I was driving down the Freeway the other day and someone informed me that my Brake Lights where not working. I went to the local Pepboys and bought some replacement bubs and turned my lights on and the Parking lights came on, so I thought I was good to go. Once I got home I asked my wife to check my brake lights if they came on while depressing the brake pedal and they didnt.
I thought that it might be the brake pedal sensor and ordered one from the dealer. I have the car at a repair shop and they can see where the module would plug in but there is no wiring. Is the switch located elsewhere?
I have checked the fuse inside the cabin and it looks ok. is there another location to check?

Thanks
Allen

 

BRAKE LAMP SWITCH

DESCRIPTION

The plunger type brake lamp switch is mounted to a bracket attached to the brake pedal assembly under the instrument
panel. The brake lamp switch cannot be adjusted or repaired. If faulty, worn, or damaged, the entire unit must
be replaced.

OPERATION

The brake lamp switch has three internal switches with a single, six blade harness connection at one end. When the
brake pedal is in the released position, the plunger on the outside of the brake lamp switch is forced inward, which
opens the circuit. When the brake pedal is pressed the plunger is released, and the circuit is closed. This action

completes the brake lamp circuit, and allows the brake lamps and center high mounted brake lamp to illuminate.

No switch? How long have you had the car?
The above is from the shop manual (on this site) have a look.

 

I have this same problem every once in a while (but only my left brake light is out). I've gone through 3 bulbs , only 1 of which was actaully bad. The way the connection is set-up give the bulb a bit of wiggle room, so sometime the bulb doesn't always stay pluged-in.

Last time it happened I was so pissed I went to my local mechanic and told him about the problem and asked him to take a look, he said my bulb was bad and fixed it.. haha. No problems since.

Maybe explain the problem to a local mechanic and they can fix it for you so that somehow the bulb will actaully stay connected.. as it should...

 

I have had the car for over 2 years and havent had a problem. I am wondering if there is another way this works. I dont see wiring that would normally connect to the brake lamp switch.
I am waiting for the repair shop to call back. Maybe I will have to take it to the dealer and pay through the nose to trouble shoot
I will try wiggling the bulb when I get my car back

Thanks
AJ

 

My brake lights went out a couple months ago, and it turned out to be a faulty relay (yellow one), under the hood in the LF fuse box. It fixed another members brake light problem as well. $16 and 5 minutes. That's all I got

 

can I buy that at a local parts store?
Thanks

 

I got mine from O'Reilly. Just get somebody who knows electronics at all, I don't think the numbers match in their computer. Just look at the prongs on the bottom. The numbers and the prong angles will match up. The guy at mine had no problem finding it, original is yellow, my new one is black.

 

That relay was the problem.
Thanks everyone!!

AJ

 

Ha ha ha, great to see it worked! That is 3 cars now that this has fixed in 2 months, looking like a more common problem.

 

So I replaced the yellow switch in the LF fuse box and I still have the same issue.

1. With the exterior lights OFF, I apply the breaks and after about 1.0 seconds the "!" for the lights appears on the dash. A clicking can still be heard coming from the newly replaced switch.

2. With the exterior lights ON, the brake lights are on constant as if I were driving while holding in the break light.

Any ideas? Thank you.

 

Perhaps the wrong bulbs are installed? Some look almost exactly like the right ones, but are different.