When I press the brake pedal the lights aren't working. If I turn on the headlights the light comes on, but it doesn't light up when the brake is engaged. Anybody know what might cause this??? I've checked some fuses, but they look okay. I don't know?

 

Did you check your bulbs? The brake light and regular taillight are seperate. Pull a bulb and you'll see.

 

I think they might be part of the same bulb? You have the brake light bulb, the backup light bulb, and the turn signal light bulb right? Anyway the bulb looks fine and I think both of the brake lights aren't working. It's hard to tell I had to wait until it was dark and then press the pedal to see I didn't have anybody to look at it and tell me if they were lighting up. This guy came walking up to me at the gas station on friday while I was inside the truck on my cell phone. I thought he was going to come up and ask me for money and I just tried to wave him off, but then I could see he said something about my brake lights not working. I would've never known they weren't working if he didn't say something.

 

Check the brake switch on the top of the brake pedal.

 

Seriously? Never heard of that... OP... The brake light/taillight/and turn signal are the same bulb. Backup light is a different bulb.

 

Its not even a bulb problem. if they look fine and come on with the park lights, i can guarantee its not a light bulb.
You have a switch at the top of your brake pedal called a brake on/off switch. When the brakes are applied the switch closes and completes the circuit, which turns on your brake lights.
its at the top of your brake pedal, stick your head up under the dash there and reconnect it, its pretty common to get kicked out of place if you shove your foot up there.

 

Never ever heard of that. Good to know though now. Another ford flaw you think? Can't wait to hear the outcome to rangerboy69's problem.

 

Can take a closer/better pic if needed.

 

Well I took the bottom part of the dash off and got up under there and removed this switch with a screwdriver. Looking at the connection the one wire is frayed and almost not connected. It also looks like it shorted out and melted part of the electrical switch! I guess I'll probably have to get a new one or pull it at a U-Pull-It and splice it. Looks like you were right on the money about it being a brake light switch.

 

They're pretty cheap to get new actually, i want to say like 20-30 bucks.

 

Well, Autozone doesn't carry the electrical part of course. So I can either go to a dealer or to the U-pull it to get one. You saying that the part at the dealer costs around 20-30 bucks?

 

I can't remember. I thought that would be something the parts store would carry. I'd call the dealer for a price first.

 

Well, I went to a U-pull it and got the electrical part off of another Ranger. Put it on with some butt connectors and had a guy look and he said the brake lights worked. Later on I noticed in the dark that they weren't coming on all the time. So I ended up at Autozone in the morning and bought the other side of the switch. I had decided I was going to take it home and put it on in the garage. Went to turn the truck over and it clicked. Got out and took the battery out to get it tested and broke the lock down bolt in the process. Sheeesh... The battery tested fine so I started looking at the connections. On my positive side there are two wires going into the one post. The guy told me to put a little ring connection with the smaller wire and put the big wire in the main post. It seemed to work as it fired right up. Now I got to get the broken bolt out so I can tighten down my battery. Could use bungee cord I guess. Anyhow when the battery was disconnected I went ahead and put the rest of the brake switch in and it worked perfectly! Thanks again for the help. It's always something......

 

I had this happen to my Ranger last year. I was out 4 wheeling and got stuck down a trail, long story short when I finally got out of the rut I gunned it and we bounced up and down backwords for around 100 yards lol. Well on our way "Back" down the trail my foot came up and hit that little switch and didnt realize it till the next day. It pulled one wire out and I had no break lights at all. I had to go pick up another one from a junk yard (which they gave me for free :D ) and had to splice it in.

I have heard of the contact points though getting carroded and causing the same thing, it stops the electricity from being cunducted that turns on the break lights. Thats one of the first things I would check if your bulbs are fine and you have no break lights.

Just my experience.

 

im having the same issue with my brake lights I replaced the switch on the brake pedal but didn't fix the problem....... any help would be greatly appreciated. I miss my truck lol

 

my connections all good and so does the wiring and fuses

 

This is a great response. I assumed that it was the bulb, so that money is spent. Thanks for pointing me at the pedal switch. It looks like this thread didn't suggest switching the turn signal on while pressing the pedal. That's what ultimately got me blinking. It's a 97 Ranger. I need to decide whether I'm DIY fixing this problem or sending it on down the line.
In any case, I love simple and this thread pointed to simple. Thumbs up.