Brake Lights Don't Illuminate

[Botlebruiser]

New Issue: After I replaced the multiswitch on the console everything was fine. My buddy was behind me a few days later and said my brake lights don't illuminate when I hit the pedal. I checked all my fuses and my brake switch twice. They will light up the first time I hit the pedal then they don't light up anymore. Anyone have any ideas? After I hit the brake pedal once I don't get anything. I'm guessing all of these issues are tied together in some way. 

Resolved: My 3rd brake light switch fixed the issue. The first two must have been bad. I finally got one from the dealership(it was actually cheaper than O'Reiley's) and its fixed. 

 

 

 

I hooked up my buddies trailer this morning with his 4wheeler on it so we could use it to go hunting. I plugged the trailer in and went to check my lights and none of the trailer lights worked. I hit one of my turn signals and neither of them work. It doesn't make the clicking sound or show the indicator lights on the dash even with the trailer unhooked. My flashers don't do anything either. My brake lights will light up with my running lights turned on but nothing happens when I hit the pedal. I had to replace the fuse under the hood for the brake lights but it didn't look like any of the other fuses were bad. I am going to check the bulbs in the morning and update this thread. 

Obviously there is something very wrong with the wiring on this trailer. I'm sure it's a pretty major ground issue or something like that. I've pulled a couple other trailers and not had this issue. I'm curious if anyone has seen anything like this. Any suggestions are welcome as my truck is sitting at this point until I figure it out. Thanks in advance. 

Edited December 2, 2015 by Botlebruiser

[Me78569]

so your lights work fine with no trailer attached?

My OEM 7 pin plug was very corroided.  I replaced the whole thing and my issues went away.  I would start with that.  

[Botlebruiser]

I'm sorry. No they don't work at all now. Even with the trailer unhooked. 

[Me78569]

Recheck all fuses including the IOD fuse.  

 

Sounds like you blew a fuse due to a short, like you said.  It could be in the trailer or in the truck wiring, hard to know unless you test with another trailer.

[Hawkez]

Maybe this thread will help you a bit.

http://forum.mopar1973man.com/topic/10555-trailer-light-issue/

[Botlebruiser]

I've pulled some other trailers and it did it exactly when I plugged the trailer in. I was checking the lights afterwards and I had nothing in the truck. Then, afterwards the guys dad tells me it did the same thing to his F150 lol. I'm sittin there thinkin "Why the hell would you let me use it then...." But oh well, all I can do is fix it. 

The filament in my brake light bulbs are not blown on either light. 

The filament in my brake light bulbs are not blown on either light. 

On 11/21/2015, 10:25:23, Hawkez said:

Maybe this thread will help you a bit.

http://forum.mopar1973man.com/topic/10555-trailer-light-issue/

Where I think people are getting confused is I don't have any brake lights, turn signals, flashers or anything WITHOUT the trailer even hooked up. So my truck is sitting now. I get no turn signal indicator lights on the dash or the clicking sound when I turn them on and nothing happens when I hit the flasher button. My third brake light on the cab works as it should. Just nothing in the tail lights or lights on the front of the truck. But I've pulled multiple trailers and not had this issue. 

I've read the turn signal switch can get "stuck" and cause this. A few people with the exact same problem said that fixed it. So I'm gonna mess with that here in a bit. If not I'll go through the harness and connection back by the driver side rear wheel. 

[Haggar]

bruiser,

If the high mount (third) brake light is out, fuse 5 (in the PDC) is bad or the brake light switch is bad.  

Joint connector number 6 gives the brake light switch signal to the hazard (multi-function) switch.  The hazards utilize Fuse 4 in the PDC to provide their power.  If this fuse is good, then it looks to be a bad brake light switch.

HTH

Hag

 

[Botlebruiser]

Ok, so I got it figured out. I had two bad fuses. The brake light fuse and the trailer lights fuse were both blown. But that didn't fix the problem. I had to replace the multi switch. I read where a few guys "fixed" the flasher button on their multi switch because I guess they get "stuck"? But they had the EXACT same issue. I didn't try to fix it. I looked at all the wiring and everything seemed to be ok so I went and bought a new flasher switch and the multi switch thats on the column. It's a whole new assembly. It was easy to install and it fixed the issue. My brake switch does need to be replaced because it sticks but the reason they wouldn't light up at all is because the flasher switch was bad. I don't like it when guys don't post the solution to their issues so I wanted to be sure to let everyone know who tried to help what the solution was. I appreciate everyone's help!

[Botlebruiser]

Ok, after I installed 2 brake switches from O"Reilley's that didn't fix it I finally went to the Dodge dealership and bought an "OEM" brake swtich and it fixed the issue. It actually looks like the exact same part but the other two didn't fix the issue. So it's resolved.