No brake lights?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
No brake lights?
The brake lights on my 77 F100 don't work most of the time, but when they want to(which isn't often).
IF they work sometimes, I'm assuming the fuse is good. I replaced the bulbs with new ones(old ones looked good), and the brake lights worked every time I touched them. I drove the truck the next day, and sometime while I was driving they quite.
Is there anything that might cause this other than bad wiring(something simple)?
I looked at the wiring, and it was all in the factory wrap, and I really didn't want to start taking all that off, and having wires hang everywhere. There wasn't any place where the wrap was busted....
IF they work sometimes, I'm assuming the fuse is good. I replaced the bulbs with new ones(old ones looked good), and the brake lights worked every time I touched them. I drove the truck the next day, and sometime while I was driving they quite.
Is there anything that might cause this other than bad wiring(something simple)?
I looked at the wiring, and it was all in the factory wrap, and I really didn't want to start taking all that off, and having wires hang everywhere. There wasn't any place where the wrap was busted....
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Cruise control or not ?
w/o cruise control
Process of elimination.
You start at one end and work toward the other.
start at brake switch.
Check terminal plug on brake switch.
One side (wire) is always hot.
When switch plunger pops out... power moves thru the switch to the other wire ....along other wire to power the brake light bulbs.
check for plunger part sticking and not popping out with pedal pushed
If both wires have power with plunger out..then for testing move to the Turn signal switch.
w/o cruise control
Process of elimination.
You start at one end and work toward the other.
start at brake switch.
Check terminal plug on brake switch.
One side (wire) is always hot.
When switch plunger pops out... power moves thru the switch to the other wire ....along other wire to power the brake light bulbs.
check for plunger part sticking and not popping out with pedal pushed
If both wires have power with plunger out..then for testing move to the Turn signal switch.
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
The brake switch was changed, I didn't find all the grounds, only two so far by the tail lights(which I cleaned), and the plug and wire didn't look corroded, but I didn't take them apart or take off the wrapping.
I'll try looking for a few more grounds(where?).
I'll mess with the plugs a little and clean them.
For the brake switch, the plunger part does pop out when the brake is pressed, but I will test the terminal plug on the brake switch to see if that is the problem.
Mil1ion, what would I need to do/why to test the Turn signal switch? Would this cause me problem also?
I thought for sure I said this in my first post, but I must have forgotten, sorry. The tail lights work(when lights are on), turn signals work(but one day when I'd put the turn signals on, the flashers went off outside, but inside, it only showed one turn signal lighting up).
Thanks for the help guys, I'll let you know if anything works.
I'll try looking for a few more grounds(where?).
I'll mess with the plugs a little and clean them.
For the brake switch, the plunger part does pop out when the brake is pressed, but I will test the terminal plug on the brake switch to see if that is the problem.
Mil1ion, what would I need to do/why to test the Turn signal switch? Would this cause me problem also?
I thought for sure I said this in my first post, but I must have forgotten, sorry. The tail lights work(when lights are on), turn signals work(but one day when I'd put the turn signals on, the flashers went off outside, but inside, it only showed one turn signal lighting up).
Thanks for the help guys, I'll let you know if anything works.
Last edited by MBBFord; Jan 10, 2008 at 08:50 AM.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
These are all good answers, but honestly it sounds more like poor sockets than anything else. Dorman makes replacements and they are available @ pepboys for about $10 a piece. Just my 3cents... Hope this helps.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 781
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From: East Texas
The brake lights do feed through the turn signal switch. I recently replaced the t/s switch in my 77 due to one brake light not working. Went through and checked/cleaned grounds, replaced the socket on that side, etc., still no dice. Once I replaced the switch, everything worked.
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Topeka, Kansas
I have always had taillight problems with the 73-79 . Now my left blinker only works when my headlight switch is off. Good luck with your lights! I have replaced everything but the turn signal switch, but because it does work with the head lights off, I don't think it's bad.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 778
Likes: 2
From: southeast Idaho
Check the turn signal switch, I fought the same thing and thats what it was, they are not that difficult to change if you need to, the switch was less than the ticket someone thought I should have because of it..
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