I have no regular brake lights but the third brake light (LED) works fine

Thanks, but no good. No matter what I do with the emergencies. As mentioned, the third brake light continues to flash even when I completely disconnect all the wiring from the turn signal switch.

Thanks again for your help.

I have exactily this same issue. I have a 1998 Explorer, AWD, about the same milage and the problem is the same.

Did anyone come up with a fix for this?

Has anyone come up with a solution to this problem. I have a 98 Ford Explorer with the same problem. I've checked all the wiring, it's ok. The only thing I haven't done is check out the multifunction switch. I do have a book that shows how to do that so that will be my next step. Any input or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks SkipperDan

I checked out the multifunction switch and it is ok. I did find on my stop light switch that has five wires in the plug that two of wires on the plug are hot. I don't believe that this is incorrect. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Yes, third light does comes on when brakes are applied. The strange part is when everything is off the top mounted third brake light flickers light a strobe light! What's up with that? SkipperDan

Praise God I found the problem! :-) I removed the top mounted brake light and found a faulty connection which stopped the strobe light effect. Note: The top mounted brake light still was on very dim but not strobing. Then I rechecked the left stop light socket and found that the female prongs were not really that clean so I cleaned them up and also did the right side. I also installed new bulbs, fiqured I might as well as I was in there. And all is great and back to normal. I have brake lights. So, if any one else is having this problem I strongly suggest to start with the fuses and then go directly to the brake bulbs and sockets before thinking it is in the multifunction switch! And running all those test. Thanks for all the input and suggestions! SkipperDan is ready to take on another task! :-)

Update on intermittent brake lights on my 98 explorer:
I thought the problem was solved by cleaning the wiring harness contacts & the brake light switch's matching contacts, but a few weeks later, the same problem returned, intermittent brake lights. What I found was that if the switch was angled to the right or left from parallel with the brake pedal, the brake lights would fail.
I found this video on u-tube that was very helpful, which could be very helpful if you have this problem & just want to get somewhere like home or an auto parts store without taking the chance getting rear ended.
"how to fix a bad brake light switch, not replace"
u-tube member > thomas brian
https://youtu.be/PX6ifXBgX5s

So I removed the brake light switch with just a pair of needle nose pliers & opened it up and found the the internal contacts on pin #1 & 2 were so badly pitted that there was very little of the contacts left. I decided to try filing them with a nail file so if that worked, I could safely drive to auto-zone to get a new one. Filling the contacts did work but, but I don't trust them, so in went the new switch & with the help of my wife, we verified many times that the brake lights came on every time the pedal was pressed and the switch wiggled & giggled.
Be sure to re-secure the wiring harness to the brake light switch.
Even though the B.switch is now new, I still check them every time I leave the driveway.

NOTE: My suggestion to anyone whose vehicle has a lot of miles or if it's been subjected to a lot of stop & go freeway traffic for years, It's a real good idea to check the contacts inside the brake light switch for excessive pitting & replace or repair if necessary.

I'm going to add to the dash an LED/ ect idiot light
to let me know when driving that the brake lights are getting power when braking. To do so, just connect an additional wire to the wiring harness wire that connects with contact #1 (closest to the firewall) that is the positive output to the brake lights, and of course connect a ground wire to your lamp of choice. Note: LED's require a current limiting resistor unless they are rated for 12 volts DC. This way I can monitor brake lights will know (IF) the brake lights are getting power continuously when braking and my passenger will know when I am braking, especially when on the wonderful calif. freeways.
Best of success.