1996 Land Cruiser brake lights stopped working (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter tewolfrum
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Did you do a visual inspection all fuses or at least did you test it with a fuse tester/multimeter? and nope never had brake problem.
Check the brake switch at the back of the pedal.
I had the trailer harness short out. It kept blowing fuses -- brake lights, running lights, turn signals.
Check the fuses. If they keep blowing, check the trailer harness/plug at the rear.
Check the fuses. If they keep blowing, check the trailer harness/plug at the rear.
- Thread starter
- #6
Yes I have checked and replaced the fuses. So I am assuming that it is something else. What do I need to check with the brake switch at the back of the pedal. I know I have had problems with the trailer brake switch, it clicks on and off sometimes. I have never had one so I did not ever bother checking it. I guess there might be a loose wire. I will see what I can find. Thanks for the suggestions! If anyone else has a suggestion let me know. I will let you know if I fix the problem.
The only time my lights went screwy like that, it was the trailer light controler that was the culprit.
Slim D
SILVER Star
I had a similar issue; my brake light would go out only if I had my lights on… I had to change out the rear light wiring harness(s). Hopefully yours is just a faulty/loose connection
The trailer brake controller could definitely be the culprit! 80s weren't "designed" to use a brake controller (per CDan report) and after installing mine I can attest to that.
Newer rigs have a plug and play connector (like my '99 Durango did) that makes installing a brake controller a 1/4
job. On the 80 however, you have to splice into one of the stop light switch leads. This is not a trivial feat given the location and lack of available wiring you have to work with. Being a contortionist certainly helps 
- Then you still have to run power, ground, and the lead to the rear of the truck which seems like a piece of cake after wrestling with the stop light switch.Anyway, below is a picture of where the stop light switch is located. Pulling off the lower knee dash piece doesn't help getting to the switch IIRC so don't waste any time with that. You just have to contort yourself so you can get a good look up under there (have a good flashlight ready) and make sure the switch is still firmly attached and then go from there. If you never plan to use the brake controller then you may want to consider removing it entirely so you know it isn't causing you problems.
HTH and good luck
.
- Thread starter
- #11
Well I was looking at the trailer brake control and I was making sure all of the wires were secured. In doing that one came loose and I put it back where it was connected to but now I am not able to take the truck out of "park" unless I move the switch on the trailer brake control. So I do not know what is causing this.
Secondly I was mistaken about the the brake lights not working. It is the backup lights that don't work. So I am back to square one to see if anyone has had this problem. Thanks for all your help so far!
Secondly I was mistaken about the the brake lights not working. It is the backup lights that don't work. So I am back to square one to see if anyone has had this problem. Thanks for all your help so far!
Do you know which wire came out on the trailer brake controller?
Usually the inability to get an 80 out of park is because of the "fail safe" mode that when your taillights are out it won't shift out of park (see Hants' post above). Whether the reason the taillights are out is because of a blown fuse or a bad connection or whatever doesn't matter to the 80. That is why you have the emergency shift release override button (little covered hole directly in front of the gear shift that you push a pencil or srewdriver down into to get the rig out of park) which you can use to get your vehicle into gear and to a safe spot for repair. Case in point when Hants first experienced his problem we were on the Poison Spider Mesa trail in Moab
.On the trailer controller, if it is like most, you have a wire for power, ground, brake switch, and a lead for power to the rear of the 80 to activate the trailer brakes. You may be better off at this point just removing the controller if you don't plan to use it to tow a trailer with electric brakes.
As for the backup lights...Not sure what "activates" those but I'm sure if you do a search someone on MUD has run into this before or someone will respond with suggestions.
Hey Guys,
My brake lights have stopped working as well, however the brake light at the top of the rear window still works fine. Pulled the swith, the window light stopped working, replaced the switch and the window light works again, but the two side lights don't work.
Blinkers, tail lights, reverse lights all work as normal.
I have a trailer brake installed but I've never used it.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
My brake lights have stopped working as well, however the brake light at the top of the rear window still works fine. Pulled the swith, the window light stopped working, replaced the switch and the window light works again, but the two side lights don't work.
Blinkers, tail lights, reverse lights all work as normal.
I have a trailer brake installed but I've never used it.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
I just bought a 91 Land Cruiser and only one tail light works. I dont have power to the left tail light and neither of the brake lights work. Fuse is good and switch is good ( tested with ohmmeter) Have power to the switch. I tried inserting a paper clip into the connector where the switch is top bypass and still have no power to the brake lights. Any suggestions?
Panda - 'best suggestion',....start your own post
Not being able to pull the shifter out of P comes from a blow fuse. I know I have been battling this for some time. I found that my right rear break light socket had broken the soldering between the harness and the socket itself. Now that you found your grounding replace the fuse and the shifter should pull out of P.
I am having the same problem when my lights are on i have tail lights but do not brighten when braking. When lights are off i have no brake lights at all. Looked around and for the brake switch on the peddle and its missing the plug and wires to it cant find the plug anywhere. Would anyone have a loom diagram for it or be able to take a phot of where it goes into the loom. Cheers
