Brake light Help

[NPdarkside21]

I have a '99 Ford Ranger XLT with rear ABS and the brake lights have just cut out on me. i swapped the brake light switch a couple days ago and they were working, but then they shut off again. I've also swapped bulbs, fuses, and relays related to the lights. Still nothing. I have absolutely no idea what else it could be.

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS


There are 3 brake lights, don't forget the one on the cab

The cab brake light is a direct wire from the brake pedal switch, is that still working when the rear lights quit?

Brake lights get power 24/7(all the time) from fuse #13(20amp) in cab fuse box
From that fuse a light green/red stripe wire goes to brake light switch
Then on the other terminal of the switch there should be 2 wires, light green(no stripe) and a Dark green wire
Dark green wire goes to cab brake light
Light green goes to tail lights and multi-function switch.

Fuse--------brake pedal switch-----------------------------------------------tail lights

If you have a trailer light connection check it, some one may have spliced into the main brake light wire(light green) and partially cut it and now you are seeing intermittent contact.

If cab brake light is also not working then problem is at the fuse, wire from fuse to switch or the switch itself.

"new" used to mean "tested and works"
"new" now means "you test it, if it doesn't work bring it back and we will give you another one"

 

[Pauls 4x4]

I'm fighting something similar so I can say step 1 after you check for fuses. Check for voltage at the switch. I've got 0 and have had to try and trace the whole thing!

 

[NPdarkside21]

all the wires are fine. no cuts, tears, or frayed/exposed wires. Another thing, when I tried to pull some data from an OBDII tester, it wouldn't connect. So aside from the brake lights, the data link connector is not working. any suggestions?

 

[NPdarkside21]

Same problem. no power to the switch. have you found anything?

 

[NPdarkside21]

Fixed it! All it was was the main connecting wire harness, located next to the spare tire just under the tailgate and rear bumper, was loose. When I first looked at it it "looked" fine, but after closer inspection and a bit of cleaning, it was not; just slightly not connected all the way. anyways, I pulled it closer and it clicked, stepped on the brake pedal and it lit. All that just for a little loose connection.

 

[RonD]

Good Work

Thanks for posting the fix