'02 explorer brake light issue

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May 17, 2011 | 10:07 AM

JamesDouglas

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'02 explorer brake light issue

Having a problem with my brake lights...sometimes they work, sometimes they do not.

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9; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> So what I have discovered…and what I think the issue is…
-the front brakes are worn and severely in need of replacement
-the lights seem to not come on when there isn’t any pressure built up in the lines
-when the car is parked, I can push the brake pedal and feel the brakes push in pretty far.
Looking at the brake lights as I do this they do not come on.
- when I proceed to pump the pedal, the first few times the lights do not come on. THEN, after I’ve pumped them a few times and built up some pressure, the lights will start coming on with every pump after that.

Also
If we go back to the situation where the lights are not working via the brake pedal,
I can get under the dash and push up on the relay and it will make the brake lights come on…so I don’t think it is the wiring or relay that is the issue.

Would it be bad front brakes (no pressure) that would make the lights not work?

May 17, 2011 | 01:22 PM

shorod

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From: Cedar Rapids, IA

Assuming you're referring to brake lights on the rear of the vehicle and not the Brake indicator in the instrument cluster, the brake pedal switch would be the input to activate the brake lights, not pressure. There will probably be two switches on the brake pedal, one for the brake lights and one for the cruise control.

Since you mention pushing up on the "relay" causes the lights to work, I think the issue is one of wiring rather than the pressure. Are you sure it's a relay you are pushing on? You might be moving the wiring within the steering column when pushing on the "relay" and the real problem may be a loose connection for the multifunction switch which is a fairly common issue on the Explorer, although I thought that was primarily an issue on the 1996-2001 Explorers....

-Rod

May 17, 2011 | 08:19 PM

steve(ill)

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the switch on the pedal movement should be what turnss the lights on and off...but what ever "relay" your pushing on appears to be the location. That could be a wire harness plug loose, or the brake switch mentioned above... not the hydraulic pressure.

May 18, 2011 | 09:02 AM

JamesDouglas

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thanks for the replies...I ended up just putting on a new stoplight switch and now everything is groovy again.

May 18, 2011 | 04:21 PM

shorod

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From: Cedar Rapids, IA

Thank you for the follow-up post identifying what you found the issue to be! I wish more people would follow-up on their threads.

-Rod

May 18, 2011 | 05:30 PM

JamesDouglas

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Thanks. i love this forum. I wish i could add more. i love workin on my own vehicles, but most things on the explorer are learn as i go.
like this fall i'll have to learn how to repair my transfer case...

one other important note about changing the stoplight switch that i learned.....For on '02 Explorer. the part listed on all the autopart store websites is not correct with what comes on the '02.
instead, the matching part is the same as the '02 Windstar.
fits and works perfect.
otherwise you would also have to redo the harness if you go with the part they sale for the explorer.