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Car problem,brake light stays on while driving.?

My dads car,brake light stays on all the time,have changed bulbs,has not fixed it,any ideas,mot due shortly,will it fail on this.

20 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    If you are referring to the light on the dash that says "Brakes" or "Parking Brake" then Jason is probably correct.

    But:

    You have used the singular "brake light" in one place and the plural "bulbs" in another place in your question. Because of that I am assuming you are referring to the brake lights on the rear of the car. If that is the case, you probably have a bad switch or relay. Depending on the year make and model that brake light switch could be in a couple of places. Most likely it is under the dash, mounted on a bracket near the arm that the brake pedal is mounted to.

    I suggest you remove the wires from that switch and check the lights. If they are out, the switch is either defective of misadjusted. Reinstall the wires and operate the plunger on the switch manually. If the lights go out adjust the switch.

    If they stay on with the switch disconnected it is probably a relay. Look for them in a black plastic box either under the dash or under the hood. Hopefully they will be labeled. Remove the relay. If the lights go out replace the relay, if they stay on it is most like a short and I wish you luck. The best advice I can off is to start tracing wires.

    If the car is older it may have the brake switch on the brake master cylinder. Normally when the switch is there, there are no relays involved. Same trouble shooting techniques apply. Remove the wire and see if the lights go out. If they do change the switch, if not you will have to chase the wiring looking for a short. NOTE these switches are not adjustable.

    Good luck and I accept email at my profile. Don't hesitate to write if you need more help. But if you do, please include the vehicle type and what you have already done.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Brake Lights Stay On

  • 1 decade ago

    It sounds like the brake switch. I am guessing it is a ford. This is very common. Does the light shut off if you pull up on the brake pedal? I had a windstar with the same problem. You can also check for a recall on this problem. VW has a recall for this, and I belive that some other manufactorers do aswell. If this is not the solution you could also check the trailer wiring if equiped. Good luck.

  • 1 decade ago

    Fixed one yesterday after battery run down. Found out like most of the other aswers that the brake light switch that is located on the top of the brake pedal was out of adjustment and had just worked loose. You have to lay on your back and look at the top of your brake pedal to see the switch with a button that releases when the brake pedal is pressed causing the brake lights to come on. Have someone lookat the lights as you push this button and you can then tell if is is broken and need to be replaced or just needs adjusting with a small cresent wrench. Cheap part and easy replacement if needed. You can do it yourself.

    Source(s): Work as roadside assistant and run across this issue often
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  • paul s
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    in the 'old days', the brake pedal, that is really just a lever, had a contact switch next to it, so that when the pedal was pushed, the contacts on the switch transmitted the electricity that lit the brake lights. Sometimes that switch was loose or something was jamming it closed.

    Perhaps a modern car is the same, perhaps not, but I would look there first before tearing any other systems down.

  • 1 decade ago

    Are you taking about the brake lights or a warning light?

    If its the brake lights, the most likely is the switch on the pedal. Because of the way they work, if the switch falls off or becomes loose, the lights stay on all the time.

    If its a warning light you are talking about then there are a numbers of things to check, fluid level, pad wear, anti lock system etc.

  • 5 years ago

    It is a very simple fix about 4 dollars it's most like you brake pedal bumper. Google my brake lights stay on and go to the utube video very simple fix very well explained. Had a Honda that was doing the same thing and that fixed it in about 5 min after you pick up the part.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/jbqbV

    There is likely a switch near the brake pedal that should activate (and deactivate) the brake light. This might have a broken spring (so it doesn't shut off right). You might have to replace (or at least adjust) the switch.

  • Emanon
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    My ex and I had the same problem with a car we bought from his dad. I sure hope it's not the problem we had as it was very expensive to fix. His dad has poured transmission fluid into the brake fluid! Of course his dad never bothered to tell us that and told us that the brake light had been on for years and there was no problem! He was such a liar! It's okay though as we just took the repair bill off of what we owed him for the car so he paid for it anyways!

  • 1 decade ago

    Two things to check. Lift the pedal. If the lights go out. then it's the spring, if not its the switch. Next, check the emergency brake. Make sure it's completely disengaged. Pull the handle, lift the pedal, let go of handle.

    Yeah, defective safety equipment is an automatic fail.

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