1992 Ford Escort Brake light anomaly

Tiny
PENDRAGON536
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 FORD ESCORT
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
I just found out my brake lights were not coming on while my headlights were on. The brake lights appeared to work fine as long as the headlights were not on. On further inspection, I found, with the headlights off, that the first position lights (marker lights, tail lights, instrument lights) were coming on when the brake pedal is depressed - not the actual brake lights. In addition, an audible click could be heard coming from the emergency brake switch every time the pedal is depressed. It would appear that the brake light switch at the pedal is functioning, so what is malfunctioning? The multi-switch that runs the turn signals & headlights? The emergency brake switch? A relay I'm not familiar with? Any ideas?
Monday, January 13th, 2014 AT 9:57 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check the ground at the rear and front lights. Probably bad causing a feedback also clean battery to body ground.
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Tuesday, January 14th, 2014 AT 6:32 AM
Tiny
PENDRAGON536
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I found out what the problem was - It was my daughter's car and her boyfriend was the last to "fix" it. The light anomaly happens when you put an 1156 (single filament) bulb in an 1157 (dual filament) socket. **Headslap**
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Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014 AT 12:07 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Figures put someone who knows nothing about cars and they "fix" it, can't tell you how many times i've seen this. Makes you wan tot charge them double lol.
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Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014 AT 6:55 AM

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