How can I find out how the brake lights do not work on the van?
You need a test light or voltmeter-you cannot do electrical tests without one or the other. Where you start is at the brake light fuse-pull it out and check it. Also use the test light (or voltmeter) to verify that there is power at the fuse-one of the fuse terminals should have power to it, it is hot at all times so anytime battery is hooked up, the brake fuse has power to it.
Next you go to the brake pedal where the brake light switch is. It has a button, when pedal is depressed, the button pops out and power goes through the switch and on to the next...
If you have a high mount brake light, look at it, it should be lit when pedal is down, there is a wire direct from the brake pedal switch to the high mount stop light.
Now on most American made cars, the brake lights and the turn signal bulbs work together, so the brake light wire for the rear bulbs first goes from the pedal switch to the turn signal switch before routing out to the rear brake lights.
Use the test light to verify power is at the brake light switch on the brake pedal, when switch is active, power should be on both sides of the switch.
Next you would check for brake light "power in" at the turn signal switch. Keep following the power path, eventually you will arrive at the rear bulbs. If you pull the bulbs out, you can use the test light to check if power is there at the bulb socket-when the brake pedal is depressed. If these are two filament bulbs and sockets (one filament is for the tail lights, and the other filament is for the combined brake and turn signal filament) you have to be sure you are testing the right socket terminal for the brakes/turns filament.
Buy a cheap test light. Practice with the lead clipped to the negative battery post or terminal and use the tester probe to touch the positive, tester should light up, see how easy? Now when you are away from the battery and looking for a good place to ground your tester, clean off the frame, or clip onto a metal bolt, you have to keep testing until you are sure you are connected to a good ground. If you are under the dash, clip lead to a dash frame or bolt, then touch some of the fuses little ports or slits on top of fuse that are open to the fuse metal inside, to watch the tester light up- the key may need to be in ON, not start. When the tester lights, then you know you have a good ground. Now you can continue with testing.
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