No brake lights

[JKellis]

My wife followed me home today and let me know that my brake lights are not working. I have turn signal and emergency flashers so the bulbs are good. I was wondering if anybody could tell me where to start looking, fuse, relay, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BigPapa]

I would start with your brake light switch. Get you an old business card and cut a piece off, fold it a couple of times, and tape it to the pedal where the switch contacts it. If that makes them work, I’d get a new switch. Although I’ve heard of people taking them apart and reassembling them, they’re designed to be one-time self adjusting. The mechanism ratchets to where it needs to be to work. If it’s pushed past that point it won’t come back out easily.

 

[Cummins12V98]

My 98 did the same. It’s the brake switch.

 

[JKellis]

Thanks, I'll take a look at it tomorrow.

 

[JKellis]

Well, I installed a new brake light switch today. Still no brake lights. Double checked turn signals and flashers, they work fine. Not sure what to check next.

 

[JKellis]

Ok this is kind of embarrassing, found a blown 20 amp fuse in fuse holder under hood. Thanks for the replies, this board has been a huge help since I bought this truck.

 

[DavidC]

Did you check fuse # 5 20 amp in under hood PDC ?

 

[JKellis]

Yes, that was the fuse that blew, thanks.

 

[fest3er]

Mechanic: Looks like you've blown a fuse.

Traveler: Look, just fix the darn thing and leave my personal life out of it.

 

[BigPapa]

Sorry, J.
I guess I took for granted you'd checked the basics.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Keep the old one as a spare!

 

[JKellis]

Thanks BigPapa I called myself looking for a fuse labeled brake or stop but it was cold and dark and I guess I was in a hurry and just missed it. As far as a spare goes, I went to a friend's salvage yard and loaded a zip lock with all the fuses and relays from a couple second gen trucks. Best five bucks I ever spent considering that I am 20 miles from the nearest parts store.