As the title indicates, this is one I should know but don't.

Does the 90 F series have a high mount brake light? I only ask because the lens over my cargo light is clear and I doubt Ford would swing for a red bulb, and my Chilton's doesn't say anything about it.

The truck was an old asphalt rig so I'm hesitant to hop in the disgusting bed just for a peek...and I'm lazy.

 

Nope. Even my 93 doesn't have a third brake light. Because my WHITE F350 crewcab has been rear-ended SIX times by idiots, I decided to add this feature.

What I did was acquire a replacement housing, lense and gasket out of the junkyard so I wasn't hacking up the original one.

I ran a wire under the headliner from the clear cargo light and brought it down the driver's pillar and wired it into the brake system.

In the reflective, plastic housing of the cargo light, I drilled 8 holes per side, and soldered up a bunch of super-bright red LEDs, sixteen total. I created four banks of four LED's in series, each bank with a 470 ohm 1/4W resistor.

Since the back of the housing is curved, and the front (lense) is reasonably flat, I wanted the LED's to point directly at the lense so I drilled the holes using an end mill chucked in my drill press rather than a drill bit, so the bit didn't walk and chew up the housing.

The LED's were gooped in using liquid electrical tape which I brushed all over the housing completely covering the LED's, wires and resistors.. I probably should have used a plastic glue but I was concerned about melting the housing or the LED's. Been through that before and it quickly ruins good intentions.

The LED's I used produce 8000 mcd which is more than bright enough for this application, especially with sixteen of them.

The total current draw is less than 100ma therefore it doesn't put a noticable load on the vehicle's wiring. I used 16ga stranded automotive wire for this project, just because I had it lying around.

Pay attention to LED polarity!

 

Question answered. I knew somebody would know.

I've thought about the possibility that someone would see uniform brightness from the tail lights and slam right into me...might work on fashioning something similar.

 

If felt it was necessary. I was tired of having my day interrupted by police activity and the aggrevation of pulling a small, teen-owned import out from underneath my rear bumper.

I have no idea why people can't see a giant, 6997lb white crewcab in front of them. It's not like my truck is inconspicuous in any way.

 

actually, the 94 and up trucks have the third brake light.

red in the center and clear on the sides.

fits in the same place the old light was.

 

There, an even easier solution. Run the extra brake wire and screw the light housing into the hole. No led's or resistors.

For some reason I thought the 3rd light started with the new superduty body style.

 

Yup, my 95's got it......

 

nope, I have one on my 94 f150

 

Yeah, but the LEDs are way cooler. Not to mention, they light up about a tenth of a second quicker, thereby giving your potential rear-ender that much more reaction time.

Jason

 

mi 1990 got it but i doesnt work :S

 

I don't recall ever seeing a Ford pickup without the third brake light, mine has it. I'd be interested in seeing a picture. Does anyone have a picture of the LACK-OF third brake light?

 

I have a 1990 and mine is just a cargo light, I could go take a pic of it but it's dark outside and we have bears around here . . .

 

Mine is a 93, but it doesn't have the third brake light either. Ford started putting them there in 94+ since the government mandated every vehicle have one (it was either 94 or 95, I can't remember). I think I'm going to put one up there once I figure out how to fit it.

 

my 1990 has it... its clear and entirely not visible behind the canopy

 

Very interesting, thanks for the pic Moore.

Yeah it must have been 94+ since both my 94 and 95 both had/have it.