Break lights stay on!!!

[mrardente@mac.c]

So my break lights stay on and drain my battery down. lights are turned off and ebrake is down and no matter what I do they stay on. any suggestions?

[zpizzaman20]

There is an electrical switch high up on your brake pedal that controls your lights. There is a little plastic "button" that it hits and when it brakes or falls out you cannot turn off the brake lights. I put a bolt and nut in its place.

[Jeff G 78]

Yep, zpizzaman20 is correct. Look on your carpet and you will find weird plastic chunks. Those are what's left of your plastic button. I replaced mine with a bolt and nut as well, but the buttons are still available for a nominal fee. It's a 10 minute fix.

[mrardente@mac.c]

thats awesome! sure enough I found a piece of plastic on the ground from where it was. Thanks!

[Duffman]

Sorry, could someone explain the replacement "bolt and nut"?

Thanks!

[SteveJ]

You use a longer bolt with a nut to lock it into position when you have it the length you need.

[Duffman]

So, you still use the housing that the button was in, and replace the plastic plunger button with a bolt and a nut to lock in the correct length?

[sblake01]

So, you still use the housing that the button was in, and replace the plastic plunger button with a bolt and a nut to lock in the correct length?

You got it basically except the bolt goes all the way the hole and the nut holds it in place. The adjustment is made by unpluging the wires for the switch, loosening the lock nut on the switch, and turning the switch in or out as necessary until the plunger barely makes enough contact with the head of the bolt to turn off the brake lights. Reconnect the wires and your're done.

[Arne]

So, you still use the housing that the button was in, and replace the plastic plunger button with a bolt and a nut to lock in the correct length?

No, Stephen. They are talking about replacing the rubber-head bolt on the pedal itself, the one that pushes against the plastic plunger.

[sblake01]

I thought I was too. By plastic plunger, I didn't think he meant the switch, but rather the plastic/rubber, whatever, piece in hole in the pedal. Mine's long gone, replaced by a stainless steel carriage bolt.

[Arne]

I thought I was too. By plastic plunger, I didn't think he meant the switch, but rather the plastic/rubber, whatever, piece in hole in the pedal. Mine's long gone, replaced by a stainless steel carriage bolt.

They must have used better stuff on the 240s. All three of my '71s still have/had the rubber-head bolts.

[Duffman]

Thanks, everyone, for clarifying. I thought we were talking about the plunger switch, not the part attached to the brake assembly.