(Not your typical) Brake light woes

[sandrat62]

Yesterday while driving my 71 fj40, the glass gas filter popped lose and sprayed fuel inside my engine compartment. Coated everything.
used a dry towel to sop up most of the gas. after fixing the fuel filter my daughter noticed my rear brake lights don't work. everything else works including the tail lights. check fuses and bulbs. All ok. Could the gas of shorted a wire or something? Any help would be appreciated- Matt

 

[splitshot]

The towel could be the culprit, see if you knocked anything loose...

 

[sandrat62]

Nope...nothing was knocked loose. Any other suggestions?

 

[ArmyFJ]

Is your brake light switch actuating? You should hear it click. If not start at the + terminal that goes into it at the brake pedal and see if its getting 12v, if not try to trace the line to the battery. If it is then the switch could be bad. I would just try to trace the line and check your grounds.

Matthew

 

[sandrat62]

Ok pretend that I'm a complete moron . What and where is this "click" that I'm supposed to here? Is it in / under the dash area? Thanks- Matt

 

[dbarrett]

You may not think you knocked something lose. All it takes is to move a wire just a bit to lose the ground on something. My front right turn signal goes out every time I hit a big pot hole. As soon as it goes my turn signals don't work. All I have to do is wiggle the ground wire until they start working again.

 

[dbarrett]

You may not think you knocked something lose. All it takes is to move a wire just a bit to lose the ground on something. My front right turn signal goes out every time I hit a big pot hole. As soon as it goes my turn signals don't work. All I have to do is wiggle the ground wire until they start working again.

Oh I forgot to mention it took me a friggin week to figure that out

 

[1phrogguy]

Ok pretend that I'm a complete moron . What and where is this "click" that I'm supposed to here? Is it in / under the dash area? Thanks- Matt

Yes, look at the brake pedal, follow it up to the top where a switch gets compressed and turns on your brake lights. It should make a noticable click when pressure is applied to the pedal.

 

[trekker]

Ok pretend that I'm a complete moron . What and where is this "click" that I'm supposed to here? Is it in / under the dash area? Thanks- Matt

You don't have a "short" you have an "open"

It is the switch that is in contact with your brake pedal but is not likely your trouble. To see this switch stick the back of your head on the floorpan and look up. Follow the brake pedal and you'll see it.

On the pass side of the cruiser there are two white plastic wire connectors. THey are next to the blower motor on the firewall...

Disconnect these. Be careful b/c the plastic is old, and spray a little contact cleaner in there. In a pinch, use qtips dipped in rubbing alcohol. Clean the contacts.

Inspect for obvious damage (burnt, cracked, corroded wire, etc.) If all seems ok, dry with compressed air (you can also blow on it real hard) to remove any residual cleaner. Put back together.

Depress the brake pedal. Use a 2x4 or a anything layjng around to keep the brake depressed. Go see if your lights work. If they don't, wiggle the wires around the connector you just cleaned.

Also, check your bulbs. Make sure they are not burnt. Report back with results.

 

[sandrat62]

As per Trekker's demand I am reporting back with results. As confirmed , the reason my brake lights would not work is because the brake light switch was not "clicking" .So I removed it and munipulated it by spraying WD40 and pushing the switch in and out untill I heard the clicking sound again. So now the brake lights work. Thanks again - Matt