My truck is going to the dealer on Sat for its first service (3500 miles) and I'm wondering if I should say anything about my 3rd brake light leaking. As of right now I have the Z2 GPS antenna coming out in the front of it with the Hella 3rd brake light but b4 this it was still leaking. Do you guys think that they will give me a hassle? I dont want them to order me a new brake light b/c I know have the Hella LED one. What can be done about this top stop the leak permanently? This should be a recall.

 

Recalls are for safety related problems, i am unclear on how a third brake light jeopardizes your safety. But you can use some black RTV to seal the 3rd.

 

I wasnt aware that a recall was just and only for safety reasons. I thought that it would also include problems that thousands of people would have also.

 

Thats why Ford has TSBs, technical service bulletins which help aid techs with 'common' problems: And they do have a 3rd brake lamp TSB. But it pretty much just replaces the lamp. Honestly better off just putting this stuff on there...

 

It really doesn't matter what color RTV to use, but I used clear. Just my .02. It is easier and less hassle to do it yourself.

 

mine doesn't leak, but it has a bug inside of it

 

Are you actually permanently attaching it to the truck or creating a type of ring around the edge.

 

my guess is dealer will tell you it is leaking since its not a "ford mo co" part that is on your truck

 

Right but it was leaking when I had the factory one on too

 

The dealership fixed my stock light when it was leaking and I think all they did was put a better seal on it. But once I got my aftermarket light and ran my XM antenna through I just fixed it myself with some RTV. I just took the light off and ran a bead along the black foam seal then stuck it back down and I haven't had any problems since.

 

Where did the leaks show up when your 3rd brake light was leaking? Ive been getting water on the back seat on the passenger side.

 

That's where the water collects at (from the 3rd brake light, down the glass).

 

I fixed my leak with clear caulk from Lowe's and when I had to change mine out for the Hella LED a quick cut with a razor blade and the light came loose.

BTW Mine never leaked until I ran my XM wire out the brake light, once I replaced it with the Hella LED lights it never leaked again, the Healla has a larger foam gasket that has seemed to work.

 

Im still having this issue. I want the sealant and RTV to be my last resort. Has anyone used or bought a better weather stripping or something of that nature and used it to work.? I got rid of my factory 3rd brake light and bought the Hella one. I was hoping that when I bought the Hella one that it would fix this issue. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME! This is bugging the **** out of me. I went to the dealer but they want to order me another light.

 

can't think of anything besides the RTV. it's pretty simple in concept. i mean, the only thing sealing the holes in the cab roof is the foam gasket on the light. you can either

a) seal the holes up individually (i'm not sure that's even possible given the size of the hole where the harness comes through)

b) try to make your own gasket out of weather stripping commonly found at home improvement stores

or

c) run a bead of silicone around the gasket and call it a day.

A is probably too hard to do to make it worth the time, B probably wouldn't be that easy either since you'll have a seam to deal with that could leak. so C it is. i know RTV seams like a bubble gum and duct tape cure on your $40K truck, but it's better than having a leak.