HELP! Third Brake Light

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Jul 25, 2002 | 01:48 PM

mason

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HELP! Third Brake Light

I have a problem that's driving me a little nuts. I've searched the archives and haven't found anything like this. I took my '95 Ex into the shop for an annual state safety inspection on Saturday. Unbeknownst to me, the third brake light wasn't working and the vehicle was rejected. The shop told me that they put a meter on it and the ballast wasn't showing any output though there were 12 volts of input when the brakes were applied. Since my work is very near a Ford dealer I stopped by on Tuesday, picked up a new ballast (almost $85!) and installed it. The third brake light worked fine. EUREKA! I tested it again later that night and it was still working fine. This morning I took it in to get reinspected and the shop calls and says the light is not working! They test it again and it appears the ballast is not producing and they can't find any shorts. What's going on? Is the new ballast defective? Could there be something "blowing" the ballast and what could it be? Is there something else I'm missing? Since the ballasts aren't cheap and they can't be returned I don't want to go get another one until I got this figured out. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

mason

Jul 25, 2002 | 03:09 PM

winfordr

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From: Rural Florida Panhandle

HELP! Third Brake Light

I don't know the answer, but you just triggered my curiosity about the light having a ballast. What on earth for? Does is have a fluorescent bulb in it? I will check this out tonight on my Ford CD.

Winford

Jul 25, 2002 | 04:15 PM

reberhardt

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From: Kelseyville, CA

HELP! Third Brake Light

Yes, '95-'97 Explorers use a florescent light for the third brake light. Fortunately,in '98 Ford switched to an LED third brake light. If the problem isn't the ballast, it is probably the light itself. I have seen posts where people have messed with the wiring to the light and had it start working again for a while. When the ballast was changed, it probably moved the wires around enough that the light started working again. Unfortunatly it costs about $200 and is not easily replaced. There are 7 1/4" rivets that must be drilled out and replaced to change out the light. It probably isn't returnable either if it turns out that it isn't the light.

Jul 26, 2002 | 10:09 AM

winfordr

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From: Rural Florida Panhandle

HELP! Third Brake Light

Too bad someone doesn't make an aftermarket incandescent or LED replacement. Maybe it's because they don't fail that often.

Winford

Jul 26, 2002 | 12:46 PM

mason

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HELP! Third Brake Light

Thanks for your ideas. I checked my Ford repair manual on CD and the light is actually neon! No wonder it costs so much. I'm trying to avoid drilling out the rivets and spending a bunch on the light assembly if it's not the problem. My assumption was that the neon light assembly was good since it worked after I put in the new ballast. I'm going to spend some time with the wiring and see if I can figure out if there is a problem with it. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Sep 22, 2002 | 04:04 PM

laurent5

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From: mcmurray usa

HELP! Third Brake Light

I woyuld love to hear what you find. My third light on my 96 explorer is doing the same thing. I also replaced the balast with no luck

Sep 23, 2002 | 07:24 AM

mason

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HELP! Third Brake Light

Turns out the new ballast I bought was defective! I ended up taking the truck to the dealer only to find out the ballast they sold me was bad. They gave me my money back on the ballast I bought but it still ended up costing me another $80. Very frustrating but it's working now. I did end up taking out the neon light assembly just to make sure there wasn't a loose or frayed wire on it. I put screws back in instead of the rivets so if I have to do remove it again it won't be such a hassle.