No Brake Lights

[jtuffli]

Hi, I am a newbie here. I just bought a 2001 S about two weeks ago and took it to be inspected today and it didnt pass because there were no brake lights. Does anyone know how I could troubleshoot that. I checked the fuse and it works, I also noticed that the "Brake" light on the dash does work when you pull the e-brake so I dont think it is the brake switch. Any other ideas? Thanks a bunch for your help!

[Highlander]

The e-brake switch is a different switch from the footbrake switch. Electrical problems are notoriously difficult to diagnose for DIY folks. I'd recommend you take it to an independant shop and let them look at it.

Graeme

[ar38070]

I know someone who had a problem with the brake light switch. It is located above the brake pedal. I believe it is removed by rotating it 90 degrees. It is not the easiet thing to remove as you are upside down underneath the steering wheel but it can be done. You could try cleaning it and/or replacing it.

It also has a weird operating method if I remember correctly. When you put it back in, you have to extend it completely which "resets" it then depress the brake pedal which then "sets" the stroke. This is from memory and may be completely wrong.

His symptoms were that the brake lights would briefly flicker dimly when he pushed down the pedal. You had to watch really carefully to see the flicker.

[deliriousga]

Check the switch like ar38070 suggests first. If you're going to try and further diagnose electrical stuff, get a good multi-meter from Radio Shack. Check the light bulb connections first for voltage and work back on the line from there to see where the electrical signal stops.

[vfxbox]

Check the switch like ar38070 suggests first. If you're going to try and further diagnose electrical stuff, get a good multi-meter from Radio Shack.  Check the light bulb connections first for voltage and work back on the line from there to see where the electrical signal stops.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Here is link to past forum.. it happened to me and I took some pictures.

It's basically 90 degree twist and pull... open it up and clean up grease and dust..

put it back and again.. 90 degree twist to put it back in original position... works great.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5659&hl=