Ratbert

The center brake light is burned out on my 96 Explorer. I went to a
parts store and asked for a bulb. They looked in a book (it wasn't on
their computer) and sold me one that seemed way too small for $1.60.
When I got home, and tried to change it, I realized that I couldn't get
to the bulb without cutting some rivets. At the same time, I determined
that the bulb I got is probably not the right one. I called the parts
counter at the local Ford dealer, and they told me that the light is
sold only as a unit, and it is about $250 for the part. Has anyone here
replaced or repaired the light any cheaper than that? Is there
something else I should check before shelling out big bucks for a new light?

Just_Steve

Search Google Groups for "Third Brake Light on 97 Explorer questions". The
'96 uses the same type of system. Looks like you can get it for about $204
at www.fordpartsnetwork.com I've only ordered from them once myself, but
the order came quickly and as promised - no muss, no fuss, much better price
than the local dealers who all charge full list.

Steve

"Ratbert" <ratbert2k@eat.my.shorts.spammers.myway.com> wrote in message
news:iarZd.129313$tl3.13839@attbi_s02...
> The center brake light is burned out on my 96 Explorer. I went to a
> parts store and asked for a bulb. They looked in a book (it wasn't on
> their computer) and sold me one that seemed way too small for $1.60.
> When I got home, and tried to change it, I realized that I couldn't get
> to the bulb without cutting some rivets. At the same time, I determined
> that the bulb I got is probably not the right one. I called the parts
> counter at the local Ford dealer, and they told me that the light is
> sold only as a unit, and it is about $250 for the part. Has anyone here
> replaced or repaired the light any cheaper than that? Is there
> something else I should check before shelling out big bucks for a new
light?

lovs2fly

Sorry to say the cost is high. And beware this is a high voltage light.
"Ratbert" <ratbert2k@eat.my.shorts.spammers.myway.com> wrote in message
news:iarZd.129313$tl3.13839@attbi_s02...
> The center brake light is burned out on my 96 Explorer. I went to a parts
> store and asked for a bulb. They looked in a book (it wasn't on their
> computer) and sold me one that seemed way too small for $1.60. When I got
> home, and tried to change it, I realized that I couldn't get to the bulb
> without cutting some rivets. At the same time, I determined that the bulb
> I got is probably not the right one. I called the parts counter at the
> local Ford dealer, and they told me that the light is sold only as a unit,
> and it is about $250 for the part. Has anyone here replaced or repaired
> the light any cheaper than that? Is there something else I should check
> before shelling out big bucks for a new light?

Davenandee

And by high voltage you mean?

Couldn't you just make an LED array?
Dave

lovs2fly wrote:

> Sorry to say the cost is high. And beware this is a high voltage light.
> "Ratbert" <ratbert2k@eat.my.shorts.spammers.myway.com> wrote in message
> news:iarZd.129313$tl3.13839@attbi_s02...
>
>>The center brake light is burned out on my 96 Explorer. I went to a parts
>>store and asked for a bulb. They looked in a book (it wasn't on their
>>computer) and sold me one that seemed way too small for $1.60. When I got
>>home, and tried to change it, I realized that I couldn't get to the bulb
>>without cutting some rivets. At the same time, I determined that the bulb
>>I got is probably not the right one. I called the parts counter at the
>>local Ford dealer, and they told me that the light is sold only as a unit,
>>and it is about $250 for the part. Has anyone here replaced or repaired
>>the light any cheaper than that? Is there something else I should check
>>before shelling out big bucks for a new light?
>
>
>

--
Diving is life! The rest is just details.
W.W.W.I.

Ratbert

Thanks for the tip. On fordpartsnetwork, they list a bulb under "High
mounted stop lamp" for $1.31. What's that?
By the way, fordpartsonline.com lists the High mount lamp for "only"
$182. That's still about $170 more than I'd like to pay to fix this.

