2018 expedition headlight assembly ballast replacement

[platinumexpy]

Hey everyone. Has any body replaced the ballasts on the headlight assembly of the 4th generation expeditions? I have the passenger side LED strip that is not fully working anymore. I have noticed this issue from other owners of the 4th generation and was told it's most likely the ballast. Apparently I might have to take the whole front bumper off since to replace it through the wheel well is impossible since half the ballast is covered by a piece of the metal frame. I would like to try this solution out and hoping this is it, or I might have to pull out $1200 to get a new headlight assembly. Thanks

 

[Fizzy]

But... LEDs don't use ballasts... HID bulbs do, but not LEDs.

You have a 2018 Platinum? That came as standard with LED headlights. And they all came with LED running lights.

Your vehicle doesn't have any ballasts in it.

Edit: I just checked, and no gen 4 comes with HID. Only LED and halogen. So no ballasts anywhere. Where did you read about ballasts in a gen 4?

 

[HILLY]

Not entirely true...

LEDs still use a driver similar to that of a ballast driver that HID headlamps use. Symptoms of a failing module is also similar to that of HID (flickering, noise, etc.)

See diagram for item 13C170 (FL3Z13C170B) in this case.

 

[Fizzy]

Good info @HILLY - drivers I've heard of for LED, but not ballasts. I wonder why they elected to intentionally use the wrong term.

 

[HILLY]

I've worked for a couple high end OEMs for over 20 years and seen technology changes. Sometimes components may be different enough for the technology (HID vs. LED), but not in physical shape and basic function (as in this case), so instead of completely renaming, the device name stays the same. This also can quite simply come down to a translation crossover or even the person sitting at the desk during a new product launch, looking at current and previous diagrams, and not knowing better to call it an LED Driver vs a ballast.

 

[Mr Big]

Hey everyone. Has any body replaced the ballasts on the headlight assembly of the 4th generation expeditions? I have the passenger side LED strip that is not fully working anymore. I have noticed this issue from other owners of the 4th generation and was told it's most likely the ballast. Apparently I might have to take the whole front bumper off since to replace it through the wheel well is impossible since half the ballast is covered by a piece of the metal frame. I would like to try this solution out and hoping this is it, or I might have to pull out $1200 to get a new headlight assembly. Thanks

To answer your question, my 4th gen Platinum had a halo fading at the bottom part. The only fix was to replace the entire assembly at a cost of over $1000. Luckily, I noticed it before purchasing the vehicle and made them replace it before pickup.

 

[Mr Big]

Not entirely true...

LEDs still use a driver similar to that of a ballast driver that HID headlamps use. Symptoms of a failing module is also similar to that of HID (flickering, noise, etc.)

See diagram for item 13C170 (FL3Z13C170B) in this case.

View attachment 79942

Is this a HID schematic from a Ford Explorer? If so it's nothing like the LED assembly for the Platinum Expedition. Dealership claims entire assembly has to be replaced.

 

[HILLY]

Is this a HID schematic from a Ford Explorer? If so it's nothing like the LED assembly for the Platinum Expedition. Dealership claims entire assembly has to be replaced.

Look closer at the schematic and headlight assembly. It's for an Expedition.

 

[platinumexpy]

But... LEDs don't use ballasts... HID bulbs do, but not LEDs.

You have a 2018 Platinum? That came as standard with LED headlights. And they all came with LED running lights.

Your vehicle doesn't have any ballasts in it.

Edit: I just checked, and no gen 4 comes with HID. Only LED and halogen. So no ballasts anywhere. Where did you read about ballasts in a gen 4?

Yes I do have a 2018 Platinum Max. And this is the part that I'm talking about. It sits right under the headlight assembly. Some vehicles, not specifically this one, with bad LED strips, they just change this piece to fix the LED issue. I'm just here to see if anyone had that same issue and fix.

 

[platinumexpy]

Yes I do have a 2018 Platinum Max. And this is the part that I'm talking about. It sits right under the headlight assembly. Some vehicles, not specifically this one, with bad LED strips, they just change this piece to fix the LED issue. I'm just here to see if anyone had that same issue and fix.

 

[Mr Big]

Yes I do have a 2018 Platinum Max. And this is the part that I'm talking about. It sits right under the headlight assembly. Some vehicles, not specifically this one, with bad LED strips, they just change this piece to fix the LED issue. I'm just here to see if anyone had that same issue and fix.

I searched the part and Explorers and trucks came up, but no mention of Expeditions. I suggest calling the dealer and chatting with a mechanic who may be able to tell you.
As I stated I had the same issue, so I can only go by what the dealer replaced. I'm sure they would have replaced the $110 part instead of the entire $1000+ assembly, if they could. If it is the same part as the 2019, then the entire assembly may need replacing. If it is different or someone knows of a 3rd party tech that can replace that part, then it may be possible.

 

[SyndicateZ]

If it the led DRL strip that is out, the whole headlight assembly will need to be replaced, unfortunately

 

[platinumexpy]

Well wish me luck. I'm about to replace this part today and see what happens. I'm sure someone else out there has the same issue but nowhere to get some insight on the replacement on this part and if it fixes this issue,or not. We'll see...

 

[sjwhiteley]

LDM: looks like LED Driver Module, and as someone said in this thread, a hold-over on naming it a 'ballast' (car manufacturers are notorious for not naming things what the are). A voltage stabilized 15V. I think it's a smart idea to have that external to the LEDs in the headlight. Hopefully this fixes the issue.

 

[fszatko]

Well wish me luck. I'm about to replace this part today and see what happens. I'm sure someone else out there has the same issue but nowhere to get some insight on the replacement on this part and if it fixes this issue,or not. We'll see...

I also have a 2018 Expedition Max Platinum with a portion of the LED DRL not working on one side. I was also told the only option was to replace the entire $1200 headlight assembly. Very curious if you had success replacing the LED Driver only. Please update when you are done.

 

[MikeTheApeman]

Good info @HILLY - drivers I've heard of for LED, but not ballasts. I wonder why they elected to intentionally use the wrong term.

Probably for the same reason that they say the front suspension uses shocks and not struts. ;-)

 

[pistolpt23]

J

Well wish me luck. I'm about to replace this part today and see what happens. I'm sure someone else out there has the same issue but nowhere to get some insight on the replacement on this part and if it fixes this issue,or not. We'll see...

just curious if this worked for you platinumexpy

 

[Luis Monjaras]

Well wish me luck. I'm about to replace this part today and see what happens. I'm sure someone else out there has the same issue but nowhere to get some insight on the replacement on this part and if it fixes this issue,or not. We'll see...

Did it work for you?

 

[37ford]

I'm having the same issue with the LED strip out, and I was wondering if the part fixes the problem.

 

[Mr Big]

I have read that many certain year Expedition's LED passenger side strips lost the bottom half of the strip.
When I purchased my 2019, the bottom half of the passenger side strip was burnt out. I made them replace it before I would purchase it.
I don't see any easy way or possibly any way to replace just the strip. And man is the assembly expensive. I now keep mine off in running mode, because I think they burn out from too much use.