No rear brake lights

S10NEWBE

MEMBER
1997 CHEVROLET S-10
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
86,000 MILES

I just bought a 97 s10 from auction. The brake lights are not working. Checked the light bulbs - good. Checked the fuse panel and found a blown 20 amp fuse. I put my multimeter on continuity mode and checked the output side of the fuse holder to ground and discovered I have a short to ground at that point.
Help! I am wondering if there is a relay gone bad? Could anyone help me identify which relay is which? Or perhaps steer me in the right direction to find the short?
I did unplug the connector running to the tail lights at the rear of the truck and it did not change the short issue.
Thank you

3 Replies

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

Was it the stop/ haz fuse that blew? If you place a testlite across the fuse circuit, fuse removed, is the lite on? If it is, the short maybe before any switches. I'd unplug the brake switch and hazzard flasher, one at a time, see if lite goes out.

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Saturday, February 20th, 2010 AT 3:14 PM

S10NEWBE

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I Figured it out. I got looking under the bed of the truck and noticed a white wire under the flange of one of the truck bed bolts. Started moving wire back and forth and found out it was pinched under the flange / washer. Found out it was one of the wires in the wire tail for the trailer light package.
My guess is someone removed the bed to replace the fuel pump and wasn't careful while reinstalling the bed bolts.
I put a new fuse in it and all is good now!

Thank you for your help jdl123. I appreciate the good suggestions and advise!

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Sunday, February 21st, 2010 AT 8:38 AM

JDL