Stats: 1997 Ford f150 4x4

I noticed today my brake lights do not work correctly. When I depress the brake peddle, I get a quick illumination of both brake lights, a quick flicker, and then nothing!!!!

The running lights work when the headlights are on and both turn signals in the rear work too! I'm really concerned about driving this thing from work to home!

I recently took my truck in for wheel rotation, balance, and alignment. They also did a brake inspection. Are these two correlated or coincidence?

Has this happened to anyone? Can it be one of the bulbs is about to burn out? A loose or burnt out fuse?

What?!?

HELP!

Please email

thirtytwocount@yahoo.com

or

typhonus@indy.net

Thanks!


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Warren's Web Page
\/\/arren B
"It showed us that we have to care for each other, because if we don't, who will?"
- Susan Ivanova, Babylon 5

 

I have the factory manuals and wiring book..
Will look for you tonite and see if I can
find the info. I'll post it if the home computer is not flaky like it has been!
(I just did the headlite mod thing to keep
fogs on and was looking thru the wiring book
extensively. I don't think the brake lites
are on a relay but there is some sort of
signal from or to the GEM module I seem to remember that has something to do with the brakes.

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2000 Lariat, 5.4, 3:55 L.S., 4wd, ext cab, Tow pkg, Chestnut/Gold, Century mid-hi cap, Ford short bug deflector, contoured Ford running boards and bedmat.

 

Does your cruise control shut off when you hit the brake pedal? This kinda sounds like something on a brake pedal switch.

 

I agree with flatlander....|I checked in my
factory manuals and the only thing I could
determine is that the BPP (brake pedal position) switch may be bad. If it makes
momentary contact, it may shut the cruise
off, but I'd try this: If travelling along,
hit the brakes till they come on and do the
shut off type thing, THEN, holding the brake
pedal down a little, try to ENGAGE the cruise
control and see if the cruise light comes
on. If it does, it probably means the BPP
switch is momentarily contacting upon initial
application. But if the cruise does not come
on, I have no real idea.
Good luck.....has it been this way for awhile
and just noticed it?

Charlie

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2000 Lariat, 5.4, 3:55 L.S., 4wd, ext cab, Tow pkg, Chestnut/Gold, Century mid-hi cap, Ford short bug deflector, contoured Ford running boards and bedmat.

 

It's the switch. If the turn signals work, and the tail and flashers work, it's the switch. It should be about a $10 part at any parts store. Might just be a loose connection on it. I haven't looked at my truck, but usually it's under the dash on the pedal, attaches with a clip or screw, and has a plug on it. I managed to kick the one on my ranger and break the connector off it... (don't ask! #;-) )
-Joe-


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98 Explorer (Lemon Law Case in Progress)

'00 F-150, X-cab, 4x4, Lariat, Off-road, Trailer Tow, Holandia Sunroof, built 11/99 picked up 10/00!
List of planned mods: Clear corners and tails, CB wiring, Stainless brush guard, at least 1 set of KCs (probably more!), custom radar detector mount, color matched trailer hitch with stainless steel ball, torsion bar tweak, bug deflector, spray in liner, and a tonneau of some sort...

 

Hey, thanks guys!

I'm on my way home now and thankfully there is an autoparts store a block from here. There is a long non-trafficed road on the way there so I'll perform the cruise control test and look for the peddle switch in the auto supply lot.

charlsev:

I must have just started recently. I park my truck in the garage and this morning while depressing the brake (and the garage door was closed) I didn't see the expectant red light of the brakes on the garage door.

I'd like to think if it started awhile ago I'd have noticed it. Then again you never know!

I'll let y'all know what I find out!

Thanks!

 

Hey folks!

After leaving work, I pulled the driver's seat back and found the brake switch. I turned on my flashlight and touched the wiring harness attached to it and one of the wires broke right off! It was wore down and snapped right off!

My reponse: "#!#@~!"

So I drove to the autoparts store with NO brake lights and bought another switch. I found out later I didn't need it and will take it back.

I get home and realize the wire broke at the worst possible place! The brake switch consists of an electrical mechanism attached to the brake peddle. The switch has a wiring harness attached to it which can be removed. Attached to the harness are two little wires. The wiring harness has two female plugs in it which then slides onto the switching mechanism.

I took the harness off the switch and broke out my spare electrical parts box. I took the old female plug out and found a comparable one. I put that into the harness and attached a longer piece of wire to it.

I took some of the insulation off the tiny bit of wire that remained where it broke off (under that dash board) and attached a connector to it. I connected the longer piece of wire I fashioned to the other end of the connector and put the wiring harness back on the switch.

I now have brake lights! WOOHOO

Thanks for pointing me in that direction guys!

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Warren's Web Page
\/\/arren B
"It showed us that we have to care for each other, because if we don't, who will?"
- Susan Ivanova, Babylon 5

 

Great! Thanks for letting us know how it turned out. Chances are that this will probably happen to somebody else too.

 

Glad it was an easy fix and glad you didn't get stoped by a cop for no brake lights for the short time they didn't work.

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2000 F150 XLT Reg. cab
4.6 Triton Engine
4x2 3.55 rear end gear
sliding rear window
automatic keyless entry
white styleside short box