'97 high-mount brake light "rebuild"

[rizzjc]

Got a photo? Would be interested in seeing how it looks, since it is smaller than the OEM lamp.

 

[fordreb]

After I removed the ballast...I can't see how to remove the bulb. There is a single screw with nut in the center of the "hole" which the ballast covered..but the removal of the nut doesn't see to release anything. I'm hesitant about applying pressure to avoid breaking the lens. How do I get to the bulb?

 

[RickOTR]

After I removed the ballast...I can't see how to remove the bulb. There is a single screw with nut in the center of the "hole" which the ballast covered..but the removal of the nut doesn't see to release anything. I'm hesitant about applying pressure to avoid breaking the lens. How do I get to the bulb?

The aren two more nuts on each side hidden behind two large rubber plugs.

 

[Mike DiFiore]

97 Eddie Bauer

The aren two more nuts on each side hidden behind two large rubber plugs.

After removing all 3 nuts and tapping/pushing on the 3 studs, I noticed that the outside lens seems to be held down by molding that wraps around to both sides of the vehicle on top. Does the molding have to come off too? Or does the lens somehow squeeze through the molding on the outside?

 

[n2epv]

For a '97, the molding has to come off, per the Ford shop manual. Drill out 7 rivets (along the length of the molding) and remove one cap-nut on each end of the molding. The lamp and lens then pull out of the molding. I could post a scan of the manual pages for this, but the pictures are absolutely useless!

I was thinking about this, not because my neon brake light isn't working, but because drops of water show up inside the lens after it rains. Just figured that it is only a matter of time before it quits working.

Does anyone know - can the trim be held back down with sheet metal screws? The shop manual says to install 7 new rivets

 

[Mike DiFiore]

For a '97, the molding has to come off, per the Ford shop manual. Drill out 7 rivets (along the length of the molding) and remove one cap-nut on each end of the molding. The lamp and lens then pull out of the molding. I could post a scan of the manual pages for this, but the pictures are absolutely useless!

I was thinking about this, not because my neon brake light isn't working, but because drops of water show up inside the lens after it rains. Just figured that it is only a matter of time before it quits working.

Does anyone know - can the trim be held back down with sheet metal screws? The shop manual says to install 7 new rivets

Thank you for your advice. This fix is not one of Ford's "Better Ideas", as it involves considerable time and effort just to replace a light bulb. I contacted a junk yard in Hackensack and spoke to someone who seemed to feel that in most cases, the ballast dies, not the bulb. So I will replace the ballast tomorrow with a used one for $35 and keep my fingers crossed. The spokesman at the junk yard also reitereated the same proceedure as you to replace the bulb. He said it was a real pain in the ass, but had bulbs in stock too, if I needed one..........Thanks again.

 

[Mike DiFiore]

Thank you for your advice. This fix is not one of Ford's "Better Ideas", as it involves considerable time and effort just to replace a light bulb. I contacted a junk yard in Hackensack and spoke to someone who seemed to feel that in most cases, the ballast dies, not the bulb. So I will replace the ballast tomorrow with a used one for $35 and keep my fingers crossed. The spokesman at the junk yard also reitereated the same proceedure as you to replace the bulb. He said it was a real pain in the ass, but had bulbs in stock too, if I needed one..........Thanks again.

Just a follow-up. The mechanic at the junk yard was correct, as I had to just replace the old ballast with one he had pulled from a wreck. The original bulb was still good as he predicted. Used ballast cost me $35 and 5 minutes to pop in and put inside molding back. Works like a charm and went through inspection without a glitch.

 

[mfrankena]

maybe a dumb question, but my Explorer '96 doesn't have a 3rd brakelight
what's that about ?

 

[Bill Kemp]

maybe a dumb question, but my Explorer '96 doesn't have a 3rd brakelight
what's that about ?

Probably cause it is burnt out. It's there at the top of the rear hatch window.

 

[mfrankena]

Probably cause it is burnt out. It's there at the top of the rear hatch window.

are you sure ?

 

[Turdle]

your wind deflector has it covered

 

[section525]

Maybe since the Willemspark Explorers have the extra bumper lights, they couldn't have a third-brake light too.

 

[mfrankena]

Maybe since the Willemspark Explorers have the extra bumper lights, they couldn't have a third-brake light too.

willemspark explorer? i feel a bit like a noob here LOL
I've found another exactly the same Explorer on a site, and it also doesn't seem to have the 3rd stoplight....
weird...

 

[Bill Kemp]

willemspark explorer? i feel a bit like a noob here LOL
I've found another exactly the same Explorer on a site, and it also doesn't seem to have the 3rd stoplight....
weird...

I was referring to US Explorers. I dont know what the export Explorers have as Std. Equpit.

 

[fordreb]

It is the brake light above the back window...referred to as the high mount brake light.
Pooe design by Ford..it is complicated to repair/replace, as you will see in reading other posts.

 

[mfrankena]

It is the brake light above the back window...referred to as the high mount brake light.
Pooe design by Ford..it is complicated to repair/replace, as you will see in reading other posts.

was this meant for me? i know what and where a 3rd stoplight is/should be...
i'm just curious on why my blue one doesn't have it at all.
Seems some other '96ers over here also lack this stoplight.

the noob remark was about the Willemspark Explorer Bill mentioned ;-)

 

[Macario]

Thanks!!! this helped alot, i just bought some pre made led strips to do mine


if ya wanna see more picks of the install just ask!!

 

[DaveWC]

97 explorer 3rd brake light repair

Hey Macario, great looking repair. Just did a quick, LOL, repair to my third brake light to pass inspection, but would like to do the LED thing as you did. Where did you get the LED strip, local shop or online? Thanks for the great pics.

Just ordered a 30 LED strip from superbright so I can make a proper repair to my 3rd brake lamp, same price, $12.95 and about $3 to mail it.

 

[Macario]

Hey Macario, great looking repair. Just did a quick, LOL, repair to my third brake light to pass inspection, but would like to do the LED thing as you did. Where did you get the LED strip, local shop or online? Thanks for the great pics.

Just ordered a 30 LED strip from superbright so I can make a proper repair to my 3rd brake lamp, same price, $12.95 and about $3 to mail it.

I got the led's from autozone for about 20 dollars , i also soldered the balllast to neon connecters, as a quick connect, heres is some more pics, thanks for the compliment btw
the 30 led strip should be just fine, i do recommend you solder it, but its your descion, good luck with your third brake light venture!!

this is what i ment by quick connect

here are some more pictures
if you have any other questions just ask

 

[DaveWC]

cool repair

I was getting ready to leave town for camp and thought, get my car inspected and real quick like get the new tags. Until the inspector failed me for the 3rd brake light. So I hurried home, disassembled it and installed a dome lamp bulb (the type that looks like a fuse with thin wire hoop on each end). I soldered some wire to the ends and, using slide connectors, connected it to the wires that I cut from the ballast. I had to convince the inspector that I had removed the glass tube and installed a single bulb in the center. He said ok, after all it works. I still want to fix it right and I checked the forum because some time back I remembered seeing a repair posted. Besides, who wants to pay $160 or more to fix this. Thanks again for the excellent pics. Really helpful, be blessed!