Please Help! 00' Explorer
 

Recently both my brake lights quit working, but my 3rd brake light still works fine.
I have checked both bulbs, checked the fuses, and inspected what wires I could and all appeared to be fine. If ANYONE could help me out and give any suggestions or advice I would GREATLY appreciate it!!

Welcome to the site..

Do the Hazard flashers still work?

Thanks Hayapower. I just checked and yes, hazards are still working.

Good..

So, the speed/cruise is working, correct?

Yep, used it today on the way to work. When i got there my manager said both tail lights were out so we checked everything I had in my first post

If the cruise wasn't working the shift interlock wouldn't either. Just check'n.. Do you have a 12v test light?

You may want to check if the ground connection to the side brake lamps is still good. Put a meter on the brake bulbs (+ probe on the bulb, - probe to a good ground on the car body) and see if they get +12V when you hit the brakes. If you see +12V on both wires going to the lamps, that proves that your ground is disconnected.

I have to admit this is a weird one ... let us know!

Odd that the Hazards are functional..

Kind'a where I was going with a ground and hazards, and of course input. The center brake lamp uses a seperate ground then the stops. Ground for the stops is in the drivers kick panel. But again, if an open ground,, the hazards 'should' have been dead too. There is a splice for input for the center lamp and stops but I'd think if it were bad, either the hazards and/or the center brake wouldn't work.. Might try adding a ground connection on the black wire on 'one' of the stop lamp sockets, or, you 'could' run a test lead from the light green wire off the stop lamp switch and tap it into the light green at the stop lamp socket to see if they come on.. Also, not a bad idea to check there for 12v current (light green wire at the switch) with the hazards On/Off..

Thanks for all of your help. I got so fed up with it yesterday afternoon that I rewired the connections for the brake lights and presto, it worked. I believe the problem was a short or rusted connectors because a couple weeks ago my entire lens cap was full of water for some reason? But they're up and running! Thank you for all of your help, Ill highly recommend you to anyone