tail light lens assy removal... Am I a being an idiot?

[pjw73nh]

Gotta tell ya I'm really pissed off at this point. I have spent 20 minutes trying to get the tailight lens out. 60 minutes poring over the shop manuals. The genuine, green FORD factory service manuals. There is nothing in them on removing the tail light assys.

So I started a search here. Still nothing. That's about 2.25 hours of my life I am not going to be able to retrieve...

Anyway, enough venting.....

I've got a right rear tail light out. If I look close lt, it looks like the socket came out and fell behind the assy.

I fancy myself as a pretty competent mechanical person. I'll be damned if I can find out how the tail light assy comes out on my 08 LTD.

I took the two screws inside the tailgate out. The lens is loose. I don't know which direction it comes out. Pull to the rear? Pull to the side? It's cold. I don't want to force anything or break off any tabs or moldings...

WTF !!!!!

Any help or a diagram much appreciated.

I am appalled that for the $120 I paid for the full set of manuals, that they don't have this information in it.

Thanks.

P.../NH

 

[scubastevesx]

i had the same fun when pulling it out. you have to pull at angle away
from the truck not stright back there are to push pins that are holding
it in and they are tight. the lock into a plastic clip. hope that helps
took me a good few minutes too after a half hour new lens was in
and i was done screeming at the truck if you can spray some lube back there it may help

 

[Lukas2009]

Have a look at this picture. Maybe it helps a little.
You can see the two holes.
Pull the assy out with a 45° angle.

 

[Explorer_PL]

Lukas is the man

 

[pjw73nh]

Thank you both, Scuba and Lukas !!!!!!! Task competed. I would have broken it for sure....

As much as I am pissed at Ford for not detailing this anywhere, I have to give them credit for AT LEAST making the push/guide pins replaceable.....

 

[Lukas2009]

Lukas is the man

Thank you!