I recently washed my truck, which I picked up used and am slowly rehabilitating. Immediately after I bought it, I noticed water at the base of the headliner where it meets the rear window. I dried it all off and set about replacing the clutch and timing belt. I read online how common this problem is and that a quick fix is to put some silicone around the brake light and see if that doesn't stop the leak. It didn't because water just flowed back into the headliner and even down towards the driver's side rear speaker after I washed it. It went from left to right and covered the headliner quite evenly along its base.

The problem it's developed is that the rear brake lights do not shut off now whenever the battery is hooked up. I followed the collective wisdom of this site and removed the brake light switch, lightly sanded the contacts and cleaned them with isopropyl alcohol. Reinstalled the switch but no change. The lights stay on regardless of whether the switch is in or out.

Another problem is that the driver's side rear speaker makes a static popping noise whenever the battery is connected but it dies out after a few minutes. I switched the speakers with the passenger's side speaker and the noise still comes from this side (but no other speaker to my ear).

I tried pulling the two brake light sensor relays in the panel but those tail lights never went off whether I pulled the relays together or just one at a time.

The 3rd brake light is completely out. It doesn't turn on at all as I'm sure it's toast. Whether it's plugged in or out doesn't matter as to whether the rear lights go on or off--nothing I've done turns them off.

I've ordered another rear brake light as mine is toast (it was RTVed on with black RTV by the previous owner).

Can anyone offer any help or insight? What would you do next?

Well, one has to be smarter than the dimmer switch. After spending far more time that I had to spare, I determined that my problem was that the dimmer switch was all the way up to its highest setting. At this setting, the brake lights apparently are always on. When backed down beneath the highest setting but still at high, they simply turn off.

I'm clearly not the brightest bulb today. At times, I'm even quite "dim."

I'll keep working on the speaker problem but it, too, seems to be getting better.

lol

Those 3rd BL's are notorious for leaking. I use regular 100% clear silicone caulk around the gasket before installing them & they seem to stop the water pretty well.

If the 3rdBL is still out, you might need to sand inside the bulb sockets if there's any rust or corrosion.

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Thanks for the tip on silicone when reinstalling the new one. Do you put it around the outside of the black lip or do you put it all over, including the gasket? I'd lean towards just the outside.

If your brake lights are still not turning off, take a look at this. On the brake pedal is usually a little rubber plug. Over time the rubber hardens and becomes brittle. It will crack and break off.

This leaves a hole in the brake pedal arm. That rubber plug holds the brake switch plunger down until you press the brakes.

A roadside repair I made was to super glue two pennies over the hole. That fix lasted my friend for years.

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2005 2.3L XL 5SOD 3.73 K&N
KYB Shocks Husky Toolbox
Alpine / Rockford Fosgate Sound

"Ask me about my AC Vent fix!"

I just run a bead around/over the stock gasket then press it on the truck.
That way you don't have to deal with a lot of squeeze out or cleanup on the truck or outside of the 3rdBL.
If you do get silicone on the truck or housing, just let it dry a couple days & it should peel off... if you try to wipe it off it will make a bigger mess

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Oh, I know all about silicone messes. I'm the world's worst when it comes to applying that stuff. I keep the mineral spirits handy whenever I have the caulking gun out

Gluing your housing to your truck is a horrible idea. You can use my aftermarket third brake light gasket. Ford does not make a seal only, you have to buy the entire housing. My High Mount 3rd Brake Light Seal is an improvement over the stock design. It comes with or without a peel off adhesive backing for easy installation. There are hundreds of these that have been installed and are in use with exceptional results. They last virtually forever and you can actually remove the housing to change bulbs when needed. Google Ford Ranger Third Brake Seal or go to Ebay and search from there.

Thanks!