I tried to fix my third brake light today.
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Joined: May 2019
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From: chicago
I tried to fix my third brake light today.
Hello everyone,
I was bored today so I decided to try to figure out why my third brake light wasn't working and I was going to order a new plastic lens too because it was really faded to the point of being almost clear. I spent like an hour outside in the heat trying to diagnose it. I was fully stumped. The bulb is good, all the fuses are good, the connector looked perfect. I was ready to start tearing into the wiring but I'm following all the brake light wires in the diagrams I have and none of them go to a damn third brake light.
So I'm cursing the idiots that made the diagram when I had a light bulb moment and googled "when did third brake light become law". 1986 for passenger cars and 1994 for light trucks. My Ranger is from 1986.
It's not a third brake light. It's a ******* cargo light. The plastic lens isn't faded, it's just clear. It was never red to begin with. Apparently if you turn the interior lights on with the switch, it also turns on the cargo light. It worked fine the entire time. What a dumbass.
Thank you!
I was bored today so I decided to try to figure out why my third brake light wasn't working and I was going to order a new plastic lens too because it was really faded to the point of being almost clear. I spent like an hour outside in the heat trying to diagnose it. I was fully stumped. The bulb is good, all the fuses are good, the connector looked perfect. I was ready to start tearing into the wiring but I'm following all the brake light wires in the diagrams I have and none of them go to a damn third brake light.
So I'm cursing the idiots that made the diagram when I had a light bulb moment and googled "when did third brake light become law". 1986 for passenger cars and 1994 for light trucks. My Ranger is from 1986.
It's not a third brake light. It's a ******* cargo light. The plastic lens isn't faded, it's just clear. It was never red to begin with. Apparently if you turn the interior lights on with the switch, it also turns on the cargo light. It worked fine the entire time. What a dumbass.
Thank you!
joe77,
Do other models of the '86 Ranger have a 3rd Brake Light ?
I've never even thought about it and I can't say if my '88 STX Had a 3rd Brake Lights.
Its a good safety accessory, and some have Cargo Lights built in with the 3rd Brake Light, might be interesting putting one on your truck.
Just a wire from the load side of the Brake Light Switch by the brake pedal, to the 3rd Brake Lights location and the Cargo Light connection should be there somewhere.
Just a suggestion, I know your cargo lights works so it would be something to do.
Do other models of the '86 Ranger have a 3rd Brake Light ?
I've never even thought about it and I can't say if my '88 STX Had a 3rd Brake Lights.
Its a good safety accessory, and some have Cargo Lights built in with the 3rd Brake Light, might be interesting putting one on your truck.
Just a wire from the load side of the Brake Light Switch by the brake pedal, to the 3rd Brake Lights location and the Cargo Light connection should be there somewhere.
Just a suggestion, I know your cargo lights works so it would be something to do.
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: chicago
Hello everyone,
I was bored today so I decided to try to figure out why my third brake light wasn't working and I was going to order a new plastic lens too because it was really faded to the point of being almost clear. I spent like an hour outside in the heat trying to diagnose it. I was fully stumped. The bulb is good, all the fuses are good, the connector looked perfect. I was ready to start tearing into the wiring but I'm following all the brake light wires in the diagrams I have and none of them go to a damn third brake light.
So I'm cursing the idiots that made the diagram when I had a light bulb moment and googled "when did third brake light become law". 1986 for passenger cars and 1994 for light trucks. My Ranger is from 1986.
http://tradevenue.se/
It's not a third brake light. It's a ******* cargo light. The plastic lens isn't faded, it's just clear. It was never red to begin with. Apparently if you turn the interior lights on with the switch, it also turns on the cargo light. It worked fine the entire time. What a dumbass.
Thank you!
I was bored today so I decided to try to figure out why my third brake light wasn't working and I was going to order a new plastic lens too because it was really faded to the point of being almost clear. I spent like an hour outside in the heat trying to diagnose it. I was fully stumped. The bulb is good, all the fuses are good, the connector looked perfect. I was ready to start tearing into the wiring but I'm following all the brake light wires in the diagrams I have and none of them go to a damn third brake light.
So I'm cursing the idiots that made the diagram when I had a light bulb moment and googled "when did third brake light become law". 1986 for passenger cars and 1994 for light trucks. My Ranger is from 1986.
http://tradevenue.se/
It's not a third brake light. It's a ******* cargo light. The plastic lens isn't faded, it's just clear. It was never red to begin with. Apparently if you turn the interior lights on with the switch, it also turns on the cargo light. It worked fine the entire time. What a dumbass.
Thank you!
Hello everyone,
I was bored today so I decided to try to figure out why my third brake light wasn't working and I was going to order a new plastic lens too because it was really faded to the point of being almost clear. I spent like an hour outside in the heat trying to diagnose it. I was fully stumped. The bulb is good, all the fuses are good, the connector looked perfect. I was ready to start tearing into the wiring but I'm following all the brake light wires in the diagrams I have and none of them go to a damn third brake light.
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I was bored today so I decided to try to figure out why my third brake light wasn't working and I was going to order a new plastic lens too because it was really faded to the point of being almost clear. I spent like an hour outside in the heat trying to diagnose it. I was fully stumped. The bulb is good, all the fuses are good, the connector looked perfect. I was ready to start tearing into the wiring but I'm following all the brake light wires in the diagrams I have and none of them go to a damn third brake light.
=13px
Don't use one of the Brake Light Wires going to the lights, unless you have separate directional lights, because the directionals can be part of the brake light wire.
But if you run a wire directly from the Brake light switch you can add a Third Brake Light !
There are plenty of aftermarket Third Brake Light so you should be able to find one... that is IF you want one !
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