97 Ranger tail lights.

[jamiemad1]

hi 97 ranger xlt 4.0 180,000 miles new problem when i turn the key on the tail lights come on real dim but on the brake lights and tail lights work fine when turned on or brake is pushed any ideas.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've moved your thread into the lighting section. How do you know that the taillights are on when you turn the ignition key? Do they turn off when the engine starts?

 

[jamiemad1]

yes and yes they stay on when engine is on when you turn on the headlight switch they get brighter and the brake lights work as well.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Do you have a schematic of the brake light/taillight circuit?

 

[jamiemad1]

yea i think in my hayes repair book

 

[jamiemad1]

my wife had blown a brake line a while back and the pedal went to the floor i didn't really notice them like that before that happened.possibly the brake switch?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Did you try to unplug to the brake light switch to see if it solves the problem?

 

[BrianDye]

Are you using regular bulbs, or LED...

 

[jamiemad1]

actually i have led bulbs and i will unplug brake switch and see.

 

[BrianDye]

Its because the LEDs draw so little power, the little bit thats always in the wires causes them to light up.

 

[BrianDye]

Wire up some resistors and you'll be good to go

 

[jamiemad1]

or i can just put back in regular bulbs i will try that and repost.thank you.

 

[BrianDye]

That works too

 

[jamiemad1]

ok so i tried a regular bulb still lit up i checked it with a meter and its reading 2.5 volts both sides with switch off.could it be a bad switch (headlight switch)checked the front marker lights and they are fine. thanks again