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Brake light help


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ok guys I have a 91 base 4wd inline six automatic last week I noticed my brake light weren't working. So I checked the bulbs there good and noticed there no out there just so dim you can't see the light threw the lense so I thought it had to be a ground. So I started checking the ten million ground wires before I decided to run my own ground. Still didn't help so I was talking to a couple buddies and they said it might be the brake pedal switch so as the parts store called it a stoplight switch. Well after buying three different one I finally found the right 6prong with wires that fit the truck. So yesterday installed it and got the same problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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91 base 4wd inline six automatic. So about a week ago I noticed my brake lights don't work but blinkers running lights and hazzered work So I checked bulbs and noticed the work there just exstreamly dim. Like so dim you can't see them threw lense. Well replaced bulbs same problem. Checked fuses all good. Started checking ten million grounds before I decided to run my own. Still dim called a few shops the told me it could be brake pedal switch or as parts store calls it stop light switch. Well yesterday replaced it and still same problem. And help would be greatly appreciated.

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Bad sockets. When you pull the bulb out, are the terminals inside the socket corroded? As in not shiny, or metallic, rather gritty and dark? If so, you can buy new sockets from advance that fit the lens and bulb, and just splice it in with some solder and heat shrink. I had this issue with my front turn signals, very dim, replaced the sockets and good as new.

 

 

Edit: I just re read your post, you said the rear turn signals work, but the brakes are dim? They use the same bulbs, so this problem may be deeper down...

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Everything back there grounds behind the left drivers side tail lamp. Pull the lamp and freshen up the ground connection behind it. The grounds are distributed in a connector behind the rear bumper. Pull that connector apart and clean it up. I think there's another connector further up the rear harness on the drivers side in front of the fuel tank. Follow the harness from the rear bumper connector forward and look for any frayed wiring and that connector. Clean and refresh that connector also.

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Somewhere between its main power and the bulb is a short or a bad wire (eg. broken or corroded wire under the plastic coating). Double check every point you can access w a multimeter to find the drop and replace it. Military trailers do that all the time.

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There's 6 wires from the brake pedal way witch one actually likes up the lights

 

The NO (Normally Open) set of contacts close when you press the brake pedal to complete the brake light circuit. Determine the NO set with your ohmmeter.

 

The other sets of contacts, both NC, supply the cruise control and torque converter lockup signals.

 

If I were you I'd invest in a factory electrical manual for your specific year. Otherwise you're just guessing and flying blind.

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I  agree with the socket issue.  I had similar problems with my sockets being corroded, new sockets fixed it.  I'd also check to see if your trailer wiring (if equipped) isn't a hack job.  My towing harness was an incredible tangle of mis-matched wires, held together (barely) with odd splices and connectors.  I removed the trailer wiring and re-wired it my self and all my rear end lighting issues went away.

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Yes, it could very well be the sockets are a contributing factor; it's a common problem. But before you start messing with the sockets, verify that the brake light (or parking, back-up, turn signal, etc.) voltage is present on the socket wire when activated.

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