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  #1  
Old 03-15-2015, 10:07 AM
DangleBanger DangleBanger is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 79
Default Need help wiring new 3rd Brake Light on canopy

Youtube was not a help at all to figure out how to wire a new third brake light to a fiberglass canopy. I already searched the forums too and I'm not going to go through all the pages to find what I'm looking for.

My Ranger is 1986 with canopy for which I have an exterior brake light I want to install on it. Light has one short black wire and one short white wire.

Mounting the light isn't the issue; I need help with the wiring only. I've seen third brake lights on canopies that blink with the turn signal, and I don't want to be that guy and I don't want to butcher my rear wiring.

Anyone with experience I can get instructions from would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Last edited by DangleBanger; 03-17-2015 at 09:40 AM.
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  #2  
Old 03-16-2015, 06:50 PM
DangleBanger DangleBanger is offline
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Default Re: Need help wiring new 3rd Brake Light on canopy

So I mounted the light to the canopy and spliced longer wires to the 2" wires the light had. I ran the wires down along the inside of the canopy on the driver side and through the bed to the tail-light housing.

This is as far as I've gotten. Help with which wires to connect with would be appreciated.

Thank you.
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  #3  
Old 03-16-2015, 10:31 PM
93-Ranger 93-Ranger is offline
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Default

Can't you just splice it into the existing 3rd that's on your cab?
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  #4  
Old 03-17-2015, 06:49 AM
Futurefd Futurefd is offline
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Default Re: Need help wiring new 3rd Brake Light on canopy

The black wire off the 3rd brake light should be your ground. The white the "hot"
Get yourself 2 of these:

Take out the tail light. Use the above pictured device to piggyback off the brake light.
--just remembered your truck only has 1 bulb for brake and turn correct? Hum, and prob does not have a 3rd brake light on the cab, just a cargo light.

In that case, you can use the above device to piggyback off of the brake switch on the brake pedal, run it back to the rear of the truck (make sure to run it safely) and then connect it to the white of the canopy light. The black can be grounded anywhere.

Does that help?
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  #5  
Old 03-17-2015, 09:44 AM
DangleBanger DangleBanger is offline
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Default Re: Need help wiring new 3rd Brake Light on canopy

Quote:
Originally Posted by 93-Ranger View Post
Can't you just splice it into the existing 3rd that's on your cab?
My ranger doesn't have a third brake light on the cab.

----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Futurefd View Post
The black wire off the 3rd brake light should be your ground. The white the "hot"
Get yourself 2 of these:

Take out the tail light. Use the above pictured device to piggyback off the brake light.
--just remembered your truck only has 1 bulb for brake and turn correct? Hum, and prob does not have a 3rd brake light on the cab, just a cargo light.

In that case, you can use the above device to piggyback off of the brake switch on the brake pedal, run it back to the rear of the truck (make sure to run it safely) and then connect it to the white of the canopy light. The black can be grounded anywhere.

Does that help?
Yes there is zero lights on the exterior of the cab, and yes just one bulb for brake and turn.

This is very helpful. I'll try it out once I'm home. I'll reply with an update.

Thank you.
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  #6  
Old 03-17-2015, 07:57 PM
Futurefd Futurefd is offline
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Default Re: Need help wiring new 3rd Brake Light on canopy

Yes please keep us updated on progress.
I had to take a moment and think about the 88 I owned.
Just run it off of the brake petal sensor. you should be fine. Make sure to run it safely .
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  #7  
Old 03-18-2015, 01:26 PM
DangleBanger DangleBanger is offline
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Default Re: Need help wiring new 3rd Brake Light on canopy

Quote:
Originally Posted by Futurefd View Post
Yes please keep us updated on progress.
I had to take a moment and think about the 88 I owned.
Just run it off of the brake petal sensor. you should be fine. Make sure to run it safely .

Before running the wires I wanted to make sure the wires on my LED tail light were black for ground and white for positive; turns out they are backwards and the black is positive and the white is negative.

Didn't have time to run wires yesterday, but I'll try by the end of the week to get everything wired up. Luckily I have all the electrical equipment to install everything.

Thanks.
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  #8  
Old 03-20-2015, 06:49 PM
DangleBanger DangleBanger is offline
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Default Re: Need help wiring new 3rd Brake Light on canopy

Quote:
Originally Posted by Futurefd View Post
Yes please keep us updated on progress.
I had to take a moment and think about the 88 I owned.
Just run it off of the brake petal sensor. you should be fine. Make sure to run it safely .
Hey what do you know? It works! Took more time running it along the existing lines under the truck and threading it through the firewall than it did actually attaching it to the brake sensor line. Attached the positive on the light to the solid green wire and not the green wire with red stripe. Works flawlessly.

Thanks again.
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File Type: jpg RileyThirdBrakeLight2.jpg (13.6 KB, 26 views)
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  #9  
Old 03-22-2015, 09:15 AM
Futurefd Futurefd is offline
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Default Re: Need help wiring new 3rd Brake Light on canopy

BOOm done.
Glad to see it work!
I hate when people do it half azzzzzzzed and have the 3rd lite blink with turn signal

GREAT job!
Glad I could help!

Do you have a build logg of the ranger? or more pics? i like the 80's style, I had an 88....and killed it
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  #10  
Old 03-22-2015, 03:44 PM
DangleBanger DangleBanger is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 79
Default Re: Need help wiring new 3rd Brake Light on canopy

Quote:
Originally Posted by Futurefd View Post
BOOm done.
Glad to see it work!
I hate when people do it half azzzzzzzed and have the 3rd lite blink with turn signal

GREAT job!
Glad I could help!

Do you have a build logg of the ranger? or more pics? i like the 80's style, I had an 88....and killed it
Thanks for the help. I have more pics, but I'll post them where appropriate on the site. Only build log I have is in my head since I haven't recorded anything. Truck was almost new when I got it last year with only 36,000 miles on it.
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1986, brake, canopy, light, wiring

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