New Headlight

[ledzilla]

Ok, so I had spent some time and effort trying to restore the headlights, since they were looking kind of nasty, before installing some Xpel film. Well, the driver side just didn't want to cooperate with me fully, so I bought a replacement. I installed the film on the new headlight, but ran into a problem when I went to transfer the bulb from the old headlight. The hole in the back for accessing the bulb isn't the same as either of the headlights I already have. I can't attach the gasket and cover. In fact, there's nothing there for securing the rear cover, and it isn't the same diameter as the original as the gasket is actually larger than the hole.

I'm not sure what to do next. The Xpel film is already applied, but I don't want to install the new headlight without a rear cover on it. I ordered the headlight from Tasca, so I don't understand why this is so different.

I'll try to get a picture of this later today.

[03Merc]

The covers were different on some I believe. They used plastic with rubber seal, then also just a full rubber cover instead of the plastic one. I don't have pics but I know what You are talking about.


#1618 of 3214

[88LTDCV351]

From my experience, the newer OEM headlights did away with the dust cap cover that was with the original. I guess they figured it wasn't necessary. But the bulb secured inside the headlight the same way so you shouldn't have an issue. Unless I'm misunderstanding your issue.

[ledzilla]

Yeah, the bulb is retained just fine, but no rear cover. I wasn't aware that later productions of the headlights did away with using a cover. I guess then I don't actually have an issue, do I?

[SteelQualityMan]

I had to delete those covers on my 03 Marauder because I converted to LED headlights. The units have fans on the back and they needed to be in free air to keep the LED's from burning up. The car's been that way for a while now and I haven't seen any problem with it. My 2001 Grand Marquis doesn't have any covers by design and I don't see a problem with it either.

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[SteelQualityMan]

Oops, don't know what I was thinking. That's a 2001 Crown Victoria not a Grand Marquis.

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[ledzilla]

I guess my only issue now is a mismatch on the back of the assemblies that no one notice once I put the cover back on. =P

And I have been considering things like an LED conversion for my headlights. StreetGlow keeps sending me email fliers when they have sales on them (that's what I get for using my email address when performing testing in their accounting system).

I guess I'm not all that concerned anyway, since nowadays I avoid taking the Merc out if there's a decent likelihood of atmospheric precipitation. But I was certainly surprised to find the difference in the headlight assemblies.

[GoldPanther]

It happen to me when I bought a pair of aftermarket headlight, my oem rear covers didn't fit. I used duck tape as a temporary cover while I got the fully rubber dust covers.

[Shornaday]

Correct If you bought the left OEM Headlight thru TASCA they have the Retainer and Retainer cover for the Headlamp. I just bought all of these not two long ago. All of the part numbers below are the same for left and right, except for the headlamp assembly. They also show the same between 2003 and 2004 models. I would assume because they only have the one headlamp. You can see a picture of each if you check TASCA. Hope it helps..

Manufacturer: Ford
Part Number: 3W3Z-13008-DA
Part: HEADLAMP ASSY, LEFT
Part Notes: 2003-06, MARAUDER
Sale Price: $157.60

Manufacturer: Ford
Part Number: 4S4Z-13N019-AA
Part: HEADLAMP BULB RETAINER, LEFT (Note: this is a rubber cover - ITEM 7 in attached diagram)
Part Notes: 2003-06, LARGE
Sale Price: $5.95

Manufacturer: Ford
Part Number: F4DZ-13N019-A
Part: HEADLIGHT BULB RETAINER (Note: this the retainer ring that locks the bulb into the headlight assembly - ITEM 6 in attached diagram)
Part Notes: 2003-06, SMALL
Sale Price: $8.51

Manufacturer: Ford
Part Number: 3W3Z-13076-AA
Part: SOCKET & WIRE, LEFT (Note: ITEM 8 in attached diagram)
Part Notes: 2003-06
Sale Price: $26.22

Manufacturer: Ford
Part Number: F4TZ-13N021-B
Part: HEADLAMP BULB
Part Notes: 2003-06
Sale Price: $16.79

[ledzilla]

Finally got the photo...

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160414/01f2e7dcd4ef3e189a79d968c993b6 68.jpg

The new one is on the left.

[ledzilla]

I looked back at the diagram on Tasca, and figured item #7 was the missing cover. Thanks for verifying. It was hard to know for sure in that diagram given the part description.