Lower brake lights don't work

[esebm]

Hi, On my 04 Escape only the upper brake light works but not the lower ones. Are those 3 lights not triggered by the same switch? Thanks, Ed

[budwich]

well.... yes... in a "way". The brake switch "starts" things off for both types of lighting BUT the wiring goes thru different systems to cause the "flash". The third light is simple (basically "straight" thru wiring) BUT the others get their "lighting orders" from the smart junction box (at least in my 2005 drawings... hopefully 2004 is not much different). You need to go to the bulbs and check them first to see if they are good and then for voltage when you hit the brakes. From there, that will determine what else you need to trace. PS. each side gets its voltage from a different "source" at the SJB.

[esebm]

Seems sort of weird, doesn't it?

I just checked way down at the brake pedal and there seem to be two different switches.

I was wondering if someone had a piece of drawing for the 2004?

Thanks,

Ed

[budwich]

Again yes BUT they are not both for your brake lights.... one is for brakes, the other for speed control "control" (as in deactivation).

[esebm]

Makes sense, thanks.

So, where is this SJB located?

[budwich]

I don't think that you want to go there at least at this point. Follow the suggestions for trouble shooting. Note that the smart junction box is located under the console and probably not the cause of your problem IMO.... but we have only owned our escape for a year.

[esebm]

Okay, trouble-shooting.

I sort of doubt that 2 bulbs blow at the same time, I'm pretty certain that there's no voltage getting to the bulbs when I hit the pedal.

If the voltage for both sides come from a different "source", doesn't that automatically point to this SJB? Does this thing have a separate fuse?

[budwich]

well as for "bulbs don't go at the same time", how do you know they went at the same time????? bad assumption. Multitudes of people don't go around looking at their lights either front or back....because they are "busy" driving their vehicles, not running in front or behind them. Hence, one light goes out and over a period of time, weeks, months or otherwise, the other goes out..... certain not at the same "time". Very common. Again, Check for voltage and go from there. From what I can tell, you don't want to f.... with the SJB as "everything" goes thru there and you are likely asking for trouble poking in there for basically "no reason".... that's probably why they made it "relatively inaccessible". Further IF there was a problem there, you would likely notice significant other numbers of problems.

[esebm]

In general, you are right. However, I happened to see my wife leave our driveway a few days ago and all 3 brake lights came on. Of course, they still could have been blown a minute or so apart, I guess. :-)

I'll check the bulbs and voltage.

Thanks,

Ed

[budwich]

Presents of voltage or lack there of will tell you more than just guessing..... and lead you in different directions depending on the outcome. One towards the voltage source the other to a grounding issue.