Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Pickups Ford Ranger Ford Ranger Brake Problems
116 messages, Last post on Oct 26, 2009 at 7:52 PM
You are in the Ford Ranger Forum. Your Host is kcram
|
Replying to: 1mrwonderful2 (Sep 29, 2008 11:00 pm) Are you saying you pulled the connecter off the switch, then jumped these connectors and the fuse blew? If so, then the switch is not the problem. You have a short to ground somewhere between the switch and the brake lights. Ok, I read your note again. It looks like you got power to the wire coming out of the switch (Light Green?) and the brake lights came on. And putting the connectors back on the switch, the fuse blew. This does seem like the switch is bad, bad, bad. In fact it seems to be shorting directly to ground. I would have hoped the fuse would have blown and not smoked the wire, but maybe someone put a larger fuse in there than specified. Of the 3 switches that failed on my 94, none of them did this. The just quit making good contact when the brake pedal was pushed. This is also scary in cruise control, because when the switch/brake lights don't work, the cruise is not dis-connected when you push on the brake.... This is usually how I would find out the switch was not working. And, the one time the county deputy followed me into my driveway to tell me I didn't have any brakes light.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: bolivar (Sep 29, 2008 11:36 pm)  Wife on way home with new switch... Hopefully installing will get us back in operation... Thanks for insight.
|
|
|
Replying to: 1mrwonderful2 (Sep 30, 2008 6:24 am) Of course, they strip the wire coming out of the switch to power electric trailer brakes. This, and more, was done on my used 94. Good luck. Electricical problems are tough.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: bolivar (Sep 30, 2008 3:01 pm) 
|
|
|
Replying to: 1mrwonderful2 (Sep 30, 2008 7:34 pm) If so, you have a short somewhere between the switch and the rear lights. If it's not blowing fuses, then something you have done 'fixed' this. I would look closely at the rear lights for corrisson, etc. Look for cutting into the wiring back there to drive trailer lights. If I remember right, you drop the tailgate to get to the screws that hold the rear light lens.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: bolivar (Sep 30, 2008 9:31 pm)  THANKS !!!!!
|
|
|
Replying to: 1mrwonderful2 (Oct 01, 2008 7:31 am) Next step for you - pull the plug on the trailer wiring fixture and put it back 'stock'. If the adapter or the plug for the trailer has a short inside, this could be the problem, and removing it would stop the fuse blowing, show this has the short. As a matter of fact, pull the adapter out, and leave the stock plug to the brake lights/turn signals unplugged. Put a new fuse in and hit the brake. If the fuse doesn't blow, there is no problem from the brake switch back to that connector. Plug in the stock connector. Hit the brake. If the fuse blows, the problem is in the brake lights, fron that connection to the light lens. If it didn't blow, the problem is probably in the add-on trailer package you unplugged. I've unwired several trailer plugs, usually having terrible connections, on used vehicles I've bought. Only time I wired up a package, on a friends truck, it immediately blew a fuse. I made the connection ok, but I didn't successfully put the trailer plug back together correctly. Mis-aligned the plug, and the little screw in the side that held it together screwed right into a wire for the brake lights. A reason I don't like to work on other peoples cars. If I do such things for myself, it only hurts me. Don't like blowing up other people's stuff. P.S. I've read recently about Harbour Freight recalling fuses, China made. They would not blow anywhere near their rating. Burned some stuff up. A bad fuse might have caused your original 'smoked wire'. I think some other parts houses might have recalled some of their fuses also. Try to find some 'good' fuses. Ask at the parts house if they have had a recall or anyone having problems. You don't want bad fuses to add to this problem.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: bolivar (Oct 01, 2008 5:59 pm) |
|
|
|
|
i have a '99 ford ranger and just recently everytime i press the brake it makes a loud rumbling sound. at first i thought it was a plane flying overhead or something... Can anybody tell me what's wrong? it would be greatly appreciated. thanks
|
|
|
Replying to: horsegal2233 (Jan 14, 2009 8:43 pm) The front disk pads should have a piece of metal that acts as a noise-making warning when the pads are worn down and need replacing. The noise is usually described as a 'chirping' noise, but different people may hear it differently. Or how it makes contact may make a different noise. Rear drum brakes that have worn down far past needing replacing, and are getting metal to metal contact, usually sound like a metal to metal 'scraping' noise. In any case, you will have to have your brakes inspected by a good shop. If you are hearing noises, I think you should do this very, very soon. If you delay, you could cause even more problems. |
|
You are here:
Forums
Pickups Ford Ranger Ford Ranger Brake Problems
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Ford Ranger
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
