Brake lights not working

Hello! So I was informed over the weekend that my brake lights aren't working and I'm trying to get them fixed as soon as I can. Today at lunch I checked the fuses and they're all good. I then went to Autozone to get new bulbs and replaced them when I got home. The thing is, they still aren't working.

The brake light is the same light as the running light when the headlights are on. Just has an extra filament for braking. The running light works, so there's some issue with the brake line wire to the bulb.

Is there any "Hey Adam, you're an idiot and just plug the brake light connector back in!" type of solution here. Is there anything I can check easily to narrow it down further? I'm kind of at a loss so anything would be greatly appreciated. I reeaally don't want to take it in to solve the issue. My co-workers would give me shit for that.

 

Check a ground somewhere around the rear bumper

 

I'm on it...

 

Check the brake switch itself at the pedal. Almost guarantee you that whatever the issue is you can solve it with the help of this forum. So your coworkers can s*** it
Im just messing with ya. But check the brake switch

 

Yeah also check to see if you have the OEM (dealer installed) trailer wiring. That converter box thing has messed with lots of folks lights and lighting

 

But if my running lights work, which is the same bulb, that couldn't be the issue, right?

 

Headed to the store to pick one up now. I'll report back if I get it installed tonight.

 

This is my bet too. That jumper tends to rust, as do the sockets themselves. Already repaired two of them in my 1st Gen ownership history.

 

Oh, so you're both saying that it is the entire light assembly? The grounds within the tail light assembly. Not on the truck side of wiring but the actual light assembly.

 

I wound up grabbing one from o reileys and installed it, still not brake lights...But do those running lights ever work!

 

Time to put some eyes on the connections in the tail light housings like the guys mentioned above

 

Just went out and did this. I get 12 volts to the running light and 0 volts at the connection when I pump the brake. So it's somewhere in the distribution wiring I'm thinking. Which really sucks.

 

You have 12VDC at the switch?

 

I get 12 volts to the bulb with the running lights on. I then switched to test the voltage when the brakes were pressed and I got 0. Don't know if i mentioned this already but this is true for both sides, it's just not a one tail light problem.

Edit: I get what you're saying now I believe. Back at the brake switch to see if that's even getting power there

 

Yes, I am referring to the ground inside the assembly. It is a jumper wire between the sockets. By now you may have already confirmed this, but I am just following up on your question.

 

tried this this morning and a no go, but thank you for the idea.
Somebody at work commented that "There is a relay in the under hood fuse box check that relay." so I'll do that tonight. Really wanting to solve this on my own but who knows if that'll happen.

 

I tested power at the fuse this morning and got nothing. Feeling defeated so I'm thinking of just taking it to the stealership for them to track it down.

 

Did you look at the grounds for the tail lights yet? You know who's really good with electrical, this guy @RysiuM even though I think the suggestions made already will take care of your problem

 

Yeah, I did take a look at the grounds within the tail light assembly and they all looked good. Maybe @RysiuM can drop some knowledge.

The ground should be good since the running lights work and that same ground is used for that operation.

 

Do not assume that. Tail lights (if this is what you call "running lights") are 8W filaments, that is less than 0.6A. Stop light is 27W hat is more than 3 times more. However ground is shared with blinkers which are 21W each so if blinker are working, your ground should be OK.

Sorry if I missed that, is it only one stop light not working or both or three? If all then you need to trace it back from stop switch (at the brake pedal), then if it it does not have 12V at the plug (contact with green-yellow wire) check the fuse. It it does not have 12V on either side than probably horn and hazard light would not work either (I don't think this is the case). So if horn work, you should be looking down the stream from brake fuse (green-yellow wire) -> brake switch (green wire) -> tail lamp. Here is the diagram of that circuit.