2004 ford explorer sport trac xls 4x4.when i turn on my headlights the third brake light turns on too,but the tail lights wont turn on,but when the head lights is off,my third brake lights and tail lights works just fine as a brake lights,they illuminate just fine when i step on the brake while the headlights are off.and when i use my turn signals the third brake light flashes too.is this a bad headlight switch or maybe bad ground wiring?

SOURCE: tail lights and brake lights not working with headlights on

We had the same problem with ours, that is a Saturn recall items. Check with your Saturn dealer to see if it is still in effect. It use to make our headlight switch get hot. I think it was a poor ground in the taillight housing, I use to wiggle the bulb plug-ins and that helped for a while, but after the recall was fixed it never did it again.

SOURCE: Brake lights dont work, Turn Signals all goofy

First thing i would do is chg. the break light switch, and make sure to chk. all grounds around tailights, sometimes if there is a ground problem it will travel back thru the hot wire to get a ground, witch in turn makes everything go wackey.

SOURCE: 2001 ford explorer sport trac

Just found the answer on another site. Sure enough went out removed the 3 philips head screws in the steering column opened it up and walla a wire connection had pulled itself free. When my son uses my truck he always uses the tilt steering, when I get in I have to readjust it. because of this the wire connection pulled itself out. I simply pushed it back in an blinker and brake light are now working. My husband is now trying to figure a way to secure the wire connection so it doesn't pull itself out again. Hope this helps others, either by saving the cost of a dealership or machanic or from getting rear ended.

SOURCE: 1996 Ford Windstar tail lights and dash lights stopped working

No. All those lights are on the same fuse and are controlled by the headlamp switch.

Make sure that the fuses were all checked on the fuse panel inside the vehicle under the dash. That is where the fuse for those lights is.

SOURCE: I have a 1993 ford f-150, the headlight switch

also check the fuses, there are 2 on in the interior fuse panel, over your left knee, and 1 in the "big" fuse box under the hood on the drivers side engine compartment, beside the overflow-washer box, and almost under the master cylinder, check em' both.....don't ask how I know this LOL!