Ok...my dads 1997 ranger has everything but brake lights. Even the third brake light works. Any ideas guys?

 

bulbs?

 

brake light switch on the pedal.. cheap part any auto part store can get it for ya..

easy to change just awkward to get at

 

*awkward. yes.


that's my thinking too...the switch at the pedal. ya'll check fuses?

 

we checked the bulbs and fuses. fuses were good and we put new bulbs in it but still didnt work so i guess we will try the brake on/off switch. I think we were going to try it anyways b/c i searched and thats what we come up with

 

he said the 3rd brake light works...

So therefore its the main 2 brake lights..

Cant be the pedal, or the 3rd wouldnt be on..

 

He stated the third brake light works . That rules out the switch.

Check the bulbs first.
Do you have a connector for trailer lights ? Could be corrosion in the connector.

 

Did you check to see if you had power or ground at the socket? maybe the socket is corroded... not giving a good contact...

 

i just skimmed thought he said it didnt..

 

yea we also think that could be the problem. we recently bought the truck and it has a hookup for the four prong trailer brakes but we bought a converter to the flat four prong so my dad thinks that he may have blown them when he did something with that

 

remove the trailer hitch wiring from the system that is normally the 100% problem it gets old and shorts out.. hell my 2000 the trailer harness was causing a fast blink on the turn signals replaced all of it and now it works great

 

are the rear lights dead completely, or do just the brakes not work?

i had the exact same problem in my truck. mines an 02, but assuming yours isnt too different, the third light works, so you know the brake sensor switch is working fine. For me it was a loose connection going into the multiswitch. the multiswitch is the blinker stalk. for me all my lights worked but the brakes.

 

I changed my switch and mine still don't work I changed all the bulbs checked the fuses and still nothing

 

If there is any trailer wiring installed, remove it, then test. Whenever this is installed by a "DIY'er" using scotch locks or crimps, there is almost always going to be a faulty connection or eventual splice problem. Those cheap "boxes" that convert from 4 prong to 5 can be garbage as well.

 

Not sure if that model year has the same wiring set up my 06 does, but I lost brake lights and signals (same filament on the bulb) I tried changing bulbs, checked fuses. Etc.

Turned out to be the plug under the truck that connects the lights to the wiring that goes along then frame.

Was a tad loose, I unplugged it and there was a bit of dirt inside. Knocked it out, plugged in, viola. Lights.

Worth a look.