The Good Old Brake Light Switch....

[Guest stevem]

The ECU light on my 99(V) Alhambra came on all of a sudden whilst we were on a dark road in darkest Shropshire. The next day I am informed by my in-laws that my brake lights were not working.

 

Mr AA came to the rescue and found the fault on the "hints" page of his computer. He cleaned & lubed the switch and all was well for about 24hrs. We were about to leave for the long drive back to Hampshire and found that the lights were out again.

 

My brake light switch is the 4 wire single switch type and I found that by twisting it slightly I was able to tension the plunger sufficiently to get the lights working again although the ECU light was still on. My guess is that the ECU half of the switch was broke.

 

Once back home, we got a new switch from the local Seat dealer. As the switch looked to be a bit of a toerag to remove, I connected the new switch up first, just to try it. As soon as I plugged the new switch in, the brake lights came on and stayed that way. Other than a faulty switch (which, btw, is a new "improved" design!) does anyone have any ideas what might be causing this one?

 

Cheers,

 

Steve.

[Guest vr6galaxy]

The switch needs to be reset first before you use it, to do this press down the brake pedal and holds it in this position, now pull the plunger out of the switch to its ultimate travel, now release the brake pedal, job done :lol: it should now work correctly :o

[Guest stevem]

Hi there vr6galaxy, thanks for the advice.

 

I'd already tried the plunger trick having read previous posts on this site. Apparently these new switches have another switch built in that activates when you turn them into place. No matter how this was set or what position the plunger was in, both sets of contacts were shorted.

 

So, I went back to Mr.SEAT and got another switch. Same result, same contact readings. In desperation, I've refitted the old switch in it's adjusted position so I at least have brake lights. I'm tempted to visit the Ford & VAG dealers just in case they have an alternative switch in stock 'cos this one is driving me batty.

 

Any clues gratefully appreciated!

 

Yours hairlessly, Steve.

[Guest stevem]

Hello All,

 

Just a quick update on the solution to my switch problem. Having exhausted 2 SEAT switches, I popped into the local Ford dealer and asked for a 4-wire brake light switch for a Galaxy. The helpful parts chap asked if it was old or new shape and what year, disappeared out the back and returned with the identical switch to that which had originally failed. It cost 30p more than the SEAT version but I was able to fit it in 5 minutes whilst in their car park (By this time I'd had a bit of practice!) and everything is now working fine.

 

Thanks to vr6galaxy for his earlier assistance. I hope that my experiences can help others whose SEAT parts department don't seem too clear on what they need!

 

Steve.

[johnkg]

Got the same problem (brake light warning on), its happened a few times and today it just stays on. Where is the brake light switch located? I'd like to have a try before it goes to garage...

[Sharanfx]

The old switches have been superseeded with the new Twist to activate type. These are now also on there 4th revison and are an absoloute dog to fit. I have got through many of them in the past. :(

 

You have to fit them right first time or your going to have to fiddle with it to reset it back and try again. :ph34r:

[Masked Marauder]

Got the same problem (brake light warning on), its happened a few times and today it just stays on. Where is the brake light switch located? I'd like to have a try before it goes to garage...

The switch is just above the pedal in the footwell.

[johnkg]

Found it, and discovered that pumping the brake pedal half a dozen times made it work again! Been fine now since Sunday, so must of been a loose connection (famous last words!).

 

If it fails permanently I may well get Fraud to fit it, though I expect they'll charge the earth...

[Galaxy Man]

I also had the faulty switch problem, went to fords and got a new switch and hey presto the brakes now work, however the high one in the rear window does not work, I have checked the bulbs with no problems. Is there a seperate fuse for these lights? or could it be a wiring fault?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Guest thecodfly]

hi level brake light

more than likely a broken wire pull of the rubber grommet at the top right hand corner and check there hope it helps

[Guest kd035050]

:) You guys are very lucky, my whole family nearly came to to a messy end last years because of this bloody switch. i was happily cruising down he M5 at 60MPH fully loaded with 7meter caravan on the back with cruise control engadged, there was an accident in fornt of us of course i attempted to stop but the car tried to accelerate to compensate for my braking, and at 60mph with a heavy caravan on the back i was terrified. i had to dip the clutch then hit the brake again. Very lucky i was watch well ahead or there was not way I could have stopped.

 

This was all down to the switch contacts bein worn, turns out I had not brake lights either.

 

 

Anyway luckaly we did get stopped, but the underwear needed changing.

[Galaxy Man]

hi level brake light

more than likely a broken wire pull of the rubber grommet at the top right hand corner and check there hope it helps

 

Thanks very much for the help, found the broken wires. :blink:

 

--

 

Looking at the last post gosh you were lucky, I bet that few seconds of panic struck before you thought what to do, and to have a caravan on the back as well.

 

That makes me think that I wonder if you could put an led somewhere on the dash that is connected to the brake switch so that when you brake it lights up and you know the brakes are working, no light you know the brakes don't work, just an idea.