Melted / mis-shapen taillights

That is why a challenge grill is needed, its not just for looks but to allow heat to escape and not melt tail lights

 

They melt anyway. Ferrari has a warehouse somewhere filled with all the melted tail lights returned under warranty.

 

Why do some melt and others like mine dont? Was there a bad batch?
MB: Stupid me, mines got a challenge grill. Forget my last

 

I have the rear Challenge grill and the inboard tail lights were cooked (inside white section became convex). Replaced under warranty and never happened again. They think it might be the bulb being too close to the lense.

 

The challenge grill will make no difference....they all melt, and replacements I would assume will eventually melt as well. I agree with Willis, the bulb is too close to the lens. I think it is the back up light that causes the damage, as it seems to always be the inboard lights that melt. Replacements are not terribly expensive...I think Ferrari of Seattle charges $137 each, plus labor to install (you can easily do it yourself).

 

I disagree with the last post. My inboard lights also deformed before I installed the challenge grill. No problem after.
Darrell.

 

No problem here with Challenge Grill. The bulbs too close to the lense? Common, how long are the reverse/break lights on at a time anyway? FWIW, I raise the back hatch and sometimes place a fan to cool the engine quicker when I return after a hard drive. Not sure if it makes much of a difference but I was told it helps to lengthen the life of seals etc. ??

 

Well, how would you explain the melted tail lights on 550's?

 

Dave Handa is correct, it is the reverse engagement that causes the heat according to what we have seen also.

 

CHAA your not hooking in hard enough

giddy up

 

Can anyone take a picture of this? Just curiouse...

 

to DAVEHANDA. I wasn't speaking of the 550.

 

they melt because the 355 is an 8 cylinder engine and they dont go fast enough

 

It doesnt go fast enough????

Is it the car or the driver!!!

I certainly whip my 355 spider just as hard as my 996 twin turbo.

 

Just to confirm, I pulled one of my tail lights apart and confirmed, that the center light on the inboard tail lights on the 355, 360 and 550 is the back up light...it is a 22 watt bulb, and is positioned about one inch closer to the clear part of the lens than the two dual filament bulbs on each side (5watt running light/22 watt brake light). This also explains why the outside lights rarely fail, since there is no center back up bulb in them, just the dual filament 5w/22w bulbs positioned on each side (left/right)

 

But that is my point, the 550 inboard tail lights melt, and the engine is in the FRONT!

I figure in your case either you do not use reverse as much, or perhaps Ferrari has improved the part (doubtful). Of, just a fluke...who knows?

 

Ya know it's funny you mention it. I really don't reverse that much in the car. Out of the garage but not that much during normal use. I usually pull through parking spaces as a habit. So I leave going forward. Also not too much parallel parking.

 

Interesting....I guess the (partial) solution is don't leave your 550, 355 or 360 in reverse for long periods! Maybe the permanent solution is to get lower wattage bulbs for the back up lights?

 

I have the same problem with my Nissan. I have the european lamps with the built in rear fog, it is supposed to be a euro 21 watt bulb, but I could only get US spec 27 watt bulbs at the parts store.

I don't know how the houseing goes together, but one option would be to replace it with a LED taillamp bulb. Less energy and less heat. Only problem I could think of is the directional aspect of LEDs.