brake lights no worky!!

[Ontheboulder]

I would check the grounds for the tail lights, then the ground from bed to cab.

I have several grounds, cab to frame,bed to frame,battery to frame and engine, not sure just what else i may have missed,not sure on a ground from cab to the bed though,will check into that

 

[Ontheboulder]

what has got me stumped, is that why I had the left rear brake light working,and the right rear brake and turn not working,then by replacing the flasher i had both turn signals working but no brake lights??? The 4 ways are working fine?? just seems weird that the flasher change made this difference

 

[WP29P4A]

I think all the grounds are good as every other light circuit is working, just no brake lights. starting to think it is in the turn signal switch, that may have to go to the shop to get done,not sure about doing it my self

Your theory would be good if the whole lighting circuit was grounded together, but it's not. Your truck has several "local" grounds, near each set of lights. The body and frame of the truck is the ONLY thing tying the grounds back to the battery. If you pull out one of the tail light housing you will find a ground location, if you look on your radiator support near your headlights you will find the grounds for the headlights, etc. You also should have several ground straps to link your bed to the frame and the cab to the frame, and the engine to the firewall.

So if the ground for the tail lights is not good, the only set of lights it will effect is the tail lights.

 

[Ontheboulder]

Your theory would be good if the whole lighting circuit was grounded together, but it's not. Your truck has several "local" grounds, near each set of lights. The body and frame of the truck is the ONLY thing tying the grounds back to the battery. If you pull out one of the tail light housing you will find a ground location, if you look on your radiator support near your headlights you will find the grounds for the headlights, etc. You also should have several ground straps to link your bed to the frame and the cab to the frame.

So if the ground for the tail lights is not good, the only set of lights it will effect is the tail lights.

good point!! I will go back and double check all the ground points tomorrow , grounding will cause a lot of head scratching!! thanks for your input

 

[AuroraGirl]

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[WP29P4A]

As far as the WHY? If you change a load or voltage to a device like a set of lights that had a marginal connection to begin with sometimes it will jump the connection and make it work again temporarally until the heat or weather changes again and the connection "opens". It only takes minute changes to make a bad connection come and go due to heat/cold, moisture, vibration, change in voltage or load.

That's why TIGHT connections are so important.

 

[WP29P4A]

Also Dc voltage is a sneaky bugger, it you take away it's main path back to the battery it will try to find another path. "The path of least resistance" When the voltage finds it's way back to the battery through another circuit it will create false symptoms. Like the brake lights only work when the turn signals are on.

 

[WP29P4A]

You must be registered for see images attach

This is the perfect example, connector looks good but it's between rusted sheet metal and a rusted bolt. The is the perfect scenario where just a little moisture with make this connection work until it drys out or a little vibration breaks the connection causing intermittent operation of brake lights.

 

[Ontheboulder]

thanks to you all!!! tomorrow will be check ,double check and re-enforce all the grounds,If that fails I think I will start drinking heavily!! LOL

 

[AuroraGirl]

This is the perfect example, connector looks good but it's between rusted sheet metal and a rusted bolt. The is the perfect scenario where just a little moisture with make this connection work until it drys out or a little vibration breaks the connection causing intermittent operation of brake lights.

oh that bitch had no working anymore the sockets were falling apart if you handled haha! Fixed it now but that was an exaple of yikes + the ground location on the bed

 

[AuroraGirl]

thanks to you all!!! tomorrow will be check ,double check and re-enforce all the grounds,If that fails I think I will start drinking heavily!! LOL

If you start your drinking moderately with water and not empty stomach you may wake up rememebring the step to continue

 

[Memaloose]

Do you have the correct lamp in the tail light socket? It should be an 1157. Sometimes, I've seen incorrect lamps or installed incorrectly. Just a quick thought.

 

[WFO]

thanks to you all!!! tomorrow will be check ,double check and re-enforce all the grounds,If that fails I think I will start drinking heavily!! LOL

There you go.
Sometimes you just got to get your mind right.

 

[Matt69olds]

Check for power on the green and yellow wires at the turn signal switch connector while pushing the brake pedal. If not, most likely the turn signal switch is defective

 

[Ontheboulder]

Do you have the correct lamp in the tail light socket? It should be an 1157. Sometimes, I've seen incorrect lamps or installed incorrectly. Just a quick thought.

Yup checked that a few times