While brake light switches are designed to last as long as your vehicle, they might turn faulty over time. In case you experience any of these symptoms, consider replacing the defective brake light switch:
1. Your Brake Lights Don’t Light Up
Your brake lights are supposed to turn on when you push down on the brake pedal, giving a heads up to the driver behind you.
If your brake switch malfunctions, the rear brake lights won’t illuminate, and the driver behind you won’t know that you’re slowing down, causing a major safety hazard.
Now, this could indicate that a brake light bulb in the rear has burnt out or that you’ve got a defective brake light switch. Consider getting a mechanic to inspect your car to quickly pinpoint the issue.
2. Brake Lights Stay On Continuously
If your brake lights stay illuminated even when you aren’t applying the brakes, the chances are that there’s a short in the electrical circuit within the rear brake light switch.
Continuously turned-on brake lights can confuse drivers behind you — while you could be driving normally, your taillight gives them the impression that you’re going to slow down.
Moreover, when your rear brake light stays on continuously, it can damage the brake lamp or bulb faster and drain out your car battery quickly.
When facing a brake light issue like this, it’s best to contact a mechanic to do an immediate brake light switch replacement before any other electrical parts get damaged.
3. Bad Cruise Control
If your vehicle comes with cruise control, a misaligned or bad brake light switch can deactivate it.
Why does that happen?
In many vehicles, the cruise control system and rear brake lights share the same switch. So if the brake lamp switch stops working, your cruise control would likely follow suit.
This doesn’t mean that the cruise control stops working only because of a brake light switch problem. It can also happen if you have a damaged speed sensor or a blown fuse in the electronic control module.
But it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
So when your cruise control malfunctions, have a mechanic inspect your brake light switch as well.
4. Car Won’t Turn On
Some cars support keyless ignition.
To start the engine in these cars, all you need to do is press down on the brake pedal.
If your car doesn’t start, it could be because the brake light switch isn’t sending a specific signal to the car’s computer confirming that the brakes are engaged.
When this happens, immediately get in touch with a car repair service or mechanic to replace your brake light switch.
5. ABS Warning Light Comes On
When the ABS light on your dashboard turns on, it shows that you’ve got a problem with the anti-lock brake system.
Your ABS warning light flashing can indicate different things:
- Low brake fluid
- Faulty ABS control module
- Faulty brake light switch
The brake light switch sensor lets the ABS module in your car know when you’ve applied the brakes and indicates that it’s time to start the ABS hydraulic pump. That’s why if your ABS warning light comes on, there’s a chance that your faulty brake light switch is the culprit.
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