Tail light replacement

[gvb1940]

How do you release the red lock tab? Pull up, push down, pull out, push in? Mine is not moving either way.


how do you release the red tab? Mine is not moving in, out, up, or down.

Never mind I got it. But you’re right about that plug being hard to get off.

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[Dgc333]

FWIW, the retail on the LED tail light assembly without the BLiSS module is about $1200. The online parts places like Tasca and Quirk were getting around $725. When I broke my tail light the assembly was on national back order and after waiting about 8 weeks I got a used one off eBay for $500. It had the BLiSS module in it but I swapped the original over.

 

[gvb1940]

I believe you will need to use Forscan to edit the asbuilt for the module to have your VIN in it to communicate with the truck over CANBUS.

Removed the Blis unit from old light, installed it in new light and so far I have gotten no codes. So I guess it did not need to be recalibrated.

 

[Big Blue]

Removed the Blis unit from old light, installed it in new light and so far I have gotten no codes. So I guess it did not need to be recalibrated.

The only time you need to use Forscan is if you use a new or a module from a different truck. If you swap the module from your old light to the new one, your good to go.

 

[gvb1940]

The only time you need to use Forscan is if you use a new or a module from a different truck. If you swap the module from your old light to the new one, your good to go.

Yep! I was reading one of those online mechanic BS threads and they said that it needed to be re-calibrated even with the old Blis. Glad I didn’t pay for their “advice”.

 

[Silverfox1]

Easy replacement, hardest part was shelling out $750, don't ask me how I know!

Do you have a part number for the left tail light assembly that can have the BLIS unit installed

 

[ChiefQM]

About five years ago, I came home from a grocery run and discovered a hole in my left taillight about the size of a nickel. When I learned that replacement from Ford was $1200, I slapped a piece of red duct tape over it and forgot about it. Last week, I chanced to look and found an aftermarket taillight that would accept the BLIS module for about $145. I just put it in, following the directions from the OP. 8mm socket to take out the screws holding the light, had little trouble with the red connector lock - pressed the release with the end of a knife and it slid right out, the connector itself had to be pried off. The four plastic-coated bolts came out with a 9/32" socket -no 6mm socket - and lifted the T-20 Torx bit for the two screws holding the BLIS module, then got the sub-connector off much more easily than the main plug. Reversed the procedure and my first problem - minor but still a pain was fitting the the metal BLIS assembly back into the taillight. The LED guts on the left side of the taillight protruded and assembly refused to go in flush. Being fearful of breaking something, I tried to get the BLIS assembly out and it was now stuck. So I sprayed a little bit of silicone spray on the red weather strip and gently pressed until it dropped in place. I zipped the four bolts back in place to secure it before it changed it's mind, got it plugged in, but did not have the proper zip tie to keep the wire in place so shoved it out of the way with my knife as I pushed the taillight over the pins and into place, holding it as I ran the two 8mm bolts back in. Here is a link to where I got the taillight. https://www.ebay.com/itm/186246429354

 

[Dgc333]

Sounds like that aftermarket tail light was not accurately made. I broke a tail light lens on my 21 Lariat and I wound up buying a used OEM tail light. I don't think it took me more that 10-15 minutes to remove the broken light, swap the BLIS module over to the used one and put it back in the truck.

 

[ChiefQM]

Sounds like that aftermarket tail light was not accurately made. I broke a tail light lens on my 21 Lariat and I wound up buying a used OEM tail light. I don't think it took me more that 10-15 minutes to remove the broken light, swap the BLIS module over to the used one and put it back in the truck.

I worked in the auto parts retail business for a few years, and can attest that OEM is the best way to go - IF you can afford it. The specs are usually off a bit, but within SAE standards. It's on, it's getting sold later this year before the extended warranty runs out and the broken taillight was glaring.

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