Recently my battery died which was weird because it is a new battery. Jumped the car and just forgot about it. If i don't drive the truck for a few days the battery is dead again. It's happened a few times. I noticed sometimes the brake lights are on but very dim and have no idea why. I changed the brake light switch thinking that was it but it stil does it. Any help would be great. Thanks guys.

 

I am not the most experienced on here, but from what you describe I would bet a $ or two you have a short in the wiring somewhere, not fun to trace, maybe someone here can tell you where to look first, but if I had the money I would get an electrician to check it out unless you are experienced. Have you been through any heavy weather , deep water and such lately ?, that can cause all kinds of problems.

 

I have to agree with NeilB - I'm not the most experienced - but you can try to pull a fuse or two and narrow it down.

With that potential issue with the brake lights, that would be a great one to start with. At least you'll narrow it down for sure. Plus, until you can get it dealt with, it'll keep your battery a bit happier. What are the conditions with the brake lights being real dim and on? When it's sitting, engine off, engine running, headlights on/off?

It's obviously getting some voltage feed from somewhere it's not supposed to be with then being real dim like that, I'm assuming they work ok otherwise.

Have someone watch what all the lights do with various activity - turn signals on, brakes on, headlights/parking lights on, etc... that might help to narrow it some too. I've see a car on occasion here and there where the taillights are shorting out - they hit the brakes and the left light goes out, etc - those kind of things you may not notice without a helper.

Even if you take it to a shop, you can maybe help how fast they can get it done with more info for them. If the ignition is off, it would have to be a circuit that's powered all the time (like the interior lights for example). Of course, consider the switches too, if the headlights are off, none of those wires would be getting juice so... again, just might help you narrow it down, That's usually the best start to the electrical problem game. Lot of the harness running to the back wouldn't be live all the time without a switch being hit up front, maybe the light socket/interior lights in the back if you have them.

 

i have to agree that it sounds like a short to me too, start by pulling fuses till the brake lights go out (one fuse at a time please) and then download a service manual and you will know what is powered by that fuse and have a wire diagram to follow and just start checking for voltage along the harness.

and the brake lights are on an always on circuit, they will go on whenever you hit the brakes regardless of key position i believe.

 

Sounds like a bad ground or short. You need to find out which circuit is pulling the power.

 

Thanks for all the feed back. It's a weird problem. It doesn't do it all the time,I'll shut the car off the lights will be off and then a couple hours later i'll come out and i see them lit but very dim. Where would i download those wire diagrams ?

 

The service manual: http://www.mediafire.com/?fqnnjdzq252


It could be the CTM going out as well, but it really soundsore like a short or bad ground. Ensure that the main harness at the dash panel fuse box is tight and grounding proberly.

 

I have a feeling it's the battery. I jumped the car drove it about 30 miles let it sit for a few hours,went to start it and it didn't have enough power to start the car. The battery is less then ayear old but i could have bought a crappy one. Today I again jumped it let it sit for a bit pulled the fuse for the tail lights and it still didnt have enough to start the car.

 

But you still have the problem that the brake lights are pulling voltage when they should be off yes ?, which indicates you have more of a problem than a faulty battery. By all means go get your battery tested at your local Autozone or wherever you shop for parts, and replace if need be, but you will still have a problem if your lights are glowing, good luck.

 

I pulled the fuse for the brake lights and it still died. I'm going to change the battery and take it from there.