Anyone having problems with the 3rd brake light not working on the 97 Ford Explorer 4X4 Sport?

I went for inspection, and after inspecting the vehicle, they stated the part for the 3rd brake light was on backorder for 1+ year. Any chance of this going to recall? This is the first I have heard of it.

 

Moving back to top...

 

The lamp module and the "ballast." It wouldn't be unusual for these to get scarse because I think this was only used for two years before they went to the LED system. Ballast is about $80 and don't know about the lamp. If my 97 ever fails (got water in the lamp now), I'll probably just stick some LEDs in the assembly. That factory stuff is too rich for my blood. Think you have no chance for a recall. Have they told you which part is bad.

 

I believe the lamp module was about $130 a couple of years ago. I would guess the lamp module might be harder to get. Ballast usually goes first and they are pretty basic. The neon lamp module was only used in 95 to 97.

Mason

 

The third brake light (center, high on tailgate) on my 96 explorer quit and is needed to pass inspection. I checked the input voltage on the ballast - 12-volts, ok. I check the output voltage - Nothing. So, I know the ballast is bad, and not sure about the neon lamp module assy. In a normal car, when a brake light burns out, you can buy another one. But, no-ooo, in the 96 explorer, Ford had a better idea. The dealer doesn't sell any replacements because it is backordered for who knows how long. I contacted customer service via phone and email, but they just contact the dealer and call you back and tell you what the dealer already told you. The dealer said that this part is a problem for them and they can't seem to get any. Ford doesn't seem to be placing any priority on having them manufactured. I know from the dealer that this is a common problem and they have said that they are unable to convince ford to provide these parts and that it appears to be a national problem with other dealers as well. Anyway, I contacted the supervisor of customer service and she said that the only thing she can do is to act as an intermediary between the customer and dealer. They have no way to do anything other than that. For Ford customer service to refer me to the dealer, is a Catch 22. ......

The dealer can't get the part and refers me to customer service.

Customer service says I have to get the part from the dealer.

Is there any way out of this loop? Does Customer service work for anyone, or is it just one big happy circle of people who do nothing but write letters pretending to care about people?

Anyone have any suggestions? I really don't want to buy a trailer brake light and bolt it onto the top of the tailgate.

 

just take out the neon light's and put a row of LEDs up there

 

Iteresting that it would require a $130 electronic brake light control module AND an $80 ballast to turn on a brake light. I think that I will keep my 87 Ranger/95 Taurus for at least another 220K/190K miles. Sounds like the folks that design these things have way too much time on their hands.

 

Since this is appears to be a common problem with 95 to 97 Explorers, if anyone has replaced the neon light with a row of LEDs please let us know how you did it. Thanks in advance.

Mason

 

My overhead brake light was working 'intermittently", so I changed the
ballast ($115) which is located on the inside top part of the tail gate
door and now its working normally. I had to go to a Ford dealer to get
the part.....('96 Explorer)

 

Another option is to get a computer 4W "cold cathode" neon from a computer store. www.case-mod.com has these for between $11-5 and you get two tubes and a 12V ballast. If you are creative this should work for replacing either the ballast or the neon tube.