I Keep Roasting Stop Light Fuses

[azcummins]

I noticed that my stop lights were out so I replaced the fuse and as soon as I hit the brakes again, it burnt that one out. Has anyone else had this problem?



I figure there might be a short somewhere but good luck tracing a wire from the cab all around till it reaches the back of the truck.

 

[gitchesum]

Couple of things to check out.

1. Trailer light connectors. That was a problem on my last CTD.

2. If you have lichts on that headache rack, you might want to check them out too.



Usually when I have a light problem, it's usually caused by non-factory wiring(extra lights, connections)

I would check them first before tearing into the truck. I hate chasing electrical problems as much as the next guy.

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

Try moving the wires arround a liitle bit then try it again. Might have a chaffed spot near the trailer hitch somewhere.

 

[Doc Tinker]

I think it's a K-D Tool that I have that is good for testing shorts in the electrical system. The tool consists of a couple of wires hooked to a flasher unit and a magnetically activated gauge, that has a needle which fluctuates in time with the flasher pulses. With the flasher plugged into where the fuse goes, you run the gauge along the wiring and watch for it to stop fluctuating. That's usually where the short is.



I've heard of using a portable tape player with earphones in place of the gauge. You run the player along the wiring until you can't hear the static pulses of a flasher plugged into the fuse holder. This would be a cheap thing to try, if you have a tape player of maybe an portable AM radio.



Doc

 

[CWebster]

Brake Switch

I had the same problem a couple of weeks ago and traced it down to the brake switch. It is located under the dash, next to the steering column. There is a plunger facing forward that actuates when the brake pedal is depressed. When they go out, the plunger will not move freely. To check, just depress the brake pedal and push on the plunger. If it binds up, it has gone bad. I think it was $13 at the local dealership, and it has to be replaced as it is a one time use unit. Hope this might help.

 

[azcummins]

CWebster-

When I press down on my brake pedal, a hydralic sounding pressure release can be heard. Did your truck not make the sound when your plunger went bad?

 

[Bad340fish]

Brake Controler

I had the same problem and it was do to me and one of my friends matching the colors on the brake controler and the pigtail supplied with the truck. Those little fuses are a PIA to find at parts stores. I ended up going with a 30amp instead of the factory 20 amp for availability reasons.



Not that its safe to do but if you pop one of the fuse like things and have no more you can pop the cover off and reattach them. They would no longer work right but if you have found your problem and your stuck on the side of the road its a quick fix.

Clark

 

[CWebster]

Brae Switch

Hey azcummins



Sorry for the delay, we had a storm come thru sun night and shut me down.

I still heard the hydraulics working, but I wasn't getting any fire to the tailights. Traced it down to the brake switch. It mounts to a braket in front of the brake pedal, with a plunger facing the pedal. When the brake pedal is not being depressed it holds the plunger in. When you depress the brake pedal it lets the plunger out and closes the circuit. Other symptoms are no cruise control, no flashers, no tailights. Very easy to replace. Hope this helps.

 

[azcummins]

Dudes-

It turns out the problem was in the box b/c I cut out the ground wire to the box and I replaced the brake fuse and wham! The lights work and the fuse hasn't blown yet.

What I can't figure out now is that I color matched the brake box leads to the dodge connector leads(the pigtail they give you with the towing package) and that is what is frying the brake fuse. I have a Tekonsia (sp) box, so does anyone else have this box color matched the wires with success?

 

[Bad340fish]

DO NOT COLOR MATCH



The dodge pig tail has the function of the wire printed on the wire. And the Controler should have the functions on the wires or on in the manual. I think the only color that matches is Blue, and its the wire that goes to the trailer brakes. Good luck

Clark

 

[azcummins]

Clark-

Thanks for the advice, i'll check my diagram and rewire it.