TailLight

Howdy.

I have a 2005 Focus ZX5 SES. The right rear tail light stopped working, so I got the appropriate replacement bulb. In attempting to follow the instructions of my "05 Focus Owner's Guide" (July 2004, Second Printing), on page 35, I'm not having an easy time getting the bulb socket to come out. I'm hoping someone here knows the trick and can help me out.

I'm stuck on step #4, which reads, "Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise as far as possible and pull it out." I've turned the bulb socket counter-clockwise, and it makes a click, which makes me think it is free. So, then I try to pull on it, and it won't budge. I've tried to get a flat-head screwdriver in there to get it free, but no luck. After it clicks when I've turned it counter-clockwise, I can turn it no farther, because there are wires attached to the bulb socket assembly and they are stretched taut. There's nothing in the instructions about freeing up the wires to take the bulb socket out. Seems like this should be a lot easier.

Any ideas?

Thanks.
Mark

 

thefonz

Maybe you've turned it to far. When you turn it counter-clockwise, it will turn sort of stiff and then feel free or loose. Then pull straight out. (maybe a slight "wiggle")

TailLight

Thanks for the input, Fonz.

I've turned it to the point where it seems to click, but then there's no give when I try to pull it out, and I can't turn it any farther.

Thanks.
Mark

TailLight

I discovered after being forceful that the bulb assembly would have cooperated if the wires were held taut. The wires are in wire ties and I could find no way to loosen them without destroying the mount for the wire ties. I took a couple of flat-head screwdrivers and forced the bulb assembly out. In the process, I discovered a couple of other useful things:

1. When I forced the bulb assembly out of the hole it was held into, it pulled away some sort of socket, and I thought for sure it was irreparably broken (well, without getting a mechanic involved anyway). Then, I discovered that it snapped back into place easily enough, and -- voila! -- after inserting the new bulb and reattaching the wires, everything was good as new, except that I still had to fit the thing back into the hole I'd forced it out of.

2. Since I couldn't line up the bulb socket assembly with the slots in the hole I'd yanked it out of, that was when I figured out that there's a clip that holds the wires into a little terminal that attaches to the bulb assembly. (I should have thought to take some pictures rather than have you deal with my poor terminology. Sorry! I have repaired the bulb now and reassembled the tail light already.) Undo the clip and then the bulb assembly would probably turn just enough further to have allowed for it to come out. You undo the clip by pushing down on this little tab on one side and then pulling the bulb socket assembly away from it. Wish I'd thought of that sooner!

Hope this helps anyone in a similar predicament caused by someone at Ford who strove to make those wires as short and tight as possible. Just another half an inch give on those wires would have saved me a lot of grief.

thefonz

Glad you got it fixed and thanks for posting your solution.