High Mount Brake Light

[spooner516]

Hi there everyone, I am new here and am looking for some info. My 1997 expo's third brake light does not work. The fuse is good, so im not sure what else to do. Any help would be much appreciated.

Shane

 

[kelly2]

most likely the ballast went bad. same happened to my 97. it was about $80 from ford and it's located behind the third brake light. remove the plactic interior panel on the back hatch and you'll see it bolted in up top. use a multimeter and check to see if it has any output from the ballast

 

[rizzjc]

I thought the same, and bougth two USED ballasts, which did not fix the problem. I'd love to have found a new one for $80, but Ford was backordered on them, and the list price is $120-$130. I tried several things, and finally gave up and decided to fix it myself. I'm not done yet, but I'm close, and I'll never have to worry about the $120 ballast, or the $250 lamp assembly again:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146303

 

[kelly2]

those prices always differ depending on dealership and how much they feel like marking that crap up. $40 gap in price for the same product isn't uncommon