quandary
Member
- Joined
- July 3, 2011
- Messages
- 21
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Ontario
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 02 Explorer Eddie Bauer
I went to a few auto part shops to do a cheap blind replacement but they all had generic switches ($50) that required some minor rewiring. Before spending the $100 from the dealer, i openned it up to find no electronics, only a mechanical switch. This took all of 5 minutes and cost next to nothing.
There are many threads related to problems with shifting out of park and checking for brake lights. I won't repeat how to remove it since it is very simple and well documented. Check your fuses and bulbs first. Before replacing your brake light switch, check to see if you have corroded contacts.
Remove the switch and pop open the top (the grey cover). There are three pressure points that can be pryed with a flathead screwdriver.
Check the plunger mechanism to see if it works. Depress the plunger from the outside where the hole is located. (I used my flathead screwdriver.) You should see that the two copper pieces make contact with each other.
Clean the contact points. You should see 2 small squares at the ends. Take a q-tip and isopropyl alcohol ($2 at the drug store) and run it between the contacts.
Put it back together and plug in the harness without connecting to the brake. With the shifter in Park, turn on ignition. Manually press the plunger in and hold it. You should see the brake lights operating now. If so, reassemble and your problem is fixed.
(If the brake lights still don't work, shut off the engine, remove the switch, and check to see if there is a voltage differntial at the 2 pins (when your turn the ignition back on). You will have to work your way back to the fuses to trace why there is no voltage - maybe broken wire or you missed the fuse.)
Hope this helps...
There are many threads related to problems with shifting out of park and checking for brake lights. I won't repeat how to remove it since it is very simple and well documented. Check your fuses and bulbs first. Before replacing your brake light switch, check to see if you have corroded contacts.
Remove the switch and pop open the top (the grey cover). There are three pressure points that can be pryed with a flathead screwdriver.
Check the plunger mechanism to see if it works. Depress the plunger from the outside where the hole is located. (I used my flathead screwdriver.) You should see that the two copper pieces make contact with each other.
Clean the contact points. You should see 2 small squares at the ends. Take a q-tip and isopropyl alcohol ($2 at the drug store) and run it between the contacts.
Put it back together and plug in the harness without connecting to the brake. With the shifter in Park, turn on ignition. Manually press the plunger in and hold it. You should see the brake lights operating now. If so, reassemble and your problem is fixed.
(If the brake lights still don't work, shut off the engine, remove the switch, and check to see if there is a voltage differntial at the 2 pins (when your turn the ignition back on). You will have to work your way back to the fuses to trace why there is no voltage - maybe broken wire or you missed the fuse.)
Hope this helps...