Just_Steve wrote:
> Search Google Groups for "Third Brake Light on 97 Explorer questions". The
> '96 uses the same type of system. Looks like you can get it for about $204
> at www.fordpartsnetwork.com I've only ordered from them once myself, but
> the order came quickly and as promised - no muss, no fuss, much better price
> than the local dealers who all charge full list.
>
> Steve
>
> "Ratbert" <ratbert2k@eat.my.shorts.spammers.myway.com> wrote in message
> news:iarZd.129313$tl3.13839@attbi_s02...
>
>>The center brake light is burned out on my 96 Explorer. I went to a
>>parts store and asked for a bulb. They looked in a book (it wasn't on
>>their computer) and sold me one that seemed way too small for $1.60.
>>When I got home, and tried to change it, I realized that I couldn't get
>>to the bulb without cutting some rivets. At the same time, I determined
>>that the bulb I got is probably not the right one. I called the parts
>>counter at the local Ford dealer, and they told me that the light is
>>sold only as a unit, and it is about $250 for the part. Has anyone here
>>replaced or repaired the light any cheaper than that? Is there
>>something else I should check before shelling out big bucks for a new
>
> light?
>
>

Fred 2

Your high mount brake light is a neon lamp and uses a high voltage
ballast. Not a common tungsten lamp. These were used on 95-97
Explorers.

On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 22:45:00 GMT, Ratbert
<ratbert2k@eat.my.shorts.spammers.myway.com> wrote:

>Thanks for the tip. On fordpartsnetwork, they list a bulb under "High
>mounted stop lamp" for $1.31. What's that?
>By the way, fordpartsonline.com lists the High mount lamp for "only"
>$182. That's still about $170 more than I'd like to pay to fix this.
>
>Just_Steve wrote:
>> Search Google Groups for "Third Brake Light on 97 Explorer questions". The
>> '96 uses the same type of system. Looks like you can get it for about $204
>> at www.fordpartsnetwork.com I've only ordered from them once myself, but
>> the order came quickly and as promised - no muss, no fuss, much better price
>> than the local dealers who all charge full list.
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> "Ratbert" <ratbert2k@eat.my.shorts.spammers.myway.com> wrote in message
>> news:iarZd.129313$tl3.13839@attbi_s02...
>>
>>>The center brake light is burned out on my 96 Explorer. I went to a
>>>parts store and asked for a bulb. They looked in a book (it wasn't on
>>>their computer) and sold me one that seemed way too small for $1.60.
>>>When I got home, and tried to change it, I realized that I couldn't get
>>>to the bulb without cutting some rivets. At the same time, I determined
>>>that the bulb I got is probably not the right one. I called the parts
>>>counter at the local Ford dealer, and they told me that the light is
>>>sold only as a unit, and it is about $250 for the part. Has anyone here
>>>replaced or repaired the light any cheaper than that? Is there
>>>something else I should check before shelling out big bucks for a new
>>
>> light?
>>
>>

Fred 2

It's a "neon" lamp and uses a high voltage ballast. These were used on
95-97 Explorers

On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 20:31:28 GMT, Davenandee <superj@wt.net> wrote:

>And by high voltage you mean?
>
>Couldn't you just make an LED array?
>Dave
>
>lovs2fly wrote:
>
>> Sorry to say the cost is high. And beware this is a high voltage light.
>> "Ratbert" <ratbert2k@eat.my.shorts.spammers.myway.com> wrote in message
>> news:iarZd.129313$tl3.13839@attbi_s02...
>>
>>>The center brake light is burned out on my 96 Explorer. I went to a parts
>>>store and asked for a bulb. They looked in a book (it wasn't on their
>>>computer) and sold me one that seemed way too small for $1.60. When I got
>>>home, and tried to change it, I realized that I couldn't get to the bulb
>>>without cutting some rivets. At the same time, I determined that the bulb
>>>I got is probably not the right one. I called the parts counter at the
>>>local Ford dealer, and they told me that the light is sold only as a unit,
>>>and it is about $250 for the part. Has anyone here replaced or repaired
>>>the light any cheaper than that? Is there something else I should check
>>>before shelling out big bucks for a new light?
>>
>>
>>

Ratbert

Thanks. I got it. But what's the cheap bulb listed for sale on the
aforementioned parts web sites? Is it an error?

