Chrysler Repair: 97 Chrysler Sebring Brake Lights, turn signal flasher, turn signal switch

Question
My Sebring brake lights no longer work?! After repairing the turn signal switch, I get a serious shock when getting out of the car. All the fuses appear to be working well and the bulbs are all good. The switch is connected at the peddle. There appears to be an open short. Previously when I steped on the peddle, there would be an audiable click in the dash, now no longer there. Any info would be great!

Answer
Hi Bryon,
The brake light circuit is fairly straightforward. The power for it comes from dedicated 15A fuse #1 in the box that is under the hood in the box near the front left corner of the car. That fuse also powers the cruise and ABS units if you have those. Check that fuse for continuity or look very carefully at the internal conductor for a crack.
If the turn signal and hazard flasher functions are o.k. then check to see if the center high mounted stop light works even though the lower lights on each side don't work. If that is the case then the brake light switch and fuse are o.k. but the problem is with the flasher or its wiring. If the center high mounted brake light doesn't work, then the fuse, the brake switch or the wiring is at fault. I would go to the brake light switch which is mounted near the brake pedal to make sure that it is moving in and out with the operation of the brake pedal. If it is, then I would unplug its connector and check that there is 12V on pin 2 (red/blue wire) of the connector. If it is, then I would check for continuity between pins 2 and 3 of the switch of the switch itself using an ohmmeter or powered glow light when you step on the brake pedal. Finally you could probe the green wire of the plug when it is connected to the switch to verify that 12V is being passed thru the switch when you activate the brake pedal. If that doesn't reveal the cause of the problem let me know.
If only the lower side-mounted brake lights don't work, then the circuit thru the hazard/turn signal flasher unit and that unit itself needs to be investigated because the brake light current passes thru that flasher to reach those two light locations.
I'll await the results of your tests.
Roland
P.S. I'm working with the '95 Sebring shop manual but it should be the same for your '97.
Also, I suspect the shock you experienced was due to static electricity between your clothing and the upholstery, not related to the 12V circuitry of the brake light system.