Need help with my brake lights ... Please!!!!

VinPecora

VinPecora

New member
Truck sat for 6 years, when I got it running I haven't been able to get the lights just right. My brake lights work when the head lights are off only. When I put the headlights on the tail lights won't light and the brake lights won't either. What's weird is when I put the hazards and the headlights on the license plate lights blink with the front and the tail lights. I checked the back bumper ground screws and I also changed the brake pedal switch and nothing. What I wan. To know is there a relay or a area to the ground or wiring I should look for problems?? Also I read somewhere the steering column multifunction lever for the blinker can go bad but I don't know how that would have anything to do with the brake lights..... Please help me I'm going nuts!!!
 
Slyclone

Slyclone

Well-known member
Re: Need help with my brake lights ... Please!!!!

Try cleaning/tighten every ground. Some times its a loose or weak connection that does it

Any possible thought of wire damage? The first syclone I ever seen under the hood of rodents some how chewed through a decent amount of the wire casing.
 
Slyclone

Slyclone

Well-known member
Re: Need help with my brake lights ... Please!!!!

There is a few electrical grounds in the engine bay.

Lighting is up on rad. support. 2-3 black thinner cables that spider off the main black batt ground. They attach right around pass. Headlight in engine bay.

I seen a few that are up by the alternator. There is another one I could be missing.
 
VinPecora

VinPecora

New member
Re: Need help with my brake lights ... Please!!!!

Thx man, anyone have pics of these grounds or any ideas for me beside this?
 
VinPecora

VinPecora

New member
Re: Need help with my brake lights ... Please!!!!

Would it be under the steering column? Also how hard it is to swap out the multi function blinker control? Was going to do I anyway
 
Don W.

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Need help with my brake lights ... Please!!!!

I would search the ground issue first. Unplug the headlights at the bulbs. Same with the turn sigs and the running lights. Running light is hard to get to. IOW everything unplugged at the front. Now try the lights. Do they work correctly? If not the issue is probably at the rear ground. Get that fixed first. If they do work correctly do the reverse. I'd bet a beer that it's a bad ground somewhere.

FYI The blinkers and the brake lights are the same bulb at the rear. The larger of the two elements. In fact while you're at it inspect every 2 element bulb (2 front, 2 rear, not counting the headlights.) to make sure one of the elements hasn't broken and is touching the other. Could be as easy as that.
 
VinPecora

VinPecora

New member
Re: Need help with my brake lights ... Please!!!!

Thx don, going to try your ideas. Yeh forgot to mention the reverse lights don't work at all. Any suggestions on the rear ground locations??
 
Don W.

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Need help with my brake lights ... Please!!!!

Seems to me it's on the frame drivers side. Should be the only wire back there attached to the frame. Wiring can be a real pain. The trick is to isolate the prob and be able to verify that you really did fix it.
 
SY2932

SY2932

Administrator
Re: Need help with my brake lights ... Please!!!!

Don W. said:
Seems to me it's on the frame drivers side. Should be the only wire back there attached to the frame. Wiring can be a real pain. The trick is to isolate the prob and be able to verify that you really did fix it.
Click to expand...

Correct, it's in the "C" section of the frame towards the very back on the driver's side. It will be held in place with a 13MM bolt. Even if the wire looks good, give the ring terminal a good tug. I have seen wires that looked good from the outside but they were completely corroded apart under the insulation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top