1998 Mountaineer: Purchase and replace third brake light?

[wheels23]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum and searched around but couldn't find a good answer to this.

I was recently told that the third brake light (above the tailgate) on my 1998 Mountaineer needs replaced. I was also told that this was not a simple matter of replacing a bulb but required an expensive and extensive LED light installation.

I was wondering if someone on this forum could direct me to where I could purchase a factory replacement light and advise on how I should go about installing it (dealer, do it myself, etc).

Thanks

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I beleive you just need a bulb.

1995-1997 Explorers & Mountaineers had the balast that when it goes bad is $$$$ to replace.

 

[CDW6212R]

Welcome, and those rarely ever fail, I have not read of someone servicing them. I think that you can do it readily. Remove the cover with a screwdriver and see if the bulb assembly can be easily removed. You may end up installing the cover again while you find the matching bulb assembly. Let us know how that ends up.

 

[CougarX]

Isn't the 95-97 a neon/flourescent bulb and the 98+ an LED?

 

[CougarX]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-0...020QQitemZ300144357434QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

[CDW6212R]

The 95-97 is the very long bulb, I thought that all from 95+ were LED's though.

 

[wheels23]

thanks for the reply

I appreciate the replies.

Unfortunately I can't really figure out how I would get to the light. If I lift up the window portion of the tailgate it looks like there is a metal casing with some screws in it through which I could get to it.

The only problem is that there are two different types of screws in the metal casing, neither of which have a head for which I could use a conventional screw driver...

Thanks

 

[CougarX]

The 95-97 is a fluorescent bulb hence the required ballast. 98+ is an LED and just plugs into 12v. The LED ones can be found rather cheaply used. The fluorescent ones run $75+ used for bulb and ballast. New Flourescent runs over $300 for bulb and ballast. There are aftermarket replacements that use LEDs instead of the ballast that run $150.

wheels23: All you need is a 3rd brake assembly like the one I linked to EBay if you have a 98.

 

[wheels23]

Hey guys, great advice.

So this "light assembly" will include the LED and everything else needed? Also, will there be any problem with putting a part from a 99 Explorer into a 98 Mounty? Finally, any advice on how to actually get to the third light assembly?

Thanks again for your help. This forum is a great resource!

 

[CDW6212R]

The 98-01 parts will be the same. Without going out to my 98 Mountaineer, I bet that you can use a screwdriver to remove the cover. Remove the outside cover, don't open the hatch. Regards,

 

[Dan Whitaker]

There should be two screws you remove to get the lense off.