to not have this problem either unless the person pulling or installing it over-torques or otherwise damages it.

The way I look at it, if it's in visually good condition or will polish up with a bit of plastic polish, why NOT save a few bucks on a junkyard light if it's otherwise going into a landfill and wasting petroleum to make another new one? It really depends on the condition of the part but as others mentioned, tail lights don't generally wear out, don't have a lifespan. I would never pull a wear item integral to core functionality like junkyard alternator, starter, etc (except maybe as a DIY rebuild candidate).

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

How are these tail lights attached?

From what I can see the lens is heat bonded to the light assembly. Maybe they're coming loose from so many hot/cold cycles of expanding and contracting. That's the best that I have on the deficiency.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Because there's no way to assume that. I wouldn't have assumed the original would fail at that range of 10-12, instead it's a fluke or someone rammed a shopping cart into it or something, and salvage parts tend to not have this problem either unless the person pulling or installing it over-torques or otherwise damages it.

The way I look at it, if it's in visually good condition or will polish up with a bit of plastic polish, why NOT save a few bucks on a junkyard light if it's otherwise going into a landfill and wasting petroleum to make another new one? It really depends on the condition of the part but as others mentioned, tail lights don't generally wear out, don't have a lifespan. I would never pull a wear item integral to core functionality like junkyard alternator, starter, etc (except maybe as a DIY rebuild candidate).

I would have seen the mark a shopping would have left.
Oh, I forgot to mention, my passengers side tail light did the same thing when my son had my truck at the dealership to have the roof repainted. He himself installed a NEW FORD tail light. That happened about 2 years ago.

 

[PimTac]

I see Stevie Wonder and myself are the only 2 that see the point I'm trying to make here.
Why buy a used, old, salvage yard tail light, trying to save a few dollars, when I can buy a new one and it will most likely last another 10-12 years?

You can throw out insults all you want. I’ve never had a tail light just fly off while driving.

The problem is the attachment. FIX THAT!!!

 

[PandaBear]

Honestly, I'm hoping this is the last vehicle I will ever own.

Until they stop making tail light and you cannot find them again in junkyard. I've never seen a tail light falls off ever in my life.