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  #1  
Old 06-06-2011, 08:23 PM
joesardone joesardone is offline
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Unhappy Break Light/ Signal Light Gremlins.....Please Help!!!

Hello, Joe here. new to the forum and completely new to fixing my car...
2004 for ranger - edge model

The issue is this:

So I went to signal and got the 'fast signal' which tells me something is wrong. The front turn signals work but the rear signals and break filiment is not.

I've taken out the tail lamps and drained any condensation/water (the left one had a ton of water in it... somehow). The right was dry.

I tested the bulbs, they're fine but the break filament doesn't light up - though the running light one does as does the 'reverse' - though a signal relay may be the problem (where is that?).

Im thinking I might have to replace the relays but - to make it more interesting, for a couple days, the left turn signal and break light worked again, and then stopped working).

Did something come loose perhaps? I have a pretty bad shimmy due to some CV joints that need replacing so maybe they jostled them relays loose? Please help!!! Thanks! -joe

Last edited by joesardone; 06-06-2011 at 08:26 PM.
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  #2  
Old 06-07-2011, 10:08 AM
2ZZGE05 2ZZGE05 is offline
'03 Mazda B2300
 
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Default Re: Break Light/ Signal Light Gremlins.....Please Help!!!

Could be just a loose wire to the harness of the taillight or the ground on the blub maybe be going in and out due to what you're saying about the light coming on then turning off later. Check that out first.
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Old 06-07-2011, 10:28 AM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
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Default Re: Break Light/ Signal Light Gremlins.....Please Help!!!

Its not the flasher, nothing would work if it was bad.

Have you tried a different bulb, and what did you do to "test" it?
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How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
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How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide
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Old 06-07-2011, 12:12 PM
joesardone joesardone is offline
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Default Re: Break Light/ Signal Light Gremlins.....Please Help!!!

The light bulbs worked fine. I had no other bulbs to test it. I checked out the filament and they were in tact (both the main running fil. and the break fil.).

And as for the 'blinker' comment, they blinkers are designed to operate that way to indicate malfunction - what were you saying? that the relay/etc is fine and it's either a short or a bulb?

How do you check the harness? I saw another post on here and it didn't really seem to lead me anywhere (I checked the harness I think... im not sure if it was a harness or not, it was just a bunch of piped wires etc.).

I do have my spare tire in however, would removing it reveal something else I didn't see before? I have to figure out how to lower the tire (i had lent my carjack to someone - the one with the extension rod to lower the tire).
Can i use a regular crowbar for that? thanks - j
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Old 06-07-2011, 12:49 PM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
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Default Re: Break Light/ Signal Light Gremlins.....Please Help!!!

There is no relay. Just a flasher. And if it was bad, the front wouldn't work either. Either both bulbs are bad or you have multiple simultaneous wiring faults. Also, do you have a trailer harness? Have you checked fuses?

So you didn't test the bulbs, you just eyeballed them? Grab the bulbs from the front and swap them to test them for real.
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(Formerly)
FireRanger
2003 Edge 4.0 4wd

How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
Info: HID Projectors
How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide

Last edited by FireRanger; 06-07-2011 at 12:51 PM.
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break lights, rear, relay, signals, sjb

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