Vehicle shown in this step: 1999 Ford Ranger XLT 4.0L V6 Extended Cab Pickup (4 Door)
Procedure notes
The brake lights on your 1998 Ford Ranger illuminate when you hit the brake pedal and help prevent you from being rear ended by the cars behind you. Brake light bulbs grow dimmer over time and eventually burn out. See how to change the brake lights on your 1998 Ford Ranger. The first step is to locate the brake light socket in your Ranger. Remove the brake light socket and then replace the burnt out brake light bulb. When you replace the brake light bulb on your Ranger, be careful not to touch the bulb directly with your fingers - the oil from your skin will cause the area that you touched to burn hotter than the rest of the bulb, which causes the bulb to burn out quicker.
If you are going to replace a bulb in your housing, it is a good idea to replace all of them. Not only will the lights on your Ranger be brighter, you decrease the likelihood you will need to change any of the bulbs again in the near future. A burnt out bulb in the taillight cluster of your Ranger is an excuse for a police officer to pull you over. Check your bulbs frequently and change burnt bulbs promptly.