Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

[RTBRD]

I guess I should not really complain with 5.5 years and just over 50K miles on the car but I just had to change the left rear taillight bulb and the engineer who designed this arrangement and his stupidvisor who signed off on it should be drawn and quartered. I suggest than anyone who does not have much mechanical aptitude take the car to the dealer (or shop or friend) to have this done but don't expect to be kissed. Fords price to replace the bulb is about $25, locally. BTW, the service advisor said to expect to pay around $5 for the bulb because it is for a TBird. Mind you now that this is a standard 3157 bulb (I paid $1.59 for a pair) which are made by the millions if not 10s or 100s of millions.
I have always felt that design engineers should be made to work on their designs, my guess is things would be a lot easier to fix.

[Borla Babe]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Joe, I think the Ford engineers plan their designs to make repairs and or replacements difficult. What better way to get your car into the shop and take your money?
I had my car in for a oil change a couple years back, I told the fellow as he took my car back to the garage to replace the drivers windshield wiper as it was not doing its job anymore. Come billing time, not only was I charged for the windshield wiper, but another $6 for installation. I nearly flipped....NEVER AGAIN! Its no wonder Ford has the problems it does today.......

[FritsB]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Had to do the same thing a couple of weeks ago Joe.
I had the same thoughts.

But look at the bright side...
if this is a thing that only happens to us once in every five years there are a lot of things that bug us much more and more frequent than that

I always try to find the positive side in every negative one

[AZTB]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Had my '02's driver side back light changed by the dealer in '03...$30. I stood and watched him struggle through the process. Service tech wore a ring, with which he subsequently scratched the shift knob. Bottom line: dealer had to order me a new shift knob (turquoise) and install it. So, I somewhat got my pound of flesh out of them for the $30 light bulb!

[Ray]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Man oh man, the price we sometimes pay to have FUN FUN FUN in our Birds!

[FritsB]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Man oh man, the price we sometimes pay to have FUN FUN FUN in our Birds!

..and it does not even have a back seat

[FUN X 3]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

I've replaced the headlight bulbs myself, it's not really all that difficult. But I've looked at the tail lights including the center safety light, and the lack of access to them, and just shook my head at how one would go about replacing those. It's definitely a job for the dealer when it finally happens. I think Julie has a good point, what seems to be arcane design to us may just have been advance planning for future service department revenues.

[joe166]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

If you somehow intuitively know where the bolts are, and happen to have a very deep socket set, it isn't that bad. I took the rear lighting housing off once to get all the leaves out of there. Fortunately, the only rear bulb I have lost was during the factory warranty period and it was covered. I started trying to do it, quit and took it to the L/M dealer where it took them a couple of hours (some waiting time) while I sat in their dumb waiting room and watched other people watching Judge Judy.

I guess that is why bulbs are included in the basic warranty. I haven't looked into my extended warranty, but I got the super deluxe one so maybe I am still covered.

[007Cruiser]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Here's a two pronged solution for long bulb life:

1.) Don't drive at night

2.) Don't brake

[Gobird]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Joe, the tail light is a breeze to replace. Wait till you try the third brake light!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RTBRD]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Spence, NOT!

[RTBRD]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Julie, I couldn't agree more, there could be no other reason for the 4 inch long bolt that won't allow a normal socket over it. Spend, spend, spend, keep the (Ford) economy going.

[Sweet T]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

Aren't there two bulbs on each side or maybe three? I don't recall.

I remember replacing mine a couple of years ago.....had to borrow a tool from a neighbor.....scraped my knuckles....and thought, "I'm not going in here again. I'm replacing all the bulbs while I'm here."

I seem to recall I had a blonde moment.....neighbors all around....they were baffled too,....when I couldn't for the life of me get one of the bulbs to light. Didn't work with the headlights, brake lights or directionals. Took a full half hour to figure out it was a bulb just for reverse.

[islandtime]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

..and it does not even have a back seat

Oh, my!!!!

[redbirdman]

Re: Some choice words for a TBird design engineer

I know what you mean.tail light bulbs are a bear to change.can't believe all the stuff you have to take off just to get to it.and then that 4" outboard bolt with the nut you can't get to,that's torqued to about 150 ft lbs.what were they thinking.i bet that design guy is still laughing his a** off.