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I did a search on the subject on the forum and got some direction but it also created a few questions too. The tail lights work, the bulbs are good, the upper third brakelight works, but the two lower brake lights are not working. One suggestion is that the brake switch is not working. This doesn't seem right to me since the upper third brake light is working. Is there something I'm missing there? A second suggestion is that the "Lamp Outage Module" may have gone bad. Where is this and what does it look like?
One other possibility is that I have a bad relay(assuming there is one for the rear brakelights). Is there a way to test a relay to see if its bad? Which relay is the correct one for the brakes?
If this is wired the same as my 95 Taurus, you have 2 seperate brake light circuits. One is from the brake light switch directly to the high mount brake light. The other is wired from brake light switch thru the multifunction switch and to the other 2 brake lights. On my Taurus getting to & testing the multifunction switch is simple, and its the first thing that I would look at since they are a common trouble maker. Another option is to hook up a test lamp between the center electrode in the bulb socket & ground & step on the brake pedal if it lights theres a ground problem. Most helpful at times like this would be the XLNT "Electrical & vacuum troubleshooting manual" from www.helminc.com
The turn signal lever is attached to the multifunction switch.
Yours might be different, but on my Taurus it only takes a couple of minutes to remove the ignition lock cylinder & the plastic shroud around the steering column to get to the switch. A haynes manual will have instructions. & the manual I allready mentioned will tell you how to test continuity thru the "stop lamp feed thru circuit" with an ohm meter. Good luck with it.
Heres how it's done on my Taurus. Turn key to run, insert 1/8 th inch punch/drill bit etc thru small hole on underside of steering column, depress spring loaded pin and pull out the key lock cylinder. Then just remove the screws from the plastic column shroud, remove the upper half & theres the multifunction switch.
ok here goes... ihad a 93 ranger one time long ago... the brake swtch went to crap. BECAUSE FORD IS HIRING MORONS...bascly the switch was wrapped around the brake pedal. the brake lights were wired seperatley, and like you only my tail brake lights did not work. i re wired the switch with wires out of the way...and no problems and i sold the truck that way. bascly what i did was cut the switch and use a few crimp style connectors some extra wire and a few inches of electrical tape. 25 mins to do.. mostly cause the cab was small and i am 6'5" so twsting into the rght space to get at the switch was difficult.
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