No brake lights

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Jul 27, 2006 | 08:10 PM

merc546

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From: Michigan

No brake lights

The brake lights aren't working on my 99 explorer but the tail lights and turn signals do. Any ideas?

Also the cruise control isn't working.

I just bought this vehicle so I'm not sure what to look for.

Thanks for any help.

Chuck

Jul 27, 2006 | 08:53 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

Does the high mount third brakelight in the rear work? And do you have the seperate yellow turnsignal lights in the rear?

Jul 27, 2006 | 09:22 PM

merc546

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Dave, No the high mount isn't working and yes the rear turn signal lights are yellow. To be honest i never noticed the lights were yellow.

Chuck

Jul 27, 2006 | 09:57 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

Check all the fuses. If they are all good, I suspect your brakelight switch is bad on the brake pedal. Check the wiring down there too to make sure it's in good shape.

Your brake pedal wiring is related to the cruise system, so if you get the brake light problem figured out, I bet your cruise will start working too.

The reason I asked about the color of the turn lights was, because they are yellow, you have the european style system, and the brake lights do not run through the turnsignal switch. If you had just the red lights in the rear, then your brake lights would have run through the turnsignal switch, and that could have changed the diagnoses(guess) at what the problem may be.

Jul 29, 2006 | 08:24 AM

merc546

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From: Michigan

Dave,

Thanks for your help. Brake light fuse was blown.

I think I found the reason. Checked wiring at the back and found P/O had removed or never had the ford production trailer wiring and used a cheap 4 wire plug.

Removed it and installed a production wiring harness (never throw out this stuff) and replaced fuse. Owners manual had a book mark at the fuse section, so I think this has been a on going problem.

I am having the brakes redone Monday so I haven't driven it but have pushed on pedal at least 20 times so I think/hope it is fixed.

Will be able to check cruise after brakes are done.

Thanks again, Chuck

Jul 29, 2006 | 09:21 AM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

Glad it is working. I am writing back in just to let you know that since you have the yellow turnsignals in the rear, your trailer hook-up (if you keep it) will require different wiring than a normal vehicle.

Most trailers have the red only taillights. Since your vehicle has the seperate lights, these need to be combined to work with a trailer. Some of the diagrams I have looked at, shows that Ford ran special wires to the rear from the turnsignal switch, just for this purpose. This may be the factory wiring you are talking about that you said you used.

If you can't find or it doesn't have the two special wires to the rear, you can also go to the store and for about $15.00, get a little black box called a trailer adapter. It will have three wires going in for the left turn, right turn, and brake signals. Inside the box it will combine these signals electronically, so coming out of the box you will have the combo left turn/brake, and the right turn/brake. These will then match up with the trailer wiring.

Aug 2, 2006 | 09:44 AM

merc546

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From: Michigan

Dave

Once more you were right, the brake lights are related to the cruise control.

Just got the explore back from having the brakes redone. Finally had a chance to check the cruise and it works just fine, one more thing fixed. Now to figure out the rear wiper and not break the tabs on the hatch cover.

Chuck