I'm having a problem with my brake lights failing to light intermittently. When I press the brake pedal on and off repeatedly the lights will only light 50% of the time. When they do light, all three light.

Seems like a loose connection somewhere but I don't know where to start, please advise thanks.

 

Start with the brake pedal switch. Might be sticky or faulty.

 

I'm a bit of a mechanical n00b, is this connected to somewhere around the top of brake pedal and accessible from inside the cabin?

 

Yes, the switch is located near the top of the brake pedal. It serves 2 functions. One is to activate the brake lights and the other is the de-activate the cruise control. When you push on the brake, it pushes on the switch plunger. Maybe it's set too far away from the pedal or the switch is faulty. If all this is too much for you, it would be best to take it to a shop.

 

service manual will be your friend forever.

darcy

 

Thanks for all the help guys. Just because I'm a n00b doesn't mean I'm not willing to get my hands dirty and try. I had searched the manual prior to posting but didn't search with the correct term and didn't find the right section. Having searched again more thoroughly I now know the correct search term is "brake pedal position switch" and the correct section is 19-6.

Having removed the switch and tested with a multimeter (the switch engages midway along the plunger travel) and reinstalled according to directions in the manual I feel like I can push the brake pedal more than I should be able to before the lights come on.

Now, I'm well aware I can adjust the switch to have the lights come on earlier but I'm wondering is my switch faulty internally and engaging at the wrong point, or is it just the spec in the manual allows (what I feel is) too much movement before the lights come one?

I would appreciate your thoughts, as it would be annoying to drop $50 on a new brake pedal position switch only to find its behaviour is identical to the one I have.

 

Adjust the pedal switch such that when you just push on the pedal, the lights come on.

 

if you need a new brake pedal switch, pm me. i have one available. also check your grounds in the rear of the car, under the trunk carpet on the drivers side

 

I would check the ground before I buy a new switch

 

Checking the ground is usually a good step in diagnosing a problem but it sounds like you've found your problem-- either a faulty or mis-adjusted switch.

As xpiper said, the lights should come on with the slightest pressue on the brake pedal (so the cruise control shuts off at that point as well). If you've adjusted it to factory specs and the lights are not lighting up at that point, then your switch is bad.