Just noticed that I have no brake lights. All other tail lights work fine, indicating it's not a fuse problem. Brake light bulbs are good.

Would that be a bad brake light switch or is there something else I should look at?

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1982 240D automatic
Odometer quit at 307K...about 325K now

I'd check the switch first. Jump the wires at the switch and see if you get brake lights.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Incorrect. All other lights are on different fuses. The brake lights are on a different fuse.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Ok, false alarm. The brake lights work fine...when the engine's running.
Car off, no brake lights.

I found this out when I jumpered the brake light switch connector and still got nothing, and thought I'd just try starting it to see what happened.

Is this normal for my car? All other cars I'm familiar with have working brake lights with the engine off...just tested my Rodeo, it does.

Note that tail lights and turn signals work fine with the engine off.

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1982 240D automatic
Odometer quit at 307K...about 325K now

on my 85 300d they work even if the engines off. Strange

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

Ok. I took that from the piece of paper on the inside of the fusebox cover. But I may have misinterpreted something. I'm pretty sure that "stop light" was on the same fuse with the other tail lights.

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1982 240D automatic
Odometer quit at 307K...about 325K now

The fact they do work when you're driving is good, but there is something out of the norm if they don't work with the engine off. Both my 80 and 82 work regardless without even putting the key in the ignition. My first guess without actually seeing it, would be someone got in to the wiring and hooked that circuit up to the wrong place on switched power. Turn on the ignition one click at a time and test to see when they actually begin working for curiosity's sake.

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Chris
64 190D R.I.P.
80 240D W/617 engine -for sale
82 240D -for sale

My 300D's brake lights only work with the engine on, or with the key on position 2. It's a 1983 model year if that helps.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

The brake lights only work when the ignition is on position 2 (run). All three of our cars are that way.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)