Crummy ford brake lights

My brake lights do not operate. I'm going to change the brake light switch on the brake pedal and if that doesn't work, I'm going to drive the truck off a cliff. The signal lights work fine, the hazards work fine, The cab mount brake light works fine, so whats the problem? It looks like the brake light shares the same wiring as the signal lights to the back, so could there be a problem with the signal light flasher under the dash. Does the brake light circuit go through the flasher before going out back? Any help would be appreciated.

What year?

Its a 1999 Ford F150 2 wheel drive, 5.4 litre

The most common cause is a bad turn signal switch, that's where the brake lights and turn signal power meets.

The brake lamp power goes to the T/S switch, when the switch is off, the power then goes to the brake lamps uninterrupted. When you activate the turn switch (or the hazards) the circuit from the brake light switch is OPENED, and the lights are powered thru the flasher. So, if the turn lamps work, the wiring MUST be good. If the 3rd brake lamp works (power does NOT go thru the T/S switch at all), then you know the brake switch and fuse etc. are good. The only thing left is the turn switch assembly (called the Multi Function Switch).

The most common cause is a bad turn signal switch, that's where the brake lights and turn signal power meets.

The brake lamp power goes to the T/S switch, when the switch is off, the power then goes to the brake lamps uninterrupted. When you activate the turn switch (or the hazards) the circuit from the brake light switch is OPENED, and the lights are powered thru the flasher. So, if the turn lamps work, the wiring MUST be good. If the 3rd brake lamp works (power does NOT go thru the T/S switch at all), then you know the brake switch and fuse etc. are good. The only thing left is the turn switch assembly (called the Multi Function Switch).


ModMech,
I have a 2001 F-150 and I have the same problem with my brake lights. However, my cab light is not working either.
I recently had to replace my front lights which ran me $350 at the dealer for two bulbs......YIKES!!!!! The dealer claimed that my bulbs were a high intensity lights, which should not have been there in the first place. Someone must have put them in after they purchased the truck before me. The dealer claimed at the time that this could mess with my turn switch. But luckily, the turn switch was ok they claimed.
Now I am now having challenges with my brake lights. My turn signal, flashers and park lights all work fine. The bulbs are universal so I am stumped? The brake lights (all 3) just stopped working. I really don't want to return to the dealer and pay their prices. So I have checked the fuses in both boxes and they seem fine. I have ordered a brake switch and plan to replace it also along with all the bulbs if necessary.
As for relays how can I check those?
Anymore ideas?

I repaired my brake lights and everything is fine now.
The problem turned out to be the multiswitch in the steering column
(multiswitch=signal light switch arm)
Everything goes through that damn switch. Wipers, hazards, signals, brake lights, headlights (for brights) etc.
The problem (and it seems to be extremely common because the ford parts person had the part out in a matter of seconds, he said they go through alot of them) is that when you use your tilt steering, it pulls on all the wires feeding into that switch.
the wires have steel crimps on the end which are inserted into this plastic connector. The connector is plugged into the multi-switch.
What happens is the strain breaks these little plastic keepers that hold the crimped end of the wire into the connector. Now that the wire is loose, sometimes it makes contact, most times it doesn't.
The connector for the brake/ signal lights is 6 bucks at ford.
Theres a separate connector for the wiper wires, which I didn't require.

To get at the connector, pull your key cylinder( theres a hole underneath the column to stick something long and thin into, like a mechanics dick) and unbolt the steering tilt arm ( just stick a wrench on the arm) Then take out the 3 srews holding the steering column plastic crap on. That will get you at the switch. 2- screws hold the switch on.
Just remove the old connector and stick the wirs into the new one and put it all together again.


I guarantee thats the problem. Easy cheap fix.

I repaired my brake lights and everything is fine now.
The problem turned out to be the multiswitch in the steering column
(multiswitch=signal light switch arm)
Everything goes through that damn switch. Wipers, hazards, signals, brake lights, headlights (for brights) etc.
The problem (and it seems to be extremely common because the ford parts person had the part out in a matter of seconds, he said they go through alot of them) is that when you use your tilt steering, it pulls on all the wires feeding into that switch.
the wires have steel crimps on the end which are inserted into this plastic connector. The connector is plugged into the multi-switch.
What happens is the strain breaks these little plastic keepers that hold the crimped end of the wire into the connector. Now that the wire is loose, sometimes it makes contact, most times it doesn't.
The connector for the brake/ signal lights is 6 bucks at ford.
Theres a separate connector for the wiper wires, which I didn't require.

To get at the connector, pull your key cylinder( theres a hole underneath the column to stick something long and thin into, like a mechanics dick) and unbolt the steering tilt arm ( just stick a wrench on the arm) Then take out the 3 srews holding the steering column plastic crap on. That will get you at the switch. 2- screws hold the switch on.
Just remove the old connector and stick the wirs into the new one and put it all together again.


I guarantee thats the problem. Easy cheap fix.

Thank you for the quick response, But it almost wasn't a cheap fix for me.
Just weeks earlier I took my truck into the Ford dealership to have the headlights repaired. They claimed that my bulbs were put in after purchase and that they were too high an intensity for the truck. Well, needless to say they claimed it burned the wiring, harness and they said that if the multi-switch was messed up it would need to be replaced also and would run...get this....up to $500 more to replace it. They said fortunately my switch was fine. This was just a week or so earlier and $350 later to replace my bulbs and wiring.
After this I flipped out when the brake lights started acting up. I took my truck to another mechanic that was recommended by the leasing company where I bought the truck, that would possibly be cheaper. He said that someone had unplugged my multi-switch. He fixed it and then I was on my way. The charge was very inexpensive, as you stated earlier. I explained what had happened earlier and he thinks the dealer unplugged it. "Because the switch was fine"
Maybe they had hopes that I would return the following week later and spend more money. He also said that I probably had been running around with no brake lights since then. That floored me!!!! I guess I am naive but, it's a shame if that indeed is what happened.

Recently my turn signals quit working on my 1990 F-150 Ford. I thought maybe a fuse was the problem, but that wasn't it. Then I thought the signal flasher had died. That wasn't it either. I finally discovered that I need to replace the multiswitch. I was instructed to take the horn cover off , undo the nut and pull the steering wheel off to get at the turn signal harness and unplug the multiswitch wires and put the new one on. How in the world does one get the steering wheel off?

I've don a LOT of work on Ford lights. First, you shouldn't have to remove the steering wheel to get to the multifunction switch (that's shevy stuff). Second, if you lose your brake switch you'll not be able to shift out of park with an automatic. Second, if your turn signals quit working, tap your hazard switch. A lot of times the hazards don't work but get turned to the on position some how and of course, your blinkers can't work if your hazards are on. Also, if your multifunction switch comes unplugged, nobody unplugged it, it's because of the tilt steering. What you need to do is remove the column cover, tug the harness so there's more slack in the steering column, then reinstall the cover. This works like a dream. Remember, brights, wipers, turns, hazard and stop lamps all go through your multifunction switch. If one of those is inop, tap your column cover and wiggle the turn signal switch. If lights start working, that's a dead giveaway that the multifunction switch is your problem.