Important Brake light question

[stillpushin]

My girlfriend has a 1996 2 door exporer sport. In the great state of VA it is required to have and inspection to drive. My girlfriend is 5 hours away from me. She took her truck in to get inspected and it failed due to the third brake light being out. The place told her it was going to be 500 to fix. I find this extremely hard to beleive. Something about it is like 220 a bulb or something like that. Any help would be appreciated. Thankyou in advance.

 

[Robb]

Unfortunately, the rear "neon" lamp in the back of that '96 is VERY $$$$$. In fact, getting one for $220 is kinda cheap. BUT, if that leaves $280 left over for install, that is rediculous. In VA, even at $70/hour, that is 4 hours for install, that is silly.

Another crappy thing to consider, is maybe it isn't the lamp that is actually bad (it is actually rare that they go bad). So, it may end up being a wiring problem, which you only discover after forking out $220 for a lamp.

I would guess, if she got rejected, that she has 15 days to get this straight. This does leave some time to track down a used one. A quick search @ www.car-part.com showed a few in VA (with rear wiper) at $125 or less.

If she is around Richmond, I may be able to help some............heck, I may be able to get one and install it for $450!!!!!!!! J/K, but if she is close, I may be able to help.

 

[stillpushin]

Thanks for the input. She is coming up here to Radford this weekend. I will take a look at the wiring and everything. Kind of sucks, i thought it was just regular bulbs. Damn over-engineering.

 

[Xzibit A]

yeah that happened to my 96, i found some loose connectors after i had ordered one for 156 bucks m cost from the parts dept. if shes up here in nova i can take a look at it too.

 

[X~FACTOR]

It could be the ballast.

I actually sold what's pictured below for 50 bucks. Damn, I guess I asked for so little.
.

 

[stillpushin]

What is a ballast?

 

[Heavymentill]

All gas lights neon, metal haldide, mercury vapor and, high pressure sodium require a initial burst af electricity to get the bulb to light after they are lit then the voltage returns to a lower level. The balast is what controls the voltave supply.

 

[stillpushin]

Well it turns out she said the brake light started working again. I am guessing it is just a bad connection. I should be able to get into the car next week when i am home and make sure everything is tight.