Hey, I'm new to the Forum. I couldn't find anything on the site already so I'm assuming its not that common of a problem. The problem lies in my 3rd brake light. It goes out periodically. I checked the wires and they all seem to have a good connection, and I'm pretty sure its not the bulb because it works sometimes. Also, the white reverse lights do the same thing, every once in a while they will work, and other times they won't. If anyone has any info I would greatly appreciate it.

 

sounds to me like a faulty ground somewhere, looks like youll be wire fishing all you can do is trace all the wires and look for loose connections or places where it may be rubbing

 

ah Welcome to the site...bro

 

Thanks for the speedy response... any other tips would help too.
ps - I read in another thread about having turn signals in that brake light, but there was no info about it - so i thought this would be a good place. Does anyone know how to have the two reverse lights act as turn signals?

 

I concur on the ground. That would be the black wire from those lights. It should be bonded somehow (riveted, screwed, whatever) to the roof not far from the brake light, I believe.

That reverse light turn signal mod has been done -- try using the search feature on the board.

Cute poem in your sig, but theologically incorrect. Scripture says that not one of us can commit no sins -- we go to heaven by grace and it can't be earned and we never deserve it.

Also if you drink like that, you're going to need all the grace you can get!

 

If you have the all-red 3rd brake light, all you have to do is get some bulbs and sockets to fit in the outer sockets of the 3rd brake light (take it off your truck and you'll see what I'm talking about.) To wire it up, you need to splice into the harness under the dash and connect it to the wires to your rear turn signals. (*if you connect it to the rear turn signals, all three bulbs will light up when you step on the brake, if you wire it to the front turn signals they will act as turn signals ONLY.) Easiest way to find out what color wires to look for would be to pop off your taillights and look at the wires, use a tester to figure out which ones you need to use. The wire for the brakelights/turn signals is the same color code under the dash as it is at the bulb. When you splice into the wires, just run 2 lengths of wires down under the doorsill or under the carpet, up the B or C pillar, and over to the 3rd brakelight (remove the domelight for better access to the brakelight hole.) Connect the ground from the new bulbs to the solid black wire on the existing bulb, solid black is always ground in a Ford (although sometimes black w/ a green stripe is also ground.)

 

lots of work....I've seen on some trucks they got Euro 3rd brake lights for Rangers have any of you seen them before?

 

Thanks a lot guys, I'll try finding the ground wire tonight. And Wowak, you mention the all red 3rd brake light... have any clue where to find one?

 

You have a third brake light. Is it all red? Or does it have a red middle and white sides? If it's all red CONGRATS! You just found an all red third brake light :)

And welcome to the board.

 

I have one or two extra ones in the all red. I'll sell it for $10 including shipping if someone wants one. One of them is from my 2002, the other is from my daughters 1998. They do not have wiring harnesses or sockets, just the housings with the red lenses all around. I know I have ONE, I'll see if I have the other.

 

Greetings everyone, just got my first Ranger! I noticed today that when I parked the 3rd brake light did not turn off when I stopped the engine. Does anyone know why? Please help, I don't want to kill the battery!

 

Is your lens the 'full third' lens like this?



Or, is it the 'cargo' lens, like this?




And which bulb(s) are illuminating? The outer two while the center is dark, or the center illuminated while the two outer bulbs are dark? Or all three?