no brake lights....

[kilog55]

i have marker and turn signal lights they work fine replaced the switch and still no brake lights, i have power at the switch wires put a new fuse in and still nothing. where should i start looking???

[Thunderfoot]

Check the Red/black striped wire at the Turn Signal Switch connection while pressing the break pedal, it should have power on it. If it doesn't then trace this wire back to the Break pedal switch and find the break. If it does have power then the only thing it would be is the TSS or the wire up the column/connector for that Red/black striped wire.
One other thing would be if the Emergency Flasher has gone bad and grounded out, then you will not get power to the TSS. you can try unplugging the Emergency Flasher and see if the brake lights work to check this.

[kilog55]

i know the flasher is shot, it was unplugged no brakes i plugged it in no brakes. ill check the turn signal wires and steering column wires hope something works i wanna drive it before snow flies heavy

[kilog55]

ok so i removed all the shoddy rear wiring the PO managed to feel safe doing, and found i have power to the rear with the brake switch removed to it would be active, i replaced the switch so it would be closed and no power showing so i will rewire everything and make it look pretty and not use house hold twist lock connectors and pray it works

[Doc_G]

I have same problem. Started w/my reverse lights, now its the brake lights. I will try the trouble shooting processes outlined above and see what I can discern.

::Edit::

I have checked the flasher, and the fuse. Both are good, didn't have a chance to check on the wiring at the turn signal switch. I have a question, I do not have the original steering column in my truck. Mine is out of a 70's model (looks like) automatic (since it was converted to a 289/c4). Will the wire be the same color do you know?

[71highboy]

check your ground wire

[Thunderfoot]

I have same problem. Started w/my reverse lights, now its the brake lights. I will try the trouble shooting processes outlined above and see what I can discern.

::Edit::

I have checked the flasher, and the fuse. Both are good, didn't have a chance to check on the wiring at the turn signal switch. I have a question, I do not have the original steering column in my truck. Mine is out of a 70's model (looks like) automatic (since it was converted to a 289/c4). Will the wire be the same color do you know?

The wire color will be the same... With the reverse lights also being an issue I would check your ground connection at the tail light housings as 71highboy said as the reverse lights don't run through the TSS. However you could have more then one issue going on... If your rear turn signals and tail lights work fine then your ground will be fine.

[kilog55]

reverse lights could be as simple as the reverse sensor not being hooked up or its gone bad. mine dont work either but i dont have a ford power train, not by choice though

[Doc_G]

I have same problem. Started w/my reverse lights, now its the brake lights. I will try the trouble shooting processes outlined above and see what I can discern.

::Edit::

I have checked the flasher, and the fuse. Both are good, didn't have a chance to check on the wiring at the turn signal switch. I have a question, I do not have the original steering column in my truck. Mine is out of a 70's model (looks like) automatic (since it was converted to a 289/c4). Will the wire be the same color do you know?

The wire color will be the same... With the reverse lights also being an issue I would check your ground connection at the tail light housings as 71highboy said as the reverse lights don't run through the TSS. However you could have more then one issue going on... If your rear turn signals and tail lights work fine then your ground will be fine.

I inspected the wiring, found some ratty wiring (honestly I don't understand how someone could have done that and then been like "I'm good with that"...) I have not fixed it all, but I did sort it and inspect it. While I had the plugs unplugged (under rear of bed by roll pan) I tested with my multi meter to see if I got any power. With the lights off I go no juice, but turn the lights on and both plugs showed 11.794 volts. I'm getting power back there, so I check the switch. I have power coming to the switch and when plugged in, if I jump across both sides the brake lights come on. This leads me to believe I have a faulty switch.

Any of you more experienced bumpside folks find fault with this?

[kilog55]

remove the switch all the way with it hooked up so the plunger is all the way out and see if you get a reading you should get 0 volts

[fordman]

yes that is a bad switch it sounds like.

[kilog55]

just wish i could see the color of the wires a little better this is gonna be fun

[kilog55]

ok now i have marker and turnsignals yet still no brake lights but less hack jobbed wiring

looking at the wiring schematic would the fact i dont have a working emer flasher and possibly a bad flasher unit make my brake lights not work, since the one wire runs from the brake light switch to the flasher then to the emer flasher switch? or am i thinking too much?

[kilog55]

also can anyone tell me if this is the way the brake light switch works, with the plunger in i get around 12 volts, with it out i get 0 volts is this correct? shouldnt it be the other way around?

[fordman]

with the plunger out you should get 12 volts through the switch. with it in or off. it wont supply power out of the switch.