# '04 Ford F150 brake light issue **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 23, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143 "2014-05-23T20:45:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bzb882](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@bzb882](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bzb882)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/1 "2014-05-23T20:45:30Z")
A friend of mine has a 2004 F150. The tail lights and the 3rd brake light are working but the rear brake lights, flasher and turn signals have stopped working. Any idea as to what could be wrong? I googled the problem and did find one person with the same issue in a 2001 F150. There apparently was a recall (#05S28) of the SCDS (Speed Control Deativation Switch) but that vehicle kept blowing fuse 13. My friend checked his fuses and they were all ok, ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/2 "2014-05-23T20:59:42Z")
I’d think the multi function ( turn signal etc ) switch…or, very commonly, the plug on the back of it. Sometimes the little ears that hold the wire pigtails inside the gang plug will break from old age allowing a wire or two to come loose and loose connection. ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/3 "2014-05-23T21:02:53Z")
The brake light, turn signal, and flashers use the same bright filament, and the tail lights use a dimmer filament. Are you sure the bulbs are not blown on the bright filament? It would be unusual for both to go at the same time, but not impossible. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/4 "2014-05-23T21:13:26Z")
Which body style 2004 F150 . . . ? New body style? Heritage body style? Round looking? Square looking? ---
**Author:** ![bzb882](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@bzb882](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bzb882)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/5 "2014-05-23T22:25:55Z")
Heritage body style. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/6 "2014-05-23T22:37:36Z")
Try changing the bulbs first. Post back with the results. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 4:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/7 "2014-05-24T04:12:54Z")
If you have a DVM you could remove one of the bulbs and test the filament resistance. They probably have two filaments, and both should be just a few ohms. If the bulb is ok, then use the DVM to probe the voltages at the pins. Since it is happening on both sides, it has to be something in common with both sides, maybe a broken ground wire. ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 9:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/8 "2014-05-24T09:28:30Z")
Since the third brake light is working this means power is getting past the brake switch. There is a splice in the wire connection after the switch and before the multi-function switch. Verify power from brake switch is getting to pin 9 (Lt grn wire) of the multi-function switch. If it is then the M-F switch is suspect. If no power is getting to the pin then suspect a bad connection at splice S231. ---
**Author:** ![87\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/f14d63/32.png) [@87\_Ranger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/87_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 8:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/9 "2014-05-24T20:29:25Z")
Considering how this is wired & what is and isn’t working I think Ken Green nailed it +1 for checking the multi function switch & it’s wiring. If this has adjustable tilt, try raising the wheel & see if that makes a difference. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/10 "2014-05-24T21:20:23Z")
Try replacing the bulbs first. After that the turn signal switch would be the next thing I’d check. ---
**Author:** ![bzb882](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@bzb882](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bzb882)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/11 "2014-06-05T01:24:45Z")
`` ---
**Author:** ![bzb882](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@bzb882](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bzb882)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/12 "2014-06-05T01:25:09Z")
Turns out it was just the bulbs themselves… ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 4:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/13 "2014-06-05T04:38:43Z")
Thanks for posting back the results. Stranger things can happen. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/14 "2014-06-05T05:17:11Z")
I too thank you for posting back. Too often we never hear. Happy motoring. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 5:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/04-ford-f150-brake-light-issue/85143/15 "2014-06-05T05:33:27Z")
I found on mine when tilted all the way down, a turn signal would not work, try changing the tilt of the steering wheel.