Third brake light upgrade to LED

straycat · Dec 10, 2009

Ok, guys. I am baffled. I bought a real nice looking led third brake light on Ebay. I started to install and I have gotten confused on the wires. Which wire goes to the right side cargo light and which one for the left side of the cargo lights? Or does it matter? The led light has a red/black wire attached to it. Does this go to the red/black wire I see that mounts to the light bulb housing? I got in a hurry to install it as it started to rain and I removed the stock one and then drove my Ranger into the garage to finish the install and forgot to notice where the wires were mounted. Duhhhhhhh. I sent a note to the dealer I bought it from o Ebay. Don't know how long it will take for him to reply.....

Thanks for any help
Straycat

AllanD · Dec 10, 2009

If you hook up LED's with the polarity reversed you get darkness when power is applied.

It doesn't hurt the LED's, they just don't work.

So if you hook them up correctly they will light.
If you hook them up wrong they don't.

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CopyKat · Dec 10, 2009

AllanD said:
If you hook up LED's with the polarity reversed you get darkness when power is applied.

It doesn't hurt the LED's, they just don't work.

So if you hook them up correctly they will light.
If you hook them up wrong they don't.

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About as simple as it gets! :icon_thumby:

LearjetMinako · Dec 10, 2009

Why couldn't you have just used a led bulb replacement. Unless you are replacing the whole lens also.

Led's are really simple. Get the wiring wrong, they don't work. Switch the wiring and it should work then.

straycat · Dec 10, 2009

Ok, guys. Thanks for the advice. I turned on the cargo lights and I got only one to come on. I moved the wires around and I pressed on the brake pedal and one cargo light lit up. I moved the wires around and turned on the cargo lights and now both work. I then pressed on the brake pedal and no light!!! Man. This is getting to be a pain..... any other ideas?

Straycat

D.J. · Dec 10, 2009

Two words, TEST LIGHT :yahoo:

straycat · Dec 10, 2009

Two Words...'I'm stupid'!!!! Man, never take something apart unless you note where wires or mechanical parts are before you remove them!!! I got it completed. I noticed that when I pressed on the brake pedal only one cargo light (right side) came on. That told me that this was were the led connector goes. I swapped it out and it all works now. Perfect. The cargo lights come on and the led brake light lights up as it is supposed to. It really looks good.
It is really hard getting up and down the truck when you are disabled. My poor spine and legs are killing me!!!! I should have found a really long stick and opened up the sliding glass window and ran the stick inside the cab to press on the brake pedal and left the cargo light in the on position!!!!

Thanks, guys
Straycat

Third brake light upgrade to LED

straycat

15+ Year Member

AllanD

TRS Technical Staff

CopyKat

15+ Year Member

LearjetMinako

15+ Year Member

straycat

15+ Year Member

D.J.

15+ Year Member

straycat

15+ Year Member

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