Fred 2 wrote:
>
> Your high mount brake light is a neon lamp and uses a high voltage
> ballast. Not a common tungsten lamp. These were used on 95-97
> Explorers.
>
> On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 22:45:00 GMT, Ratbert
> <ratbert2k@eat.my.shorts.spammers.myway.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Thanks for the tip. On fordpartsnetwork, they list a bulb under "High
>>mounted stop lamp" for $1.31. What's that?
>>By the way, fordpartsonline.com lists the High mount lamp for "only"
>>$182. That's still about $170 more than I'd like to pay to fix this.
>>
>>Just_Steve wrote:
>>
>>>Search Google Groups for "Third Brake Light on 97 Explorer questions". The
>>>'96 uses the same type of system. Looks like you can get it for about $204
>>>at www.fordpartsnetwork.com I've only ordered from them once myself, but
>>>the order came quickly and as promised - no muss, no fuss, much better price
>>>than the local dealers who all charge full list.
>>>
>>>Steve
>>>
>>>"Ratbert" <ratbert2k@eat.my.shorts.spammers.myway.com> wrote in message
>>>news:iarZd.129313$tl3.13839@attbi_s02...
>>>
>>>
>>>>The center brake light is burned out on my 96 Explorer. I went to a
>>>>parts store and asked for a bulb. They looked in a book (it wasn't on
>>>>their computer) and sold me one that seemed way too small for $1.60.
>>>>When I got home, and tried to change it, I realized that I couldn't get
>>>>to the bulb without cutting some rivets. At the same time, I determined
>>>>that the bulb I got is probably not the right one. I called the parts
>>>>counter at the local Ford dealer, and they told me that the light is
>>>>sold only as a unit, and it is about $250 for the part. Has anyone here
>>>>replaced or repaired the light any cheaper than that? Is there
>>>>something else I should check before shelling out big bucks for a new
>>>
>>>light?
>>>
>>>
>
>

Dave

Also, it can be that the ballast is bad. That happened on my '95. That
only cost $70 a few years back at Ford. You really want to diagnose the
problem before you spend the money for the bulb. It probably won't be
returnable.

Dave
"Fred 2" <Fred_2@anon.com> wrote in message
news:bo2f31lp4atvouapd9mlofvb9cpdtlu3co@4ax.com...
>
> It's a "neon" lamp and uses a high voltage ballast. These were used on
> 95-97 Explorers
>
> On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 20:31:28 GMT, Davenandee <superj@wt.net> wrote:
>
>>And by high voltage you mean?
>>
>>Couldn't you just make an LED array?
>>Dave
>>
>>lovs2fly wrote:
>>
>>> Sorry to say the cost is high. And beware this is a high voltage light.
>>> "Ratbert" <ratbert2k@eat.my.shorts.spammers.myway.com> wrote in message
>>> news:iarZd.129313$tl3.13839@attbi_s02...
>>>
>>>>The center brake light is burned out on my 96 Explorer. I went to a
>>>>parts
>>>>store and asked for a bulb. They looked in a book (it wasn't on their
>>>>computer) and sold me one that seemed way too small for $1.60. When I
>>>>got
>>>>home, and tried to change it, I realized that I couldn't get to the bulb
>>>>without cutting some rivets. At the same time, I determined that the
>>>>bulb
>>>>I got is probably not the right one. I called the parts counter at the
>>>>local Ford dealer, and they told me that the light is sold only as a
>>>>unit,
>>>>and it is about $250 for the part. Has anyone here replaced or repaired
>>>>the light any cheaper than that? Is there something else I should check
>>>>before shelling out big bucks for a new light?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>

Fred 2

Don't know what thats all about. My '95 and '96 service manuals don't
show any type of cheap bulb for this neon high mounted stop lamp

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 02:40:24 GMT, Ratbert
<ratbert2k@eat.my.shorts.spammers.myway.com> wrote:

>Thanks. I got it. But what's the cheap bulb listed for sale on the
>aforementioned parts web sites? Is it an error?
>
>Fred 2 wrote:
>>
>> Your high mount brake light is a neon lamp and uses a high voltage
>> ballast. Not a common tungsten lamp. These were used on 95-97
>> Explorers.
>>