General Technical & Electrical General technical and electrical discussion for the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.

Ranger brake lights stopped working when trailer was hooked up, still don't work

Old Oct 5, 2010
  #1  
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Ranger brake lights stopped working when trailer was hooked up, still don't work

I have a trailer I use with other vehicles with no problem. Just got the 99 Ranger and tested hooking up the trailer to see if lights worked. (To test Ranger harness)
1. Blinker left and right - worked.
2. Tapped brake lights – worked.
3. Running lights – worked.
4. Flasher lights – worked.
Went back to brake lights. They don’t work. Then noticed the Ranger brake lights aren’t working. In short all lights work on trailer and on Ranger work except brake lights on both.

So I unplug trailer. Ranger brake lights still don’t work. There is some converter on the ranger harness from a round plug to the standard, so I unplug it. Same thing. I check fuses. All fuses seem to be flash and brake together on same fuse, but all fuses that seem to relate are good. I take out the brake/flash bulb. Both filaments appear good. A brand new bulb was put in. Same thing, turn filament in the bulb works, but brake in same bulb does not.
So the brake lights worked for the tap at the very beginning on trailer and always worked on Ranger. But not anymore.
Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Tomz
 
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Old Oct 5, 2010
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there's a switch on your brake pedel, that might need to be replaced
 
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Old Oct 6, 2010
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Check the fuse for the brake lights in your ranger, there is a shoft somewhere in the trailor harness, be it in the truck or trailer,
 
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Old Oct 6, 2010
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Are the tail lights on the Ranger a 2 bulb or 3 bulb setup ?
Trailers are generally always 2 filament bulbs , one for brake/turn , one for tail lamp.
You need a certain setup to run a trailer harness if you have a three bulb tail light on the truck , as one bulb is for turn signal , and a different bulb for brake light.
 
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Old Oct 6, 2010
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its a 99 so it would be a 3 bulb set up
 
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Old Oct 6, 2010
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Originally Posted by steveo1271
there's a switch on your brake pedel, that might need to be replaced
Thanks steveo1271, Will look for it.
Tomz
 
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Old Oct 6, 2010
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Originally Posted by OTRtech
Are the tail lights on the Ranger a 2 bulb or 3 bulb setup ?
Trailers are generally always 2 filament bulbs , one for brake/turn , one for tail lamp.
You need a certain setup to run a trailer harness if you have a three bulb tail light on the truck , as one bulb is for turn signal , and a different bulb for brake light.
But the odd thing is now - no trailer - the Ranger still has no brake lights.
To be precise, Ranger is a three bulb set up. Top backup light, Middle bulb is 2 filament, one brake and one turn. Turn works, brake doesn't... with no trailer. Bottom bulb - running light

Tomz
 

Last edited by tomz; Oct 6, 2010 at 04:34 PM.
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Old Oct 6, 2010
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From: Austin, TX
Originally Posted by MPT
Check the fuse for the brake lights in your ranger, there is a shoft somewhere in the trailor harness, be it in the truck or trailer,
That's one of the first things as I described in the OP above. All fuses good, and it appears that any time there is a fuse, the turn signal is on the same fuse as the brake.
And the turns lights work and the brake lights don't. Inside the same bulb. (With no trailer and no harness)

Thanks,
Tomz
 
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Old Oct 6, 2010
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Did you splice your harness or get the adapter that plugs into it?

If the parking lamps and license lamps work your ground is ok.

*EDIT*

Does the high mount brake light work?
 

Last edited by Blhde; Oct 6, 2010 at 08:20 PM.
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Old Oct 7, 2010
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Originally Posted by steveo1271
there's a switch on your brake pedal, that might need to be replaced
BRAVO steveo1271!!! That switch on the brake pedal seems to be it. If I manually move that switch block (push it forward or back) the brake lights come on. But if I push the brake pedal, brake lights don't come on.

The switch seems to be attached to the middle of the pedal bar. A bolt goes through the bar, through the switch then held with a cotter pin. I understand it is a $7 part and a snap to change it, guess I will change it. You think it just needs to be replaced even though I get the brake lights when I move the switch by hand?

Thanks,
Tomz
 
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Old Oct 8, 2010
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From: Austin, TX
Originally Posted by steveo1271
there's a switch on your brake pedel, that might need to be replaced
Thanks steveo1271 - that was it.

Replaced the BOO switch on the pedal. Brake lights work, hooked up trailer, all brake lights work.

Just strange it went out the first time I hooked up the trailer.

Tomz
 
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