2006 Toyota Tacoma brake light issue

Greetings,
I can't get my truck out of park without using the manual release and the brake lights are not working.
I have checked the tail fuse and I purchased and installed a new brake light switch. I am getting some activity on the new switch with a multimeter, however the problem has not been solved. I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for as far as multimeter readings, I just know that I am getting some fluctuation of the numbers when I touch different contact points.
After then switch didn't work I checked the old switch with a multimeter and I am getting some activity on it, as well.
Any thoughts?

 

Why would you check the tail fuse for a brake light problem? You should be checking the 10A brake fuse in the under hood fuse box.

 

The only place I am aware of fuses is in the cab and when I looked at the diagram there was nothing that said brake so I assumed the 10A tail fuse was for the brake lights.

 

Okay, I did visually inspect all the fuses but perhaps that 7.5 is out and I just couldn't see it

 

There's a whole bunch of fuses and relays in the box rearward of the battery.

 

Man, I cannot thank you enough. It was the 10A stop under the hood. You saved me a trip to the mechanic tomorrow. Many thanks.

 

Glad to help, but..... what caused the fuse to blow?

 

I couldn't tell you, but I was wondering the same thing, myself. I pulled up to a job, got out, did the job in about an hour and when I got back in the truck it wouldn't go into gear.

 

Yikes! Good chance it will blow again. Unfortunately you won't know until you get rearended.

Do you have a topper with a 3rd brake light?

 

I do have a topper with a third light.
At least if it blows again my car won't go into gear without manually releasing so I won't drive off not knowing that my brake lights aren't working.

 

Now that I think about it the trailer light wiring harness came loose and bounced around on the ground and one of the wires split and I haven't replaced it yet. Perhaps I'm getting a short there.

 

It could be the trailer connector, but I would bet money that the problem is shoddy wiring to the topper 3rd brake light or a wayward skillsaw sliced into the topper wiring.

 

Well, I should probably pull out that whole run and have a look, just to be safe.

 

If it were me, I would inspect the topper wiring for skillsaw damage. Then inspect the trailer connector for terminals touching each other. If everything looks good, then pull the taillight and inspect where they tapped into for the 3rd brake light and where the wires go through the sheetmetal to get to the topper. If all that passes, consider unplugging the topper 3rd brake light. Keep in mind, this may slightly increase your chances of getting rearended.

 

Fortunately, a few years back I moved to a county that only has about 2,200 people. My chances of a collision out here dropped dramatically compared to my hometown of Houston.

 

I know that this thread is few months old, sooner or later our members will have exactly same problem but have different source (of problem). Mine was: brake lights turns on when the headlights are on but not when you are stepping on the brake pedal, 3rd brake light are totally none functional. Also, I have to manually release the shifter from park every time. All the fuses mentioned above are in good condition. Changed all the brake lights, still no go. While looking for the brake light switch, I found the culprit!, it’s this wire connection behind the brake pedal. After connecting it back, solved all the brake lights and shifter release problems.