brake lights not functioning - fuse and globe OK

[familyguy]

I noticed this afternoon that my high stop light was not working. Got home and took the globe out, globe was OK. The other two were working OK at this stage.

I used a piece of wood to hold the brake pedal in for 60 seconds while I tested the high stop light circuit for voltages with a multimeter. Gave me an amp and volt reading of 0.

It was then I noticed that the other two stop lights werent lit, even though brake pedal was pushed in. All gobes are OK. Parking lights illuminate OK. Fuse looks OK (the big fat 60A fuse that the fuse box says is the Lighting Circuit).

If the brake pedal switch was faulty, then I'd be getting no lights a tall, yet at the time I WAS still getting two. Now that I tested the circuit I'm not getting any brake lights. I'm sure as hell not going to drive it without brake lights.

Anyone got any ideas?

Jim

[andyman]

wiring harness connections loose? did you check the fuses under the steering wheel, there will be more fuses than the one 60amper, have you got a test light? (light with probe that has a lead with an alligator clip on it)

[Phreddy]

familyguy - if you used a multimeter on AMP setting and measured straight across the globe, you would have blown the fuse. Ammeters are supposed to be placed IN SERIES in the circuit to measure current, not ACROSS the circuit like a voltmeter is.

I think you'll find the big 60A fuse under the bonnet is for the headlight circuit, there should be a smaller fuse in the internal fuse panel that Andy pointed out for the brake lights. I reckon you'll probably find that's blown.

As for restoring your high mount brake light, if the globe looks OK it might have a bad earth. Bear in mind too that a globe can LOOK OK, but the filament can still be fractured. Remove the globe and hang it across 12V (or measure it with your meter on the OHMS range - should read about 5 ohms or so...).

Best of luck, cheerz.

[familyguy]

Phreddy, andyman

Yeah, I realised I'd popped the 15A under the dash once I thought about it. I should have been looking for Voltage. That sorted the outer lights, but the high mount is still out. Globe test for continuity, but I will run the Ohms tester and double check.

Thanks for the advice.

Jim