I have an '02 Edge with just a 3rd brake light.

From what i've seen, i should have the wiring/harness up there for the fitting that includes the cargo lights too?

The other thing i've seen is that they cost $85!!!!

Any recommendations? i want to get LED's up there, no problem fitting the bulbs to a factory housing.

Seen a new aftermarket unit for $26 delivered from EBay, or a factory used off an F350 for $17

Thoughts?

 

Is the buggman over here too?

Don't go too cheap on LED's. I regretted it on my dodge years ago. Poor fit, leaks, LED failure...

 

Not sure if he is, i'm good with the bulbs though if i have a stock unit, just looking for the best way to get a unit with the wiring already done.

Can anyone that knows, or has a cargo light, confirm this is the right wiring harness? (this is mine)

 

Looks like Dorman do the stock unit, complete with sub harness and bulbs for ~$30
Just need to confirm if i plug this in, that i'll get the functionality without further messing?

https://smile.amazon.com/Dorman-923-...DEGH64HAWT89AS

 

I can't help with whether or not you have the correct vehicle side wiring for a cargo light. However, I have a 2003 XL that I added that very same Dorman cargo light to and it was fairly easy.

My vehicle side wiring only had two wires and so I had to tap into my interior dome light to light up the white cargo lights. It wasn't hard at all and works great. And I didn't have to move any pins around in the connector for the brake light. But if you have the 3 wires on your vehicle side connection then it should be plug-n-play.

Also, I paid a little extra and purchased a thicker gasket from Ebay. The Dorman gasket that comes on the light is quite thin and I feel it would have quickly leaked.

 

Thanks, that's good info - i gambled a little on the 3 wires part and from someone who also had an Edge who just plugged this in and it worked. Sounds like all should be well.

I'm interested in the gasket issue though, do you have a link? Did you try the Dorman gasket first?

 

Yeah, I got it from this guy:

mccoymotors60 on eBay

I did not try the Dorman gasket first. It just looked so thin that I opted to wait to install the light until I put the new gasket on.
It's been almost a year and so far no leaks.

 

Wow! That's expensive! Guess i'll have to check out what mine comes with Vs the stock unit that's not leaking, hopefully it won't be bad enough to need a gasket half the price of the light!!!

 

I'm here, just don't get on as much as i used to.

If you have the black, black/pink stripe, green wires at your 3rdbl plug, you should be pre-wired for cargo lights.

Don't waste your time with those "led" 3rdbl's on ebay, I got one on trade a year or so ago & it's the most pathetic thing i ever saw. only kad like 7x 5mm led's. no output & the housing was kinda crappy too.

Even my old 5mm led conversions had at least 48 5mm led's but my latest ones use a much higher wattage led that are even brighter than anu i've done before.

If you just want a cargo light with plugin led's, i can hook you up there too. i completely sand & polish the housings & my plugin led's have a much better color than the old bulbs... nowhere near as bright as my conversions, but much more affordable ;-)

You can save $20 on a new gasket too, rub a thin layer of vaseline on the truck under the 3rdbl housing, apply about a 1/4" think bead of 100% silicone to the old gasket & press into place. The vaseline should keep the silicone from sticking to the truck while sealing the moisture out.

 

That is a fix that works, Only thing I did different on my F150 was to let the RTV cure for a few hours. Then tightened the screws evenly.

 

Thanks for the info, good to know, particularly the gasket "cheat"

I started to figure the ebay lights with individual LED's were not going to be up to much, they may have mini reflectors, but they're still old tech LED's.

Curious to see your conversion though

 

check out my buggmn mods youtube page, i have videos of a few of my mods/projects

 

I bought a cargo/ 3rd brake light from the pick and pull for my sons 2002 Ranger Edge and it plugged right in. Nice upgrade from just the all red 3rd brake light

 

So the Dorman unit that i just bought has a nice rubber seal on the back, don't think i'll be needing to make anything additional here.

Pictures to show the seal, not the unit, it's a rubber type seal, not a foam type like the stock unit.

 

Had a thought, even if this rubber gasket is enough, i can use some silicone grease wiped on it before fitting which will keep it sealed up waterproof.

 

It was a tighter fit than i expected, i had to unclip the socket from the mount on the light, it wanted to push through the headliner.

I did put some silicone grease round the gasket, not sure if it needs it, or if the rubber gasket is enough, i have a slight suspicion that something in the cab is leaking, but couldn't see evidence it was the 3rd brake light.

 

I looked at mine this am.. and i do have the 3 wires. plug..i did notice inside the truck tho was a piece of wood across the truck, i assume for the highliner..which by the way is in perfect condition.. I also took a closer look at the dome light.. IOt is almost square and is trimmed in chrome..I ordered a Mustang one anyway and leds for it...BTW... do these cargo lights come with LEDs in them already?

 

Not sure what the piece of wood is, picture?

No the light units do not have bulbs of any type inside them.

 

So what bulbs..i guess there are 3 do u use? I didnt take a pic of the piece of wood..it looked to run the length(width of the cab) was thin..plywood ..and maybe 3 inches wide..

 

I ordered and used these for the cargo lights https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have not yet ordered these for the brake light, just using the bulb right now. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01N56U7...TWMVW13Q&psc=1

 

So the fixture takes 2 different size bulbs? The firs link..2 pieces are for the cargo lights and the second link which would be the brake(center) bulb is smaller but u have yet to get the brake bulb, is this correct?

 

No, they're both T15 or 921 socket types.

 

oh ok.. since i got 2 links i thought they were different bulbs.....what about the already LED lights im seeing on Amazon, are they not good? They seem to be cheaper for sure...smoke color when off i think

 

theres these as well.......https://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts...ad=47362750812

 

Two links so you have white lights for the cargo section, and red one for the brake light. If you put white LED's in a brake light, you end up with hot pink spots, the colour blows out, so you need red LED's to keep them that way.

I looked briefly at the LED fitted ones, they're crap quality, if you want pre-fitted, get Buggmans versions, they're really good.