Brake Light Switch Wiring

[txtruk15]

took the EB in for a state inspection, and lo and behold, the brake lights wouldn't work. Went back home and started delving into the rat's nest that comprises many, many PO rewiring attempts. Needless to say, I need to just get a complete wiring harness and re-do th entire thing.

Until then, I found that one wire from the brake switch goes to the first wire in the column harness plug (connected to the white wire coming from the column), and the second fell out of a wire splice connector on a wire feeding into the fuse box (see the yellow wire splicers). What's the best way to wire that second wire for power rather than tie into those yellow splice connectors, seeing as it just fell out and these don't seem very sturdy?

 

[DirtDonk]

What a lovely mess! Well, at least you have a nice fuse panel and a lot of new wiring.
But with non-Ford wiring colors and it looks like many circuits with the same color wires, seems like every test needs a volt-meter no matter which way you turn.

There's little to no way for us to know I don't think. It's nothing like stock, where the power for the brake lights is directly from the headlight switch and does not go through the fuse panel at all. Whereas yours may very well have a brake light fuse.
Do the fuses have markings on them, such as a label on the cover maybe?

I'll re-read your text, but in the meantime you only need 12v constant power in to one terminal on the brake lamp switch, and one wire to the steering column to power the brake lights.
Then there are 2 wires that come OUT of the column and go to the lights, so that the turn signals work and the brake light stops working on the side of the truck that you have the turn signal indicating.
Do the turn signals work as expected?

You'll need a GM wiring schematic for the steering column to make sure it's in the right place, but you might find that here where others have posted up the Centech instructions. Might even find them in the Painless instructions (link here on our site: https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/produ...Wiring_Harness_Switches/Bronco_Wiring_Harness just click on the PDF) that could help with determining the order of the wires in the GM type flat connector.

Good luck. If I think of anything I'll pipe back in. Hopefully others have better ideas sooner!

Paul

 

[txtruk15]

Thanks Paul, I was able to at least able to get the brake lights working by wiring them to a 12v constant power source, so that's good! It's definitely always an adventure when it comes to wiring given all of the crazy connections. Someday I'll pull in a new harness (this one is drool-worthy: https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/16800/Bronco_Wiring_Harness) and do it all right and slap in new gauges at the same time. I think I'll have to save up for that!

 

[tk1218]

Those gm type connectors work poorly

Your best bet is to hard wire all the wires for the steering column

For the brake light you need a constant power source not ignition hot

I’d be happy to test the wires for you if you can drive it over to flower mound

 

[gr8scott]

Those gm type connectors work poorly

Never had a problem with mine, 20+ years.

 

[txtruk15]

Those gm type connectors work poorly

Your best bet is to hard wire all the wires for the steering column

For the brake light you need a constant power source not ignition hot

I’d be happy to test the wires for you if you can drive it over to flower mound

thx, pm sent!