Brake lights gone

[cjs_72f250]

if they were working before you changed it then you have done something inside the column to mess it up.

that makes sense. the only thing i *know* i did differently is removing a plastic washer from the stud that comes through the switch and cam. the stud that has the hole for the turn signal rod. the reason i removed it is so i could have enough room to get the new cam's small metal hold-down washer to get over the stud's lip and clamp down to hold the cam to the switch. hopefully what i said makes sense. it's a plastic washer that I removed so i figured it wasn't conducting anything. could that be the problem?

i found a pic in the site that might help show what i'm talking about:

[fordman]

it might be those are some delicate pieces to work on and get them back working right. i would put it back and see if that helps. the wiring that hooks to that can (from what i have seen) has to contact something in there to make the connection.

[cjs_72f250]

ok, so i got very impatient and put on some floodlights and just spent the last 30 mins working on it in my driveway. behind the cam there are some contact points. those were covered in grease (i had greased the pegs on the cam to smoothly switch from left turn to neutral to right turn). i was praying that cleaning up those contact points would do the trick. i put it all back together, with the washer, and unfortunately there's still no turn signal lights or brake lights.

i wonder if i yanked too hard at some point and jolted one of the wire connections. i'm tellin' ya, when you start to tinker with one little thing on these trucks (i was just trying to put in a new steering wheel!) three or four other things get jealous and want to stop working so they get some attention.

anyway, with the washer back in and some contact points cleaned up, i'm wondering if it comes back to the fuse or if it's the turn signal itself and the wires going into it. the puzzle continues...

[fordman]

if its the fuse you should be able to check and see if you have power coming in and out of the fuse if you do it has to be in the wiring in there.

[cjs_72f250]

yeah, i can get power from the fuse; although there is a weak spot. i checked the fuse b/c 'kid' had mentioned to start there. it's gotta be something in the column. i just can't figure out right now how replacing the cam has turned into this big mess. ah well, just need to step away for a bit and come back to it with a fresh state of mind.

if y'all have any other ideas, please let me know. thanks!

[fordman]

i will have to disassemble one to be much more help i have never taken one apart or even out of a truck. i might have time on friday to do it.

[kid]

Red with black stripe goes up the the turn signal see if it gets there.

[cjs_72f250]

i'm getting power to the blue wire, but no power to the red wire with black stripe. i'm trying to see where i can find the break/loss in power but i'm not very good with electrical.

since i'm not getting power to the red wire w/black stripe, what should my next step be?

thanks

[kid]

Hold One I am getting my printed drawing out of files.

[cjs_72f250]

thanks, kid. i've got an update and i'm working on some pictures right now to show what i've been finding. will post these soon.

[kid]

I had to go get a new keyboard.

[cjs_72f250]

here's my update including photos:

- there IS power to the brake switch when brake pedal is engaged and not engaged
- there IS power to the blue wire/left cam wire (see pic)
- there IS NO power to the red wire w/black stripe from the steering column (see pic)
- there IS power at the fuse
- the running lights do come on
- hazard lights come on in front, hazard lights flash in instrument cluster, NO hazard lights at rear in tail lights
- the back of the fuse shows a cut wire right where the fuse goes for the Emergency and Stop Lights. that seems odd.
- I traced red wire w/ black stripe down to the plug where it goes into a set of wires that run up to the instrument cluster/fuse box. I unplugged them and tried to clean the contact point for the red wire w/ black stripe. NO luck when checking for power.
- I tried tracing from the other end of the plug up to the instrument cluster and fuse box but the wire just gets lost in a tangle of wires and electrical tape. I obviously can try harder to trace it.

Pics are attached. Thanks for the help.

[kid]

I had the wrong diagram before.

From the fuse on a Y/blk stripe wire to the Hazard Flasher
From the Hazard Flasher on a red wire to Brake light switch.
From the brake light switch on R/Blk Stripe to the turn signal switch connector
From same pin on the connector on a R/Blk stripe it goes to the Emergency Warning switch.
From the R/Blk stripe on one side of the connector to the Grn/Rd Stripe going up the column. That wire applies power to each side of the turn signal to send out to the tail lights.
It comes down the column on two wires Grn/Or stripe for Left and Or/Blu Stripe for Right.
Grn/Or turns to Yellow Black stripe for the Left rear turn and stop.
Or/Blu Stripe turns to green for the Right turn and Stop.

[kid]

That does look like a problem. If someone gets a high resistance short going to the brake lights the like My f350 did when the bed squished a wire it can fry the harness in weird places. That is probably why you own the truck. No brake lights is why I just acquired a F250.

[cjs_72f250]

thanks for this information, kid. i know this might sound ignorant (but with electrical i've got a lot to learn), but what should I do with this info? what should my next troubleshooting steps be?