Brake lights not working

Get answers to Bronco-related technical issues.

Brake lights not working

Postby Eck » Thu May 25, 2017 8:21 pm

As the post says, brake lights aren't working.

Fuses are ok
Emergency flashers and turn signals working
Running lights working
Bulbs not burnt out
Connector at brake pedal on

What can it be?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
69 Wagon, 351W, Explorer EFI & Serpentine, ZF5, 35" tires, 3.5 SL, 2 BL, WARN 8274
User avatar
Eck
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
 
Posts: 2460
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:33 pm

Re: Brake lights not working

Postby Viperwolf1 » Thu May 25, 2017 9:17 pm

It could be the brake light switch. Test it.
User avatar
Viperwolf1
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
 
Posts: 1485
Joined: Tue May 07, 2013 9:37 pm

Re: Brake lights not working

Postby Digger » Thu May 25, 2017 9:18 pm

Brake light switch. You could check by connecting the two leads at the brake light switch to each other.
Cummins R2.8 diesel, ZF5, AtlasII, HP44/BB9, ARBs, coiled / linked suspension, 37" KO2s, full cage, bumpers, etc.
Build Thread: http://www.coloradoclassicbroncos.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5420

Average 23.5 mpg, Best tank: 25.1 mpg
User avatar
Digger
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
 
Posts: 1276
Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2013 7:53 pm

Re: Brake lights not working

Postby Eck » Thu May 25, 2017 9:24 pm

Thanks- will jump it in the morning.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
69 Wagon, 351W, Explorer EFI & Serpentine, ZF5, 35" tires, 3.5 SL, 2 BL, WARN 8274
User avatar
Eck
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
 
Posts: 2460
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:33 pm

Re: Brake lights not working

Postby Eck » Fri May 26, 2017 9:25 am

So the brake light switch itself is working. I also had gotten a new one to try that and it's working. Both of them only work when I engage them by hand. Once I put it on the pedal assembly, I get nothing. I've adjusted the brake pedal pushrod out as far as it will go to take all slip out of the pedal and I still can't get it to work. Any ideas?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
69 Wagon, 351W, Explorer EFI & Serpentine, ZF5, 35" tires, 3.5 SL, 2 BL, WARN 8274
User avatar
Eck
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
 
Posts: 2460
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:33 pm

Re: Brake lights not working

Postby Kinder » Fri May 26, 2017 11:27 am

If everything else is good then your switch isn't making contact, try a very thin shim between the contact plate and the switch, say the thickness of a old school fuse lid.
Best to Date MPG: 26.6
User avatar
Kinder
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
 
Posts: 4371
Images: 0
Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:03 pm
Location: Parker, CO

Re: Brake lights not working

Postby Eck » Fri May 26, 2017 11:34 am

I shortened the distance by wrapping the end of the shaft in some electrical tape and it now works. Might mess with a better MacGuyver fix down the road.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
69 Wagon, 351W, Explorer EFI & Serpentine, ZF5, 35" tires, 3.5 SL, 2 BL, WARN 8274
User avatar
Eck
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
 
Posts: 2460
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:33 pm

Re: Brake lights not working

Postby BOBS 2 68S » Sat May 27, 2017 4:44 am

I had a short in the turn signal wiring after replacing the turn signal canceler. Fixed the short and got my brake lights back.
User avatar
BOBS 2 68S
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
 
Posts: 381
Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: Hudson

Re: Brake lights not working

Postby landshark » Sat May 27, 2017 9:18 am

I had the same issue, ended up spot welding a really thin piece of metal to the brake light switch plate in the red one.
1976 Bronco "Green, Yellow, whatever", 1969 Bronco "Red", 1972 Bronco Stocker "Kind of Blue/Grayish"
User avatar
landshark
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
 
Posts: 3942
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:16 pm
Location: Denver, Wash Park Area

Re: Brake lights not working

Postby Eck » Sat May 27, 2017 9:23 am

landshark wrote:I had the same issue, ended up spot welding a really thin piece of metal to the brake light switch plate in the red one.


Yah- thinking I'll add a thin layer either to the switch plate or the rod end. Probably just JB Weld it since it's not structural.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
69 Wagon, 351W, Explorer EFI & Serpentine, ZF5, 35" tires, 3.5 SL, 2 BL, WARN 8274
User avatar
Eck
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
 
Posts: 2460
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:33 pm

Re: Brake lights not working

Postby Viperwolf1 » Sat May 27, 2017 9:52 am

You just need to bend the plate in the switch slightly.
User avatar
Viperwolf1
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
 
Posts: 1485
Joined: Tue May 07, 2013 9:37 pm

Re: Brake lights not working

Postby Eck » Thu Jun 01, 2017 11:57 am

So I tried to see if I could bend the plate on the switch and I couldn't really figure out how to do it as its the thickest part on the switch and so I had nothing to really pry against. It proved much easier to just take the brake pedal rod off and add a bead of weld to the end of it to thicken it up. The tape was definitely a temporary fix as I realized I had no brake lights again on my way home from throwing around Wilma. Bead of weld did the trick and I assume will be a permanent fix...
69 Wagon, 351W, Explorer EFI & Serpentine, ZF5, 35" tires, 3.5 SL, 2 BL, WARN 8274
User avatar
Eck
Official CCB Member
Official CCB Member
 
Posts: 2460
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:33 pm


Return to General 4x4 Technical

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests