I own a 1978 Ford Ranger F150 XLT LWB 351M C-6 Auto. Yesterday I changed my power steering pump and set my timing and choke and after I was through I noticed my brake lights were on. I tapped the brake and they were still on. I turned my lights on and off and they are still on. I unplugged the brake switch and they were still on. I finally had to take my fuse out and now I have no brake lights and am preparing to purchase a new bumper soon because someone is going to rear end me. What could be the problem.

 

Check your emergency flasher switch. The emergency flashers use the same filament as the brakes. My guess is the switch is on and the flasher unit isn't working keeping the lights on all the time. Try pushing in on the switch.

 

Do you have cruise control?


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I do have cruise control, but it doesent work, the chain isnt hooked to my carb and there is no vacuum going to it.

 

Okay, Did you unplug the Long black brake light switch or the mechanical switch?
Due to the cruise wiring:
The Long Black brake switch that the Plunger buttton pops out on a truck WITH Cruise control actually works the Cruise shut down.

The mechanical switch which is located where the pushrod attaches to the pedal > is the Brake LIGHT switch and appears to be faulty.
Unplug & Replace it & the lights will go out.


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When I bought my F-250 it had the same problem, the brake lights wouldn't go out and it was killing the battery. It turned out that the switch that attaches to the brake pedal was loose in its bracket/housing and had slid forward until it no longer worked. I pushed the plunger in manualy and the lights went out. after checking closer it turned out that the bracket was reamed out or streched, so I pushed the switch to where it needed to be and put a couple of twists of strong wire around the whole thing to tighten it up. been working get for three years and running.

 

If you have cruise & it does work >you need to replace the Push rod brake switch.


If you have cruise & it doesn't work,there is another way around it.
Remove the instrument cluster.
Disconnect the connector from the Turn Signal Switch that plugs into the cruise wiring.
Then disconnect the other curved connector that is part of the cruise harness and plugs in to the main harness.
Now,plug the Turn signal switch harness in to the Main Harness instead.
Now Unplug the connector that goes to the Long black plunger brake switch.Right behind the cluster there is a Connection with red wires running to it unplug it and run the connector with the TWO side clips down to the long black plunger type Brake switch.
Unplug the connector to the yellow power connector.

What you have essentially have done is disable all the cruise control wiring and made it NON-Cruise.
You will need a standard horn pad to complete the mod.

If it was me, I would replace the Brake switch that went bad.




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