No brake lights

Tiny
BRIANSANTLY
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
  • 3.8L
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 146,000 MILES
Okay, thank you in advance. I have no brake lights at all, all three are out. Checked all fuses and replaced brake lamp switch. I figure the brake lights probably run through the four way switch and/or the multi-switch maybe electronic flasher? Not sure. All other lights work perfectly.
Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 AT 11:45 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
The best clue is the center high-mount light also does not work. That does not go through the signal switch or anything else, so the circuit is very basic. Also, all three brake lights are on separate circuits, so there is very little all three have in common. That is where we have to look.

Go to the gray/red wire on the brake light switch and check for twelve volts. It should be there all the time. If that is missing, check for twelve volts on both sides of fuse 26, a 20-amp, in the Integrated Power Module, (fuse box), under the hood.

If you do have that twelve volts at the switch, check for twelve volts on the white/tan wire when you push the brake pedal. If that is missing, the switch is defective or it is the wrong switch. Let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 AT 12:13 PM
Tiny
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Okay, I have no voltage in the white and tan wire when I press the pedal so I jumped the wires and still no brake lights.
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Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 AT 1:48 PM
Tiny
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Check for twelve volts on the gray/red wire.
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+1
Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 AT 2:44 PM
Tiny
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I might have a bad ground, when jumped I got voltage at the circuit board at my tail light assembly, unless all three lights use the same ground?
I do not have my power probe any more, this is tough without it.
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Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 AT 3:37 PM
Tiny
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The two outer brake lights share a common ground connection, but the center brake light uses a different one. The center light's ground is the same ground for the license lamps, so if the license lamps work, that ground is okay. The turn, signal, and back-up lamps share the same ground as the brake lights, so if those other lights work, that ground is okay.
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Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 AT 4:40 PM
Tiny
SWALLACECAR
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Were you able to resolve this issue? How? Father is having same issue.
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Thursday, September 30th, 2021 AT 11:23 AM
Tiny
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Before we go looking for the hard stuff, check fuse 26 in the under-hood fuse box. You'll find two tiny holes on top for test points. There should be 12 volts on both points all the time. This article shows how to test a fuse:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

If the fuse is okay, do the voltage tests I described and let me know what you find. You can use a voltmeter, but for this type of problem, a test light works just fine. Here's links to some articles you might find helpful:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

You can find good, inexpensive test lights and voltmeters at Walmart, Harbor Freight Tools, and any hardware store. Let me know what you find.
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Thursday, September 30th, 2021 AT 8:05 PM

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