Hi all,

I searched but didn't find my situation so sorry if this is a bit of a repeat for folks. My situation is:

• Drivers side brake light functions but is barely illuminated; same with turn signal bulb.
• Passenger side brake light functions fine.
• Middle/center on rear facing section of roof doesn't work.
• Annnnnd the brake lights (when they do work) stay on often unless I pull back with my toes on the brake pedal.
• I've changed the brake switch, no change.
• I thought I had the drivers' side light resolved by repairing a ground wire but now it's back to being barely illuminated.
• I've searched for wiring diagrams but find many - hoping someone has a link to a '96 that I can zoom into.

Thank you!!!

Jay

 

Have a look here. You can download the service manual for your truck. Wiring diagrams are in section 8W.

Still sounds like a bad ground to me.....

 

Thank you. Agreed on bad ground

 

There is often a return spring either in the switch itself or on the pedal assembly. If its gotten weak, the brake light may stay on. A dim light is a bad ground. It could be a bad power supply, but usually a ground. This is for incandescent bulbs. If you had LED lights, it would either work or not. With the 2026 models coming out in a couple of weeks, you have a 30 year old truck. It's probably a ground or a bad connection. Now, I have the same year and model truck and I had funky lights on the passenger side a few years back and my smart switch on the steering column was bad. (Turn signal switch.) Your turn signals work with the brake lights on each side and they are routed through the turn signal switch on the left side of the steering column.

 

Mannnnnnnn, I hate to ask but I've spent over an hour going through section 8W searching on "rear brake light", "rear brake lamp", "left rear brake bulb"............................... I can NOT find the page with the wiring for the brake lights. Any chance you can slap the dumb outta me and tell me which page, or what term(s) they use that I can search for that????

Thank you.

 

The bulbs themselves are in 8W-51-5, brake switch is on previous page.

 

I had the same issue when I replaced my brake switch. Isn't there some adjustment somewhere? I remember doing something and it stopped the issue. If you have a multi meter start checking the ground at the bulbs.
Did you check the bulb?

 

Did check the bulb, it's good. Even replaced - no change. Chasing ground but not finding where to look. I need to dig into wiring harness(es) more.

 

Thank you!!!