No brake lights

[ghostrider500]

Well, I've got no brake lights. Found that out when my wifey flat-towed my hooptie car with the truck. Found out pretty fast when she braked and I didn't see it Anyway, I do have parking lights, reverse(back-up) lights, and license plate lights. So I believe that rules out the ground wire on left rear inner frame rail by the back bumper. I did take it off, cleaned it,( although it was clean as a whistle, no rust what-so-ever)and put it back on nice and snug. I also checked the ground on the left rear cylinder head. It looked like it had just came from the factory. No rust, residue, nothing.
I don't have the third brake light either. So I'm guessing it is the switch on the brake pedal? Is there a way to check the switch to see if it is working? Or am I going in the wrong direction on this?
Also, I checked fuses in engine compartment and inside cab. All were good and passed continuity test. Still replaced the small fuse in cab. Also checked brake relay in underhood fuse box. Tried out a new relay and that didn't help.

 

[Mudbath]

Brake light switch is where you want to check next. Up where the brake pedal pivots and behind the brake pedal is the switch. With a test light you should have power to one side and nothing to the other side- brake not applied. When brake is applied then there should be power at both sides.

If there is now power to either side then trace back using schematics. Do you have signal lights? The brakes light circuit does go up through the signal light switch so that the brake light can be interrupted when the signal is on.

The brakes and signal then travel to the rear bulbs on the same wire.

 

[Brooklyn Tow]

Brake pedal switch would be the next logical step.....any clue how long they've been out?

 

[ghostrider500]

Brake pedal switch would be the next logical step.....any clue how long they've been out?

Best guess for how long that they've been out is sometime after June of 2009. I wired in a plug for pulling my new-to-me fifth wheel and everything thing checked out at that time. I did this during my two week leave from a deployment to Iraq, so then the truck pretty much sat until November.
I'll check the switch next. Looks like a real joy to get up under the dash.

 

[Mad Maxx]

Moved to Electrical Section, and Merged.

 

[ghostrider500]

Do you have signal lights? The brakes light circuit does go up through the signal light switch so that the brake light can be interrupted when the signal is on.

The brakes and signal then travel to the rear bulbs on the same wire.

Yes, I do have signal lights so I don't think signal stalk is involved.

 

[Brooklyn Tow]

Best guess for how long that they've been out is sometime after June of 2009. I wired in a plug for pulling my new-to-me fifth wheel and everything thing checked out at that time. I did this during my two week leave from a deployment to Iraq, so then the truck pretty much sat until November.
I'll check the switch next. Looks like a real joy to get up under the dash.

New problem = Check the last repair/upgrade/fix you did.

 

[guybb3]

New problem = Check the last repair/upgrade/fix you did.

Agreed. If it's NOT the brake pedal switch, sometimes the pigtail in the back (where the trailer lights splice in) is the problem.

 

[ghostrider500]

FIXED!!!

It was the brake switch. Replaced it, but had to go to the stealer to get a new retainer clip that holds the rod in place that goes through the switch. What a PIA that retainer clip is; I loved to get ahold of the engineer that designed that thing.:mad2:

BTW, I had double checked my work on the fifth wheel wiring before I posted. first place I thought the problem would be at too..

Thanks for the help guys.