high/centre brakelight problem

[0zexplorer]

Hello,

My 97 Explorer Limited high/centre bralkelight on the tailgate was not working and I was quoted $500 to replace. It has recently began to work intermitently. Any opinions on whether it is the stoplight or the wiring. I have removed the rear trim and the light has a large transformer saying do not touch or something like that. I believe from my searches that this is a neon type light.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[MO_GUY]

aren't 3rd brake lights usually made with LED's? if they are truely LED's then the transformer was most likely a resistor, how many lights do you count? or is it just a single one? im just throwing stuff out, dont kill me if im wrong

 

[stretch]

Can't really help with how to fix but the light is a bunch of LED's and if it is working intermitently then I would first check to make sure the wiring didn't come loose.

 

[Howard]

On the 97's and later the 3rd brake light is a high voltage unit please be very careful. All the books I have state that this is adealer only item. But as it works sometimes it most probably is a bad conection. The brake light circuit is live all the time so please disconect the battery before testing any connections near the transformer. Clean all the contacts and see if that helps. Could also be a broken wire by the tailgate hinge. Hope this helps.

 

[Robert]

The third brake light on '95-'97 is a high voltage florescent bulb. On '98 and later Ford switched to LEDs.