High third brake light issue

[pintobobster]

Ok,
1996 Ford Ranger STX 4wd automatic transmission 4.0L engine, Is the vehicle that is having the lighting issues.

I also have LED tail lights and LED high third brake light on my 1995 Ford Ranger XLT, the 1995 is having no issue at all with LED Lighting.

I've been racking my brain trying to figure this out,,
I have installed LED high third brake light, and I have installed the LED tail lights, (see attached pictures).
The issue seems to only affect the right tail light and the high third brake light, the left tail light no issues at all,
I've been tracking (or trying to track) down the problem, I have shot gunned replacements of multiswitch, brake light switch, emergency brake switch, three different high third LED brake light, and different LED tailights,
Now for the issue,
When I turn on the RIGHT turn signal, the third brake light flickers, when i put on emergency flashers, the high third brake light flickers, I disconnect the LED tail lights completely turn the RIGHT turn signal on the LED high third brake flickers, when I turn on the hazards the LED high third brake light flickers, ANYONE run into any of these issues with their installation of LED exterior lighting??
Any thoughts?
Any suggestions??
Any help of where I have not looked???

Thank You,
Robert.

 

[Josh B]

I never did anything with 3rd brake light wiring, but tail light wiring goes to left side 1st, and any added tow light inserts go between L and R in the harness.
I am not sure if I got this clearly, but I think your problem is mostly separate from the tail lights, having been in 3rd light area

 

[pintobobster]

I never did anything with 3rd brake light wiring, but tail light wiring goes to left side 1st, and any added tow light inserts go between L and R in the harness.
I am not sure if I got this clearly, but I think your problem is mostly separate from the tail lights, having been in 3rd light area

I will pull the trailer wiring out and just Connect the factory harness back up.
I'll let ya know results,
Can a video be posted on this site do you know?
And thank You for the reply,
Robert.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Could you have a bad ground somewhere?

 

[Josh B]

I will pull the trailer wiring out and just Connect the factory harness back up.
I'll let ya know results,
Can a video be posted on this site do you know?
And thank You for the reply,
Robert.

I'm not certain about the video, I've never tried one.

The third brake light is wired with the dome light. When you turn the dome light on the 3rd brake light comes on also.
Anyway the main things you have flickering are in the 3rd brake light sphere of influence eh ?

Maybe it is a corroded ground. Have you looked inside the 3rd light yet? I think those are amongst the areas sometimes prone to leakage. When I was at the Picker's yard I picked up an extra 3rd brake light and I think 2 extra seals, and may have doubled up the seal on mine

 

[Josh B]

I really think you might have a poor connection or ground somewhere

 

[racsan]

Poor grounding seems to be the most common issue with light problems.

 

[RobbieD]

Poor grounding seems to be the most common issue with light problems.

Very true, and especially with LED lights, as they're much less of a load in the circuit as opposed to the stock incandescent bulbs.

 

[pintobobster]

Great suggestions,
I will start looking at the connections and the areas of grounding related to the lights.
Anyone have a good link to wiring schematics for a 1996 Ford Ranger?
I have both the Haynes and Chilton, not much help for those areas.
Thank You all again,
Robert.

 

[pintobobster]

UPDATE 02/09/2023

Ok so I pulled (disconnected) all taillights, Multiswitch, headlight switch, rheostat,.

Turn ignition on(did not start Ranger) high brake light "not" on,

Start Ranger high brake light "is" on,

Only comes on when truck is running,

Next step,
Tear into ALL grounding sections clean them up and reconnect,

Will up date after grounding connections are found and cleaned.

Anyone else have any thoughts?
Thank You,
Robert.

 

[Josh B]

Great suggestions,
I will start looking at the connections and the areas of grounding related to the lights.
Anyone have a good link to wiring schematics for a 1996 Ford Ranger?
I have both the Haynes and Chilton, not much help for those areas.
Thank You all again,
Robert.

You might find those diagrams in the forum tech section

 

[Josh B]

My 93 only comes on when I hit the brake. You may be swatting imaginary flies there

 

[pintobobster]

My 93 only comes on when I hit the brake. You may be swatting imaginary flies there

Please explain more.

 

[dvdswan]

Some LED brake/turn signal lights required a flasher that supported LEDs. It would drop the voltage down since 12 vdc was too much for them. At least that was the older LED lights.

 

[Josh B]

Please explain more.

Weren't you saying it wasn't coming on with the brake either? I might of got mixed up on threads