We had taken the cap off our 97 Dodge pickup to get some hay rolls last week and needed to put it back on yesterday to get ready to do plant pickup for the seeds of life program and when I hooked up the 3rd brake light for the cap and checked to make sure it was working. of course it wasn't, WTF I can't win, the rest of them are but the 3rd brake light isn't, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. well I checked the wires for juice and nothing, then I looked at the 3rd light on the truck itself and it wasn't working, I can't understand that because the rest of them are?

That's why I am asking if it has a separate fuse from the rest of the brakes lights, or does it run threw the 3rd light and because the one on the truck isn't working could that be the problem? Anyone got a wiring diagram for that? or maybe have first hand knowledge of this problem?

Oh even better the diagram on the door for the fuses on the side of the dashboard doesn't say just what the fuses are for, not that I can understand anyway. Just how many dam fuse boxes does that dam thing have, anyone know that ?

Edit to add of course the dam thing has a power distribution box under the hood, I found that in the owners manual just now, WTF well at least the owners manual has a description of what the fuses in the panel on the side of the dash are for, instead of just 1, 2, 3, 4 ,5 ,6, 7, What kind of idiot did that, not put the name of what the fuse was for right on the panel.

Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't



Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 06-04-2014).]

Accountants did that, Steve, not engineers.

Did you check the bulb?

quote Originally posted by heybjorn: Accountants did that, Steve, not engineers. Did you check the bulb?

in the truck no, not in the cap 3rd light, I was in a kind of a rush trying to get the cap on for todays seeds of life plant giveaway. we got that done and now the cap is coming back off because we really don't need it on all the time. plus I couldn't get at the 3rd brake light in the cab of the truck with the cap on.

there was no power to the back at all I am thinking the wires got pinched or cut or the bulb being out on the 3rd light in the cab being blown affected power to the back or there is a fuse somewhere that is blown if it is just for the 3rd light alone.

Steve

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 06-04-2014).]

Steve, I don't have my 97 Dodge any more, but I do know that the 3rd brake light and the rear brake lights are on different circuits, so they will have different fuses. I don't know if it's in the side of the instrument panel, or underneath the hood. Probably in the instrument panel, though since the ones under the hood are generally the heavy duty ones.

quote Originally posted by fierofool: Steve, I don't have my 97 Dodge any more, but I do know that the 3rd brake light and the rear brake lights are on different circuits, so they will have different fuses. I don't know if it's in the side of the instrument panel, or underneath the hood. Probably in the instrument panel, though since the ones under the hood are generally the heavy duty ones.

AHA I thought they might, I looked at the owners manual and saw that other power box under the hood and after we get done with the plant giveaway will check that and the one on the side of the dash. thanks I couldn't understand why the regular brake lights worked and the 3rd didn't, no power to the one in the cab or the wires I hooked up to the cap.

Steve

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 06-04-2014).]

Steve, I understand the complications involved with having the cap on, and why you suspect the fuse, but troubleshooting should always be least complicated item first, then work your way out.

But, then, I'm not a welder, and I don't have that mystical union with machines you seem to have.

[This message has been edited by heybjorn (edited 06-04-2014).]

quote Originally posted by heybjorn: Steve, I understand the complications involved with having the cap on, and why you suspect the fuse, but troubleshooting should always be least complicated item first, then work your way out. But, then, I'm not a welder, and I don't have that mystical union with machines you seem to have.

Steve

You just need to add blinker fluid and it will work again.

Even I didn't think of that. See, Steve, Wichita agrees with me: easiest fix first.