What it could mean if your brake lights remain on when your car is switched off – Jalopnik

If the brake lights of your car stay on, even when the engine is switched off, the brake light switch – a small, harmless electric part that you would see alone if something goes wrong – is probably the perpetrator. It can happen suddenly and without warning, and you will probably end a weak or defective battery if it is left unattended. The result? The battery does not have enough juice to run the starter, so you stay stranded. Even the best car batteries don’t have a chance, especially older cars with halogen bulbs that suck more strength.

You can find the brake light switch – also known as the traffic light switch – behind the brake pedal, near the driver’s foot weather. It is exactly how it sounds: a switch that activates the rear brake lights. Depending on the brand and the model of your vehicle, it can work mechanically when you step on the brake pedal, or it can respond to changes in pressure as part of a hydraulic system. Whatever happens, a bad or defective brake light switch is bad news, and you need to know if it breaks to prevent more expensive problems.

I had a car that kept the brake lights on (even when the engine was switched off) when the brake light switch was selected. And another car that I had had no brake lights even though I pushed the pedal. However, there are other symptoms of a failing or broken brake light switch next to lights that refuse to switch on or to remain off.

Flickering brake lights can be difficult to notice when you are behind the wheel, but cars at the back will not probably appreciate the light show. In other vehicles, the ABS light can relieve, while the cruise control may not work in other others. Finally, the brake light switch can influence the shifting behavior of the gearbox, especially in cars with an automatic transmission. It will not destroy the transmission, such as dragging heavy loads outside the capacity of your vehicle, but it can influence gear and fuel consumption.

Factors that can ensure that the brake pedal switch fails, age, wear or tear, or electrical problems such as release problems or inflated fuses. Older cars run a higher risk of problems with brake switches, because moisture, dust, heat and extreme cold can lead to early decline of electrical parts.

In most cases, the brake light switch is to blame if the brake lights remain, but there are other reasons to consider. A stuck brake pedal, which probably means problems with the brake booster or vacuum pump, can ensure that the brake lights stay on, especially if the pedal stays down. Or a crazy pedal spring can be the fault – it is the spring with which the brake pedal can get up after it has been pressed. If the spring is wearing or stuck, this can cause the brake lights to stay on.

Finally, the installation of the wrong set rear lamp bulbs can be short -circuing, and it can happen if you were wrongly changing double contact bulbs for an contact. Brake lights require double contact lamps that light up when activating the parking lights and glow brighter when applying the brakes.

If the problem is a defective brake light switch, a new U will set back somewhere between $ 10 to $ 100 or more, depending on the brand and model of your car. But if you are not sure what is wrong, we strongly recommend that you consult a professional technician to reach the root of the problem for the first time.