ford focus brake lights/cluster

hey, my gf has an 01 focus, recently we found that the brake lights were not coming on. they are brighter than normal as the driving lights but dont get brighter when the brakes are engaged.

we also found that the dash lights have gone out unless you are on the brakes...

all of the problems seem to be brake related, i'm thinking a relay? what do you think?

 

help me!

 

Sounds like one or more of the bulbs might be burnt out. Some brake lights have dual filaments. Check those first. As far as the dash lights... no clue what that is. It could be a short.

 

You might check the brake light switch that the pedal hits when you depress it. Does the third brake light work? If it does, then the switch is working.

 

checked fuses, all good, i'll go check the third.

 

third brake light is NOT working. so it's probably the brake light switch?
which is behind the pedal?

 

Yes, it should be a grey and black switch with a black plunger that hits the brake pedal. They usually run about $20.

 

Dash lights went out on my wife's focus and it drove me crazy trying to track down the reason. After ripping the car apart I noticed when I shoved in on the light switch when turning it the dash lights would come on for a second. Something loose in their or a bad connection. Couldn't take the damn thing apart so I just got a new (used) light switch off eBay and everything works perfectly now.

I've read that the brake lights and dash lights can be effected by one another so it's worth a shot checking the switch.

 

I know what the problem is....

















































really tho, i have no idea..

 

i guess we'll try the new brake switch first

 

Here's a picture of it from autopartswarehouse.com

 

Sorry, here's the link to the page I found the picture on.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/s...SW5507.html?tlc=Auto+Body+Parts+&+Mirrors?tlc=

 

Ok to bump this up and get some more help, Still no luck, but the brake pedal switch seems to be working fine, things have changed since last time, here are the new symptoms.

car is running, headlights are off, the cluster lights are off and come on when the brake pedal is depressed, the brake lights come on, and the FRONT turn signals come on as brake lights.. weird.

with the car running, headlights on, cluster lights are not on, but come on when the brake pedal is depressed, rear running lights are off and come on when the brake pedal is depressed, again along with the front turn signals coming on as brake lights.

So, I have checked all the fuses in the car, everything is good, I dont know where to start to find a short, cant tell if relays are good, could a relay be the problem?


if anyone has some ideas let me know, I have tomorrow off and i want to get this finished.

 

i think i would start to look at you brake light bulbs.since they are daul filiment check to see if one of the filiments are broke and touching the other.take one bulb out press the brake and see if the probem is still there.if it is not swap the bulbs from side to side this will tell you if it's the bulb or the socket and wiring.hope that helps alittle

 

would a broken or backwards bulb cause issues with the cluster though?

 

bump some more

 

anyone got some info for me today?

 

had a 05' Focus ST before my Taco, had all sorts of wiring problems with it (hence why i got rid of it) Focus's are well know for their horrible wiring...wish i could help