I know the whole brake light thing has been hashed to death over the years, and I've googled & searched the crap out of it. I REALLY need to get this taken care of before we leave for Mustang Week on the 11th, so this is where I'm at... I really appreciate y'alls help!
car is a 2004 GT with auto trans...
I have lost brake lights and shifter stuck in Park twice in the last 10 days. I thought I fixed it the first time, but it's back again.
FIRST TIME:
* no brake lights, and no 3rd brake light
* shifter was stuck in Park
* replaced brake light switch, and it didn't fix anything.
* tested oem brake light switch and it was still good
* found fuse 33 was blown, replaced it. brake lights came back, but shifter was still stuck in Park
* removed shifter trim, and dicked around with the shifter... got it unlocked.
* drove away assuming we fixed it.
FAST FORWARD TO YESTERDAY:
* at gas station, shifter got stuck in park again. Brake lights also gone again.
* I removed shifter trim, and dicked around with shifter to unlock it.
* In the fog of war, I broke the little cable that comes from the neutral safety switch. So now I can put it in gear without pressing the brakes.
* drove the car home, inspected fuses. Found fuse 33 blown again.
AND HERE'S WHERE I'M LOST...
* replaced fuse 33 and still no brake lights, still no 3rd brake light either.
* fuse 41 is good.
So here are some things crossing my mind...
1. Does the neutral safety switch also control brake lights? Since I broke that cable, I technically have not "unlocked" that switch yet.
2. Since my 3rd brake light doesn't work either, does that rule out having a bad multifunction switch?
3. I have read about "the ground in the trunk"... does it also control the 3rd brake light? If not, then does that rule this out?
We are going to the in-laws for Holiday festivities, but I'm going to get back on it Sunday.
I'm going to run a tester through the fuse box, maybe my new fuse is faulty? I am open to ANY suggestions... I need to get this fixed before the 11th!
This sucks because I've been busting ass for the past month to tie up loose ends for Mustang Week. Pretty much got everything taken care of, but then this pops up at the midnight hour.
thanks guys!
car is a 2004 GT with auto trans...
I have lost brake lights and shifter stuck in Park twice in the last 10 days. I thought I fixed it the first time, but it's back again.
FIRST TIME:
* no brake lights, and no 3rd brake light
* shifter was stuck in Park
* replaced brake light switch, and it didn't fix anything.
* tested oem brake light switch and it was still good
* found fuse 33 was blown, replaced it. brake lights came back, but shifter was still stuck in Park
* removed shifter trim, and dicked around with the shifter... got it unlocked.
* drove away assuming we fixed it.
FAST FORWARD TO YESTERDAY:
* at gas station, shifter got stuck in park again. Brake lights also gone again.
* I removed shifter trim, and dicked around with shifter to unlock it.
* In the fog of war, I broke the little cable that comes from the neutral safety switch. So now I can put it in gear without pressing the brakes.
* drove the car home, inspected fuses. Found fuse 33 blown again.
AND HERE'S WHERE I'M LOST...
* replaced fuse 33 and still no brake lights, still no 3rd brake light either.
* fuse 41 is good.
So here are some things crossing my mind...
1. Does the neutral safety switch also control brake lights? Since I broke that cable, I technically have not "unlocked" that switch yet.
2. Since my 3rd brake light doesn't work either, does that rule out having a bad multifunction switch?
3. I have read about "the ground in the trunk"... does it also control the 3rd brake light? If not, then does that rule this out?
We are going to the in-laws for Holiday festivities, but I'm going to get back on it Sunday.
I'm going to run a tester through the fuse box, maybe my new fuse is faulty? I am open to ANY suggestions... I need to get this fixed before the 11th!
This sucks because I've been busting ass for the past month to tie up loose ends for Mustang Week. Pretty much got everything taken care of, but then this pops up at the midnight hour.
thanks guys!