Check to see if you have power to the brake light switch,If you have power there, use a jumper wire to jump the connector, should have brake lights, if you have power there and jump connector and still no lights, suspect a bad ground, if you have no power at the switch make sure all your fuses are good, this should get you started in the right direction, good luck

 

Possibly the brake light switch near the brake pedal arm.

 

Good catch ^^^ I meant to add that. :nanawrench:

 

welcome Mike
x2 check for power at and thru the brake light switch..

if you think the brake lights are on with the tail lights?
check the bulbs, should be a dual filament bulb #1157..
and check the sockets, tail and brake lights could be shorted together..

:texas:

 

Thanks for the quick replies. I also discovered the back up lights don't work. I will check out the things you guys have suggested. Thanks again

 

If all that fails hold the turn signal lever up or down a bit without turning the blinker on and see if the brake lights work. I still have one that won't work unless I push the turn signal lever down a bit after a turn. makesure you have the key on when doing this.

 

http://<a href="http://s1040.photobucket.com/user/termagator/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150511_215131_zpsnvjpwypt.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/b410/termagator/Mobile%20Uploads/20150511_215131_zpsnvjpwypt.jpg" border="0" alt="brake switch photo 20150511_215131_zpsnvjpwypt.jpg"/></a>

 

Sounds like your bulbs are not installed correctly. The tail lights are using the brighter brake light filaments and the brake lights are using the dimmer tail light filaments which is why you cant see them when the lights are on. Try this for a quick test.
Take the bulbs out, turn them 180* and reinstall. The cheap Chinese bulbs sold these days do not fit correctly in the sockets and it's quite easy to put them in wrong. Went to my local pick & pull and grabbed a half dozen US made dual filament bulbs from the older cars. They fit nice and tight and are keyed correctly to the socket.

 

heres your pic link
http://s1040.photobucket.com/user/termagator/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150511_215131_zpsnvjpwypt.jpg.html

:texas:

 

Thanks JJTL,I'm trying to paste links using my ph haven't got it quite figured out. I haven't had a chance to tinker with the brakes. I will check into the bulbs 1st

 

make sure the brake lights and taillights work with the headlights/tail lights on..
.
.
its a 71,
it probly has the metal bulb sockets without the extra ground wire,:dontknow:
the earlier years ground thru the taillight housing/screws..
which is a problem sometimes, but the rest of his lights work, hazards, turn signals...

edit:: if you have a ground problem a good cure for that problem is to add a ground wire to the metal socket..

the key in or out, on or off, should not make a difference, the brakelights should be hot all the time..

:texas:

 

.
.
its a 71,
it probly has the metal bulb sockets without the extra ground wire,:dontknow:

Correct. :bigups:

 

With key out, they're working. Thanks for the pic of the switch. Where'd that switch pic come from?

 

:bigups: What you looking for the key switch ?

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?carcode=1041770&parttype=10474

brake light switch.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?carcode=1041770&parttype=10474

 

Did you swap to LED bulbs if so some brands will do weird things ?

 

No, Havent changed anything. Are their issues with the LED bulbs?

JJ I was talking about the pic in #14, It kinda looked like the connector in the pic that you fixed the link on.


Robert, I was looking for the brake light switch, thanks for the links.


thanks again everyone

 

if you mean the pic in post 14??
that is a light bulb socket for the wrong year model..

 

doesn't matter they make led's for those and other sockets.








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