How to Repair a Brake Light Switch

Repairing a brake-light switch, the small mechanism that's responsible for activating your brake lights when you depress the brake pedal in your vehicle, is a fairly simple task.

Instructions

1

Make sure your vehicle is turned off, in park, with the emergency brake activated. Remove the floor mat on the driver's side and set it aside Feel under the dashboard toward the top of the brake pedal to locate what feels like a small nodule on the floorboard.

2

Use the flashlight to help you see the 12-millimeter nut that holds the bracket switch in place. Use an appropriately sized ratchet or lockjaw wrench to loosen and remove the bolt. Set the bolt aside. Use your fingers to manually turn the switch to the left to loosen it.

3

Wipe away any debris. Set the bracket back on the switch and, without replacing the nut, depress the brake pedal to check the brake lights. Note the distance between the pedal and the switch if the brake lights come on. This is the correct distance between the two and indicates the correct amount of foot pressure needed to activate the lights.

4

Hold the switch firmly in the bracket as you replace the nut to keep it in the correct location. Secure the nut with the ratchet or wrench to ensure the switch stays in place. Depress the pedal a few times to check your work and make sure the nut stays put.