Brake light switch — check and replacement
Check
1. The brake light switch is located on a bracket near the top of the brake pedal (see illustration). The switch activates the brake lights at the rear of the vehicle when the pedal is depressed.
i. 1 Brake switch location
2. To check the brake light switch, simply note whether the brake lights come on when the pedal is depressed and go off when the pedal is released. If they don’t, check the fuse first (see Chassis electrical system). If the fuse is good, adjust the switch as described in Brake pedal — check and adjustment (adjusting the switch is part of brake pedal adjustment).
3. If the lights still don’t come on, either the switch is not getting voltage, the switch itself is defective, or the circuit between the switch and the lights is defective. There is always the remote possibility that all of the brake light bulbs are burned out, but this is not very likely.
4. Use a voltmeter or test light to verify that there’s voltage present at one side of the switch connector. If no voltage is present, troubleshoot the circuit from the switch to the fuse box. If there is voltage present, check for voltage on the other terminal when the brake pedal is depressed. If no voltage is present, replace the switch. If there is voltage present, troubleshoot the circuit from the switch to the brake lights (see the wiring diagrams at the end of Chassis electrical system).
Replacement Brake light switch
5. Unplug the electrical connector for the brake light switch.
6. Rotate the switch counterclockwise about a 1/4 turn to remove the switch from the bracket.
7. Installation is the reverse of removal.
8. Brake light switch will self-adjust once it is installed properly.
Brake light switch adjuster bracket (plastic)
9. Remove the brake light switch from the bracket.
10. The light switch adjuster bracket is a plastic component pressed into the metal brake light switch bracket (see illustration).
i. 10 Adjuster bracket location
11. Press the two adjuster clips (plastic) inward, then pull the adjuster out of the metal bracket.
12. Installation is the reverse of removal.