Hey guys...anyone out there running aftermarket "clear" tail lights on their SuperCrews yet?

Curious on what they look like?

 

Hey 2001, those clear taillamp covers that you see are illegal in California and in most states, but most buyers do not realize this or dont care.

The ones I've seen for sale through f150online will add the red taillight bulbs so you get a red stoplamp. The problem with that is that there are no red bulbs authorized for use in the U.S.

NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Association) has addressed the issue of the white lense covers and the red bulbs. NHTSA says that for the red bulbs to be "legal" the bulbs would have to be made with a 24 carat gold base and would cost around $400.00 a piece. So you know thats not going to happen.

Secondly, the white lenses that are being made probably have not been tested for the three year fade test that all 0EM lenses that come with your vehicle have gone through.

I know that is more info than you wanted to know, but to be safe and legal, you might want to contact your local police department and find out what your vehicle code allows you to do to your lighting system. What a lot of people don't realize is that if there involved in a rear end collision, and there vehicle has white tail lenses, and there vehicle was the one rearended, they could be cited for the lenses, and found as a "contributing" factor in the crash.

Hope this wasn't to much info
Az

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white w/harvest gold trim,2001 supercrew,5.4, w/duraliner and magnaflow exhaust.
next item: superchip

 

Az...thanks for the feedback buddy!

You have brought up some interesting points about the clear tail lights and laws/accidents...I now think I will forget this clear tailight upgrade...and move onto bigger things.

Thanks again!

 

My two cents!

In Colorado the lens cover must be red by law! Red bulbs will not cut it. Any clear lens will eventually net you a ticket, and if determined they were the cause or partial cause of an accident could adversly affect you in a law suit by the other driver. Being a police officer I have written tickets for clear rear lens on vehicles in my jurisdiction.

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Mtn Mike

 

2001, glad I was able to change your mind. Mtmike and I are in the same business it seems and he brought up the great point of civil liability. That's where the "big" money is and you don't want to lose in court in civil issues.

Mtmike, I have written close to 100 tail light violations (cvc 23003) in my town, and more modified intake tickets due to the huge import racer vehicles that come into our town to race. When you get a chance check out the ones for sale in this site with the red lenses. They too are illegal. If your interested, I can fax you some info that I have from NHTSA. You can get a hold of me at azambonin@ci.fremont.ca.us

stay safe.
Az


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white w/harvest gold trim,2001 supercrew,5.4, w/duraliner and magnaflow exhaust.
next item: superchip

 

Modified intake tickets?

-AR

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2001 F-150 XLT 4X4 Off-Road, S/C, FS, Black[*] 4.6L Triton V8 HPI[*] 5 Speed / 3:55 Reg. Axle[*] Keyless[*] Premium Audio CD

Mods:[*] K&N Cold Airbox / Throttle Body Mod.[*] Flowmaster 40 (3" x 20" "Turn-Down") [*] Cranked Torsion Bars[*] APC XENON PLASMA Super Whites[*] Bugshield[*] Bedliner[*] Ventshades[*] "Light Argent" 4X4 Off-Road Decals[*] K&N & Flowmaster Stickers (Under the Hood)

Audio:[*] Rockford Fosgate G360A2 Punch Amp[*] JL 12W3-D2 (JL ProWedge Box)

Build Date: 8/23/00 (Kansas City Plant)

arobbins@mail.liberty.k12.mo.us

 

clear taillights are illegal in California because DOT requires red reflectors in the rear and amber in the front

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2001 SUPER CREW 4x4 Lariat White

• Graphite Leather captain's chairs
• 5.4L
• Moonroof
• 6CD
• limited slip
• Tow and Off Road package
• Bed Extender

Mods

• Infinty speakers
• JBL powered sub
• Bug Guard
• Ford molded mud flaps (rear)
• K&N
• Magnaflow 3"
• Bed mat
• Snug Lid
• CRL Powerlite rear window

[This message has been edited by Screwit (edited 11-28-2000).]

 

Keeper! Each state's laws are different. In Colorado the lens has to be amber for the signals. Colored bulbs are not permited. Hopefully, AZ2528 will address your question as he is a California Law Enforcement Officer.

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Mtn Mike

 

Keep busting those ricerboys!! And while your at it, bust them for all of the damn thumping noise from their stereo's. If I wanted to listen to rap music, I would have bought the CD. Thanks for my turn on the soap box...

