Flickering tail lights? (already replaced brake switch)

[Armatron]

I see this on a lot of fords - it's hard to describe, but when you're slowing to a stop if you let go of the brake pedal the slightest bit the brake lights turn off. This sounds ok, but since you have to modulate the pedal while you're braking it ends up looking like you're completely letting off of the brake - i.e. flashing / flickering brake lights.

I've replaced the switch and it didn't seem to help much. There wasn't an obvious way to adjust anything, and I see this on F150's and other fords, but not all.

Any solution?

 

[pocket-rocket]

I've noticed this on mine and it bugs me. It makes me wonder if they are on or not. And with the way people drive (not paying attention) it makes me wonder if I will get rear ended, so I leave my hitch in I wouldn't mind fixing mine as well. I wonder if it is the way Ford designs their brake light switches.

 

[dogboy]

Mine do it too.

If you think about how the brake switch works, it will make sense. It has to do with a spring, and when you let off the brake, the brake push rod (going into the booster) can't keep enough tension on the spring, there for the lights go off.
But once the rod puts pressure on it, the lights come back on.

Back up to a wall at night, and mess with pushing the breaks, and it will make a little more sense. That way you can see when they come on and go off.

 

[Southern3.0]

Ehhh, Just let some air in the system so you have to keep the pedal pressed down more. Just make sure you properly dispose the old brake fluid, Check with your local laws or with a recycling center.



I'm joking of course..... It doesn't really matter where you put the used fluid, storm drains are normal a good place to dispose of it.




I wish I could add some intelligence to this thread but I don't have a clue on how to fix your truck.

 

[dogboy]

Liek I said above, it is not really a problem as much as it's just how it is.

Notice how you said you see alot of other Fords that do it? To me that means it isn't something wrong, just the way things are.

 

[Armatron]

Liek I said above, it is not really a problem as much as it's just how it is.

Notice how you said you see alot of other Fords that do it? To me that means it isn't something wrong, just the way things are.

I really don't agree.. not all fords do it, nor do all rangers. It's not the switch as I've replaced mine.

It's nearly impossible to come to a complete stop without the lights flickering, and I have a hard time believing this is by design. I understand how the switch works, but it shouldn't turn off the lights until the pedal is almost completely released.

 

[pocket-rocket]

I really don't agree.. not all fords do it, nor do all rangers. It's not the switch as I've replaced mine.

It's nearly impossible to come to a complete stop without the lights flickering, and I have a hard time believing this is by design. I understand how the switch works, but it shouldn't turn off the lights until the pedal is almost completely released.

+1

I've been rear ended by a chick in a Saturn doing 30mph when she hit me while I was in my 91 Z34. That's how I got the money to buy the 92. She hit her brakes, but it didn't do a whole lot because it was raining out and she slid right under my car. Both of my rear tires were up off the ground and my rear bumper was a foot from her windshield. Her front bumper also hit my drivers side rear tire, bending the arm that hooks the wheel to the body so it doesn't move front to back. Right now, the right name has escaped my mind, but it is the equivalent to the radius arms on our truck, but for the rear of my FWD car. At any rate, it was not pleasant, but at least both of us walked away from it without anything serious. I saw her coming so I hit the brakes as hard as I could since there was oncoming traffic going and braced myself for the impact. She hit me so hard, since I braced myself I broke the tilt portion of my tilt steering and had to buy a new steering column to keep the wheel from flopping. But yeah, people don't pay enough attention when driving to see if you are stopped or not when your brake lights are off, so I would rather have mine not flicker/shut off when I let up off the brake just a smidgen.