My brake lights dont work

16VofHellsFury · 03-15-2004

I have a 1968 coupe, the lights do come on when i turn on the lights headlights, they work when i signal, but they do not flash on and off when i apply the brakes, how do i trouble shoot?

69Mach1351w · 03-16-2004

well i had a BS problem like that, but it was almost vice versa, my turn signals woudnt work. It really just turned out that b/c of installing new lights, they drew more currnt and somehow blew out the fuse. So i checked the fuse that was specified in the manual, and it was good, but another one was blown. Licky for me it was a simple fix. So first check your fuses, check the connection in the trunk -- look for frayed of cut wires that may cause a short. Thats all the info i can give, hope you
fix em

16VofHellsFury · 03-16-2004

I checked the fuses, i found one that was out, replaced it, and the brake lights still wont work. this really sucks.

krankieone · 03-16-2004

get a test light or better still a multi-metercheck if you have power to the brake light switch then that the switch works then if you have power to the bulbs and bulb to earth.that should be a good start point ,this should give you an idea where to look for the fault.The 2 most common causes for loss of brake lights I have encounted are brakelight switch and bad conections .Iwould check these first then move in a methodical way through the system untill you find your fault.
Happy Hunting

16VofHellsFury · 03-17-2004

I asked around the office, one of my supervisors has had this problem with his mustang, i guess its the brake light switch. any idea how much these things cost? or where to get one on the cheap? THANX for all of the input

srsfunk · 03-17-2004

They're not to much, I had the same problem on my mach, I replaced the brake switch and they still didn't go on. I tried the turn signal switch behind the steering wheel next and that solved the problem, I still dont know why but it worked for me. Good Luck

Tominator · 03-17-2004

Brake light switches are cheap items.

Look right above the bottom of the dash and just a little up the brake lever. You will see a bracket with a plunger that is about 4 inches long. Attached are the two wires that accuate the brake lights.

The plunger assembly has a nut on it and you'll notice a couple inches of thread. It is adjustable as well.

It is a simple task to remove the plunger assembly and testing it is even more simple. Push in the plunger and it completes the circuit.

Another malady that effects older Fords is the connection from the steering column to the wiring harness. Usually it is quarter moon shaped and is located around the junction of the steering column and the dash. It has a double row of push on connectors. One or more of those connectors can be pushed back into the housing and cause intermittent or hard to find problems.

A blown fuse is always caused by a direct short of some kind. So that troubles me somewhat, but check what I've discussed first.

16VofHellsFury · 03-18-2004

it was the brake switch, easy fix just a ***** to work on. i think i have scoliosis now!

2894speed · 03-19-2004

I see you fixed it.
I had a strange problem like that and it was the turn signal switch.
If you should start finding you battery dead in the mornings.
Check the same Break light switch, it was coming on at night on its own
and killing the battery.
a dab of oil and a little rebending to add clearance to the moving parts
fix the problem.
1967 289 4speed
James