U know that third brake light on the back door that opens up. Well mine is not working at all and i can't figure out how to take it off without braking it. anyone know how to do it? i think the bulb needs to be replaced... :bounce:

Ballast probably went out. Only costs a huge amount of money from Ford!

what do u mean "Ballast"...?

http://www.haroh.com/explorer/images/board/himount5.GIF

See the thing with the arrows pointing to it (basically the whole illumination unit)? That's a ballast. And Ford charges an arm and a leg to replace it. And no, no bulbs... Just a genuine expensive Ford part... :banghead:

if u remove the unit completely u will pass smog..but if u leave it in and its dead u will fail...wrap ur head around that =)

seriously though those things are really really expensive..it might be worth it to try and find a used one?

There is a fluorescent lamp and a ballast power supply. Some have reported water corrosion on the ballast connector. Chances are you won't be so lucky. Don't try to measure the ballast because it will destroy the meter. Lamp is about $225 and ballast $90. Many cut open the plastic lamp assembly an put LEDs in or regular lamp bulbs.

This is what the lens and the ballast look like. The ballast is a piece of cake to replace. The lens on the other hand is a pain. Plus you will most likely need to get a new black trim (drawings above). Those trims are so fragile, they dent so easily.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10616&stc=1

im a little confused on what to replace. the third brake light is out in my x as well. how can i fix this on a broke college kids budget? heeeeeeeelp!!!!!!!

im a little confused on what to replace. the third brake light is out in my x as well. how can i fix this on a broke college kids budget? heeeeeeeelp!!!!!!!


Buy a $20 red Neon light (underbody style, but only 6" long) and wire it up w/ relays to your brake lights, inside the rear glass

lol

oh god i can see the red neons in the rear windows now..

lol, that would be really interesting to have a full set of neons all around the inside of the truck (red) that light with the brakes. Screw the 3rd brake light, all that light in the truck would illuminate your truck 10x more! :p

i'll try looking in a junk yard for a ballast....