I was given this a last Monday. I'm getting ready to move and re-found this. It was posted in the El Paso Times between either Dec 9th-Dec 11th.

Feds Investigate Trucks:
The government has opened an inquiry into the brake lights on the Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series trucks from the 2003-05 model years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration saif Friday in a posting on its Website that it was investigating the potential for a short circuit in a wiring harness that could blow a fuse providing electrical current to all brake lamps. If that occurs, the brake lights could fail, the agency said. The preliminary investigation involves more than 510,000 trucks.

 

So does that mean Ford would fix it for free? And clean all that mud out from behind my tails? lol

 

Dunno, time permitting I'll find out either today or tomorrow. I'd assume that warranty or not it's a factory defect that should be free of charge. Or at least in my opinion should be.

 

This has happened twice to me. For some odd reason, it keeps popping the fuse. I didn't know I had no brake lights until Bailey almost smashed me and yelled at me to fix them...

 

I know my 3rd brake light is almost out... I'm gonna replace the bulbs when I get another job. I haven't had any problems with the tails being out though.

 

hmm i need to stay on top of that since thats within my years

 

That's awesome. Does it sometimes work and sometimes burn out too? How can it be 'almost out'?

 

Its probably because most rangers have the gasket leaking on the 3rd brake light and the water can go down and get in the plug in or something...But there are lots of things ford needs to recall for the ranger...

Rocky

 

I had this problem. I was driving for lord knows how long with out brake lights. I got pulled over by a cop for it. That's when I found out. The dealer tried to say it was the fault of the people that installed my topper, and wanted me to pay. I fought it and they eventually fixed it under warranty. I know the guy that did it and he said it was a short in the third brakelight.


~HJ

 

lmao. i was thinking the samething when i read his post.

 

our lights have no protection, i had to replace the whole driverside socket last year from snow/salt pack on the back of the light.

there is no flap or and body for that matter tha prevents mud and snow from flying right into the back of the lights and distroying them.

thats when i made my own flaps to cover them up last year after it happened to me

 

I haven't had any problems yet myself.

 

your truck is too babied trent.. hehe



sand/dust never hurt anyone

 

Babied? Lol, you must be verrrrrry mistaken, :) . I'll let the bent frame, damaged skidplate, chipped paint, broken fiberglass, and the worn down leaves do the talking!

 

ummm trent sarcasim... big ole jk


haha yes.. function over form

 

remove two screws in 3rd brakelight housing.
apply thin bead of clear RTV silicone sealant along gasket.
re-install screws.

solved, for the cost of supplies you should have in your toolbox already.

 

mine doesnt leak, and behind my tail lights is like new. prolly cause i thoroughly wash my truck =x