My son has a Dodge Dakota pick up. (he lives with the Taranasaurus-EX) I am not sure the exact year, but its an early 90’s model I think. The brake lights have quit working unless the truck is in reverse with the lights off, they will not work when it is in park or drive. The trailer brake lights don’t work when plugged in either.
The light bulbs have already been replaced, so its obviously more complex… 
Anyone have any similar problem? Solutions????
Dodge has a three wire(I think its 3) switch on the side of the transmission that runs to the reverse lights. I have seen these go bad and do stupid things, mainly turn on back up lights when the truck is in drive. But it definitely would be a place to start.
Sounds like the brake switch. I would start with that. It should be on the top of the brake pedal, up under the dash. You don’t have to remove the dash, just lay down and look up.
big g
Try looking under the hood in the fuse box. May need to replace brake fuse there. Mine blows a few times a year.
brake switch has been replaced, and as stated, they work in reverse or park.
Is it automatic trans? The brake light go through the turn signal switch first and you could have a bad switch or maybe shorted wiring from moving the shifter if the wiring shield is missing.
Tell him to trade it in on a Chevy! 
Sorry Wade could not resist 
Yeah, trade it on a chevy. That way you don’t have to worry about brake lights. Gotta get it going down the road first.
Couldn’t resist Steve 
120’000 miles on my 95 Chevy Silverado Z71 with a 5.7L 350 V8 and still going strong! 
Steve, your bowtie is a wimp…I got a 98 f150 with 167K and it still runs like new.
On a quiet night you can hear the Chevy’s rust…
I’ll agree, the dodge was a bad choice, then again, his mom (my ex) is the one who boughtit for him.
Do the turn signals work all the time?
I’m wondering if this could be a grounding problem, but usually that wouldn’t affect both sides at once. I haven’t had much experience with these sorts of problems since I started buying Ford trucks (and if you need to know… tractors should be green).
Funny thing, last week I attended a interviewing session, for technicians coming out of auto training. Not only was I (the Dodge guy) there, but Chevrolet, Ford and plug your ears, Toyota, was interviewing for technicians !!! Seems all makes have a service department !!! Next time your at your friendly dealer (whoever they are) take a peek in the service department, and I bet there will be more than oil changes going on back there… 
the day someone builds a perfect rig, is the day everybody goes out of business.
big g 
G..the turn signals work, not the brake lights.
Anything you buy is only as good as the service you can get on it. I have been bent over by everyone except Ford, (GM, Dodge, I’ve never had anything Japanese) so they get my money now.
On the firewall, near the middle, there is a small resistor block that always seems to cause electrical problems when it starts to fail. Usually it starts with the heater fan control but it isn’t always confined to that. They’re pretty cheap to replace. Call any dealer and they’ll know exactly what resistor you’re talking about.
If it makes you feel any better, I’ve been bent over by Ford. Any more, almost any truck you buy is decent.
This sounds like a tough problem. If the turn signals work all the time (lights on/lights off/reverse/brakes on/brakes off) then it seems like it would have to be something to do with the switch or the pedal, but then I’m harumphing over the fact that they work in reverse!
I would hunt around for the switch that turns on your backup lights and start there. Might check the library to see if you can find a book with a wiring diagram for the pickup, too.
Fisha, in your original post, it says the brake lights only work in reverse, not park. Do they ? I ask because I have 10 technicians in my Dodge shop, that I can pick brains with. Also I have ALL the books on this you could ever want to see. Let me know.
big g
Thats what the Ex says. The truck is in Mississippi. My son lives with my ex 10 months of the year. I have been trying to troubleshoot this problem from afar with him doing the work, her reading the chiltons manula, and me on the phone trying to explain to him what to do. He is pretty handy (I think I have taught him pretty well) but he is still new to workingon the truck or any vehicle for that mater. Any and all possibilities are appreciated since he nor I can afford to take it to the Dodge dealer.
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