 

wondering if you enforcement guys...and thanks for doing your job...can answer a question on the "clear corners" are they legal for the front turn signals with the amber bulb in place...thanks guys

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2001 lariat supercrew
black...factory running boards/moonroof/k&n filter/duraliner/leer top/sheepskins/
future mods...
superchip/exhaust?/clear corners/WMS intake/

 

Hey guys, sorry for the late response, I'm on my days off, and unfortunatley had to take my crew in for some warranty repair. No biggie, a paint bubble, and paint run, and a clunk during slow right turns. The shop couldnt figure out the clunk though..Anyone else with this problem?

Back to the clear front side markers, Keeper15, It is illegal in California to change them to clear. As you may have seen on some import cars, they have changed the markers to clear lenses with blue, red and other strange bulb colors. If you car/truck came with amber markers, keep them. If you notice, the 98-00 Crown Vic "cruisers" you see us driving have clear sidew with a amber bulb, but take a look just below them and you will see a amber reflector. That takes care of the amber side marker along with the amber bulb in a clear side marker. The area where the amber bulb with this cruiser also acts as a reflector too.

So to answer your question about changing to clear markers but a amber bulb, no it is ILLEGAL, AND NOT A FIX IT TICKET. You will have to get it fixed, signed off, and pay a fine. Remember, this is California law, so check with your local, or state vehicle codes so your in compliance.

Jackal, you asked about modified intake tickets, or at least that's what I think your asking. In California under vehicle code 27156 (c), if you modify your intake with a product that does not have what is called CARB EO(California air resource board, exucitive order) numbers, it is illegal because your modifying your smog functions.

For example, K&N makes a FIPK, for f150's up to 2000. They have CARB EO numbers from year 2000 and down, but not for 2001, (I have written to them about this, and hopefully it will be taken care of soon). Anyways, if your in California and put on a FIPK for a 2000 year truck on a 2001, you would be in violation of vc 27156(c), because there are not active CARB AND EO for this truck.

So far, I havent seen this problem in trucks, mainly in import cars. If the owners of these cars would play by the rules and buy FIPK with the correct numbers, they won't get a ticket. But they don't because they buy products w/o the right stuff because it's cheaper. Jackal, check your local laws, they might not be so smog crazy.

Anteater, you bring up a great ticket I love to write. In California, if your stereo can be heard 50' from you car on city street/highway, you can be pulled over and cited for it. And the great part, it's a moving violation. As you know it's a safety issue to. How many of you have seen us rolling "code 3", but not heard our siren until we are right on top of you? Then again, sometimes it just doenst matter, I've had people stop in front of me while rolling code three and look at me in the rear view mirror with a look of "what do i do"...Mtmike, have you run into that a few times? If only we could have .50 caliber guns attached to the front end!

okay, hopefully this has answered a few questions. If not, let me know, but remember, I'm in California, I can't speak for other states.

stay safe,
az



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white w/harvest gold trim,2001 supercrew,5.4, w/duraliner and magnaflow exhaust.
next item: superchip

 

az2528,
I was wondering how your problems with paint were resolved? I have a rather disturbing paint problem on the edge of the tailgate. Looks like remains of a run and some funny stroke like marks that look like they are in the paint not the clear coat. I am somewhat hesitant to have the tail gate painted on a brand new truck. Did you have to have any panels painted?

 

Arbee, I get my truck back today, so I'll try to let you know by tonight how it came out. The two paint problems I found were very minor and you had to get extremely close to find them, but they were still there. I don't think I mentioned were they were earlier: The lower portion on the passanger side door, which is in the harvest gold portion of the paint job.

My main concern was the yellowish color on the roof, but the service manager, who I know, said not to worry about it until it cracks, then Ford will repaint it. I'm not sure about that answer, so I will probably call a dealership that is close to me and see what they say.

I'll get back to you later.
Az

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white w/harvest gold trim,2001 supercrew,5.4, w/duraliner and magnaflow exhaust.
next item: superchip

 

thanks az2528...mtnmike...you guys are da man!
ok i bought the clear corners before checking ..darn..

this board is a money saver ...ticket wise..
keep up the good work on those thumpers..annoying stereo isnt annoying if u
dont hear it..thats the law..happy motoring

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2001 lariat supercrew
black...factory running boards/moonroof/k&n filter/duraliner/leer top/sheepskins/
future mods...
superchip/exhaust?/clear corners/WMS intake/

 

Arbee, I got my truck back and they fixed the paint and it looks like they did a fine job. I assume they re-painted the area. I plan on contacting another dealership about the discoloration on the roof. It is a noticable discoloration.

take care,
Az

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white w/harvest gold trim,2001 supercrew,5.4, w/duraliner and magnaflow exhaust.
next item: superchip