Beefnuts Posted March 27, 2020 Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 Hi guys, Just wanted to make a post on what the tailgate looks like with the panel removed. I wanted to tint my tail lights and you have to remove the tailgate panel to access the lights on the tailgate. I tinted the lights with VHT Night Shade I uploaded a video to youtube that shows all the pieces. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mzrgMb9OyI For this job you’ll want panel pullers, a 7mm socket, a 10mm socket, pliers, and a flathead screwdriver. Your first step is to pop off the handle cover using panel pullers or the flathead screw driver. Once the cover is off there are two 7mm screws you’ll need to take off. Then you can go around the outside of the panel and start pulling it off. It comes off really easy. There is one wire going to the door close button, just detach that. Once the panel is off I suggest starting with the drive side light. There are 5 nuts that need to come off. Those are size 10mm nuts. The passenger side is the same except the upper outboard bolt has a bundle zip tied to it. Carefully cut the zip tie (NOT THE BUNDLE), and then there is a plastic piece that you need to pull off with some pliers. Then you can access the last 10mm bolt. Each light is connected to a connector which is easy to disconnect. The side lights are easy to take off. There is one bolt hidden by a plastic cover. Once the bolt removed it takes a bit of force to get the light assy off, and there is one connector. Video again https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mzrgMb9OyI Enjoy BEEFNUTS 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beefnuts Posted March 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 This is the back of the tail gate panel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beefnuts Posted March 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 This is the tailgate door with the panel removed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handfiler Posted March 27, 2020 Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 Nice write up. There's a reason why Ford products are so quiet. They use sound deadening materials everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1004ron Posted March 27, 2020 Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 How dark did you go with it? I've seen a good few in my town that are stupid dark and present a safety hazard - it's illegal in my state, but so is texting and driving, and neither is policed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beefnuts Posted March 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 Not too dark. I just wanted to smoke them a bit. I don’t want to be so dark another driver couldn’t see me in bad weather or fog. The state law is the red must be visible. I doubt they’d pull anyone over for that around here anyways. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engr146 Posted March 30, 2020 Report Share Posted March 30, 2020 Nice job,did you notice if there is a way to Change reverse light bulbs,I want to put brighter bulbs but read you cant change out the LEDs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1004ron Posted March 30, 2020 Report Share Posted March 30, 2020 On 3/27/2020 at 5:13 PM, Beefnuts said: Not too dark. I just wanted to smoke them a bit. I don’t want to be so dark another driver couldn’t see me in bad weather or fog. The state law is the red must be visible. I doubt they’d pull anyone over for that around here anyways. If the first picture is "after" then you sure nailed it without going too dark - looks good. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beefnuts Posted March 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2020 Hi Engr146, I didn’t see a way to replace the reverse light. The reverse light is inside the light assembly that’s on the tailgate door. My understanding is you can only replace the entire assembly, don’t quote me on that though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engr146 Posted April 2, 2020 Report Share Posted April 2, 2020 That's what I heard also,but you actually had it completely apart to verify.saved me a lot of unessary work.my backup camera is terrible in my new 2019 SEL ,I have a 2007 SEL with aftermarket head unit built in with led reverse lights and it's perfect backing in to the same spot.wicked bright! Ya! I'm from Boston! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunar_ST Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 have you figured out how to remove the black plastic center panel that runs between the tail lights? I need to get that off in order to get the rear FORD emblem off apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sage Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, Lunar_ST said: have you figured out how to remove the black plastic center panel that runs between the tail lights? I need to get that off in order to get the rear FORD emblem off apparently. Not sure, but I thought the rear Ford Emblem was mounted with double sided tape, something along the 3M type? with tabs to help with alignment. Edited April 30, 2020 by Sage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beefnuts Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 I didn’t look to see how to remove that center plastic piece. If the emblem isn’t held on with adhesive and you want to pull the plastic piece, I would think the bolts for the plastic piece would be easy to see once the tailgate panel is removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunar_ST Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 15 hours ago, Sage said: Not sure, but I thought the rear Ford Emblem was mounted with double sided tape, something along the 3M type? with tabs to help with alignment. Not on 19s. I have tried to use the fishing line, and although there was some Adhesive holding it on edges, there is definitely two mounting points towards the middle. I tried to use a plastic pry tool with no avail. I’m convinced I have to remove that panel to get the emblem off. I will know tomorrow when i disassemble it all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sage Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 (edited) ^^^^ Thanks, let us know how everything turned out if you would. ^^^^ Edited May 1, 2020 by Sage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ONEDGE16 Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 based on the parts picture, it doesn't look like it's bolted on, but for sure those pins would prevent running a fishing line Or floss across to remove the adhesive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunar_ST Posted May 8, 2020 Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 On 5/1/2020 at 7:44 AM, ONEDGE16 said: based on the parts picture, it doesn't look like it's bolted on, but for sure those pins would prevent running a fishing line Or floss across to remove the adhesive. Those two long pins actually have 10mm nuts that’s screw onto them and hold the emblem on. I removed the rear finally. Here is a vid of the removal 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sage Posted May 8, 2020 Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 Thanks for the info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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