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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Explorer / August 200796 High mounted stop lamp (center brake light)
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? 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 > 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 [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > 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? 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. > 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 [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > light? 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. >Thanks for the tip. On fordpartsnetwork, they list a bulb under "High >mounted stop lamp" for $1.31. What's that? [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >> >> light? Thanks. I got it. But what's the cheap bulb listed for sale on the aforementioned parts web sites? Is it an error? > 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 [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >>> >>>light? 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 >Thanks. I got it. But what's the cheap bulb listed for sale on the >aforementioned parts web sites? Is it an error? > >> 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. Sorry to say the cost is high. And beware this is a high voltage light. > 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 [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > the light any cheaper than that? Is there something else I should check > before shelling out big bucks for a new light? And by high voltage you mean? Couldn't you just make an LED array? Dave > Sorry to say the cost is high. And beware this is a high voltage light. > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >>the light any cheaper than that? Is there something else I should check >>before shelling out big bucks for a new light?  SignatureDiving is life! The rest is just details. W.W.W.I. It's a "neon" lamp and uses a high voltage ballast. These were used on 95-97 Explorers >And by high voltage you mean? > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >>>the light any cheaper than that? Is there something else I should check >>>before shelling out big bucks for a new light? 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 > It's a "neon" lamp and uses a high voltage ballast. These were used on > 95-97 Explorers [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >>>>the light any cheaper than that? Is there something else I should check >>>>before shelling out big bucks for a new light? I just noticed my high mount center stop/brake light on my 1997 Ford Explorer was out and also my right (passenger) side brake light. I read the horror stories of the cost of high mount and ballast and just went got a $1.00 # 3157 bulb to replace the right turn and forget about the high mount. W hen I replaced the right turn bulb the high mount light worked. I took the bulb back out and the high mount when out too. Put right bulb back and both work fine. Brake lights (or last least the right one) must be someway tied into to high mount center light. I also read when someone went to Autozone and got a $20.00 LED generic, popped it apart and replaced his OEM neon with it. I thought he a said wired to ballast and was still working 18 months later, but I read somewhere ballast was 90 volt output so you better check to see if you really need to forget ballast and just tie into 12 volt feeder. I assume no responsibility for trying this since you have an Exploder,( I meant Explorer) and do not want a Blazer! >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 [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >>>>>the light any cheaper than that? Is there something else I should check >>>>>before shelling out big bucks for a new light?
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