What are the side bulbs in the third brake light?

HankG · 03-07-2010, 02:07 PM

Sorry for the dumb question, but I'm stumped. In the third brake light, the brake light comes on when I hit the brakes, but nothing seems to turn on the two side bulbs. When are they supposed to come on? I've been looking through ALLDATA trying to get an answer, and while the diagram for the third brake light shows three bulbs, it doesn't say a word about the side bulbs, and I can't find anything else under other categories about them.

john112deere · 03-07-2010, 02:10 PM

Assuming you mean the '96 listed beneath your name, and further assuming it's the same as my '97, I'm guessing you mean the cargo lamps (the ones behind the clear lenses)?

Rotate the gauge-dimming knob (the one beside the headlight switch) all the way up- turns on the dome light and cargo lamps.

HankG · 03-07-2010, 02:28 PM

Thanks.

They aren't working, but at least I know what they are and that they are a fairly low priority project.

exbass94 · 03-07-2010, 04:42 PM

Ford did a weird thing and put cargo lights in some Rangers, but didn't actually wire them in. If you only have 2 wires going to the brake light/cargo lights, it's not wired in and you'll have to run your own wire to a switch. If you have 3 wires, it is wired in and you have a problem with them.

03-07-2010, 02:07 PM	#1
HankG Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Humboldt County, CA Year: 1996 Make: Ford Model: Ranger XLT Engine: 4.0L Class: 2WD Used For: Daily Driver Posts: 73 Rep Power: 7 iTrader: (0)	What are the side bulbs in the third brake light? Sorry for the dumb question, but I'm stumped. In the third brake light, the brake light comes on when I hit the brakes, but nothing seems to turn on the two side bulbs. When are they supposed to come on? I've been looking through ALLDATA trying to get an answer, and while the diagram for the third brake light shows three bulbs, it doesn't say a word about the side bulbs, and I can't find anything else under other categories about them.
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03-07-2010, 02:10 PM	#2
john112deere Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: central Vermont Year: 1997/2009 Make: Ford Model: Ranger Engine: 2.3 / 4.0 Class: 4x2 / 4x4 Used For: whatever I happen to need to do Posts: 72 Rep Power: 11 iTrader: (0)	Assuming you mean the '96 listed beneath your name, and further assuming it's the same as my '97, I'm guessing you mean the cargo lamps (the ones behind the clear lenses)? Rotate the gauge-dimming knob (the one beside the headlight switch) all the way up- turns on the dome light and cargo lamps. __________________ 1997 Ranger Supercab XLT, 4x2, 2.3 4-cyl, 5-speed, 4.10 gears. More or less stock, 260-odd thousand miles 2009 Ranger Supercab XLT 4x4, 4.0 V-6, 5-speed, 3.73 gears.
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03-07-2010, 02:28 PM	#3
HankG Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Humboldt County, CA Year: 1996 Make: Ford Model: Ranger XLT Engine: 4.0L Class: 2WD Used For: Daily Driver Posts: 73 Rep Power: 7 iTrader: (0)	Thanks. They aren't working, but at least I know what they are and that they are a fairly low priority project.
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03-07-2010, 04:42 PM	#4
exbass94 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Guilford, CT Year: 2006, 1994 Make: Ford Model: Ranger, Explorer Engine: 4.0 SOHC, 4.0 OHV Class: 4x4 Used For: Pavement Poundin' Posts: 3,076 Rep Power: 21 iTrader: (0)	Ford did a weird thing and put cargo lights in some Rangers, but didn't actually wire them in. If you only have 2 wires going to the brake light/cargo lights, it's not wired in and you'll have to run your own wire to a switch. If you have 3 wires, it is wired in and you have a problem with them. __________________ 2006 Ford Ranger Sport 4x4 2-dr Extended Cab, 45k miles 1994 Ford Explorer Sport 2-dr 4x4, 178k miles
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