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Bad brake switch?

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Old Dec 18, 2011 | 02:11 PM
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Bad brake switch?

Switch just behind brake pedal I think is called the brake switch? What ever it is, has it gone bad or what? If you have it plugged in the tail lights stay lit. Also one side is brighter then the other (driver side brighter than passanger) and even with brakes applied in not sure if it lights up as its suppose to when you hit the brakes...???
 
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Old Dec 18, 2011 | 03:08 PM
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The brake switch could have shorted internally and keeping the brake lights on. It should have no effect on the tail lights. "One side brighter than the other" I would pull the bulbs and clean the recepticals, make certain the bulbs are installed in the sockets correctly and no crud bridging the contacts. Back the truck up to something so you can get some sort of reflection to see if the brake lights are working. Or, have someone observe when you press the brake.
 
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Old Dec 18, 2011 | 05:14 PM
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Ok I'll try this out thanks
 
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Old Dec 18, 2011 | 06:47 PM
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One suggestion about the light staying on....maybe you need a new one ($8), but I have two vehicles (93 Civic and 75 F250) that need a penny or quarter taped to the tip of the switch to keep it depressed (and thus stay shut off) until the brake is pressed.

On the truck it's an issue of the switch being too short to reach the "stop." Yes, I know the thing is adjustable but it's still just a bit short. In the case of the Honda, the plastic stop broke apart and I just needed a plug to as a stopper.

Low budget but I gotta tell you I spent some time on both before figuring it was not a bad switch, just a bad "stop" for the tip.
 
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Old Dec 18, 2011 | 08:21 PM
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Originally Posted by 70 Bronco TX
One suggestion about the light staying on....maybe you need a new one ($8), but I have two vehicles (93 Civic and 75 F250) that need a penny or quarter taped to the tip of the switch to keep it depressed (and thus stay shut off) until the brake is pressed.

On the truck it's an issue of the switch being too short to reach the "stop." Yes, I know the thing is adjustable but it's still just a bit short. In the case of the Honda, the plastic stop broke apart and I just needed a plug to as a stopper.

Low budget but I gotta tell you I spent some time on both before figuring it was not a bad switch, just a bad "stop" for the tip.
I encountered the same issue on a 90 Nissan truck and 89 Honda Prelude. The plastic/rubber "plug" in the pedal broke, leaving a nice hole where the tip of the switch was supposed to contact, and fulltime brakelights. A short bolt and nut solved then both, permenently......
 
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 08:49 PM
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Problem fixed. Bad switch, but one light still brighter then other. I took out all the lights and cleaned everything, every single light in truck is brand new no jokes! So what could the problem be?
 
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Old Dec 22, 2011 | 12:02 AM
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Could be bad grounds, corroded sockets, or corroded wiring. Is it a huge difference or just a little?
 
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Old Dec 22, 2011 | 06:29 AM
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Small difference really. As of you were to put a flashlight up to one side so it's simmer looking and leave the other normal so its bright looking
 
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Old Dec 22, 2011 | 11:08 AM
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I'd pull the bulbs out and check the voltage at the sockets with a multimeter. It could just be that there are two different bulbs in there.
 
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Old Dec 22, 2011 | 11:20 AM
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And with old sockets it is possible to put the bulb in "reversed" position.
.
 
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Old Dec 22, 2011 | 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by devino246
It could just be that there are two different bulbs in there.
Righto, there are two different 12V double contact bulbs: Industry #1034 and #1157 / Or #1034NA or #1157NA if amber bulbs.

1034's have less candlepower, Ford only installed 1157's. Remove the bulbs, look at the side of the metal section, the industry number will be stamped on it in black ink.
 
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Old Dec 22, 2011 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Redonkulous BOB
Small difference really. As of you were to put a flashlight up to one side so it's simmer looking and leave the other normal so its bright looking
You already have this conversation going on in another thread. You are very hard to help.
 
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