When should the break lights on my 2011 Ram Crew Cab come on?

I just had an A.R.E. cap installed and noticed that the brake lights only come on what the truck is running and/or the key is in the run position. The guys at the cap dealership said that this would be the case, cap or not.

I never really noted before this if they came on while the truck was off and the key out. Most other vehicles I've had will light the brake lights when the vehicle is totally dead, key out.

 

Brake lights come on when the brake pedal is pressed noormally any time. Might be different on your truck. At any rate, if the truck is off and parked, you dont need brake lights anyway.

 

The 2009 wiring diagrams indicate an un-switched power source, although I can't say that I have ever noticed if they work when the truck is off or not (or care)

 

The thing is I'm having a hard time imagining what they could have done to caused this, the cap installers

 

Well you say you never noticed if they worked differently before. Only how they work now. Maybe they didn't work before either but now you're just noticing.

 

My '09 1500 brake lamps come on while depressing the brake pedal without a key in the ignition as they do on every care I've owned - what you're experiencing is a definite safety issue.
Out of curiosity - do your hazards still work?

 

Why would it be a safety issue? If the trucks off, it's not moving. Sure it could have been something the installer did, but you don't know if this was like this before, it's your word against theirs. I'm trying to figure why installing a bed cap has anything to do with the brakes......

 

My '09's brake lights work in with the ignition set to ACC and on, not when OFF even with the key in the ignition.

I also have a cap on my truck and it does not matter if it's on or off, works the same way.

The factory provided tap for the brake light is a short white wire sticking off the harness that goes to the rear. Wire can be located if you crawl under the truck, looking up about halfway on the spare, driver's side. Harness goes under the cross member just next to the spare.

I can't speculate why AZdave's is different

 

Thanks Pedro. I'll look this over to see if that's where they tapped it. Also I want to unplug the main connector for the cap and see if it changes things. I'm guessing not. They all work correctly if the key is in the run position or truck is running. I never checked with the ACC position.


AZdave I'll check hazards as well.

 

On my 2010 the brake lights will not come on unless the key is in the ignition and at least in the 'ACC' position. There is nothing wrong with your 2011.

Rob