1996 850 Brake Lights Don't Work

chris k · Post by **chris k** » 25 Jan 2011, 17:46

My wife and I just bought a 96 850, and on the way home we realized the brake lights weren't coming on. I checked the bulbs, and they seem to be fine. I checked the fuse, and it also looked good. The only other thing I can think of is the brake light switch, but to be honest I don't really know how to check and see if it's working short of buying a new one and putting it in and seeing if that fixes it. Does anyone know something I can do without replacing it?

Edit:
I realized that I forgot to say that all the other rear lights work, including the back up lights. It just didn't seem like a wiring issue, and it passed Maryland inspection before we bought it, so it has to be something that failed recently. I just thought it had to be something like a bulb or fuse that could go out quickly. Let me know what you think

Post by **jblackburn** » 25 Jan 2011, 18:20

The contacts on the switch corrode up over time and the lights stop working - as I found out, of course, the day my car went in to be inspected.

Remove the switch from under the dash (you'll have to remove the knee bolster first - single T-25 screw) and pry the connector off. A pocketknife is very helpful. Take a small piece of wire or something and jumper, as you're looking at the plug, the lower left and upper right connector (or vice versa, depending on which way it's facing) and have her check to see if the brake lights are working.

If so, pull apart the switch and scrape and sandpaper (with a small strip of a fine grit - 200 or so) the contacts inside and you should be able to get it working again.

chris k · Post by **chris k** » 27 Jan 2011, 07:58

Thanks! We tried this last night, and it seems to have worked. Now I can tell that we do need replacement bulbs, but some of them are working. I moved some around to see if they would work in the brake lights, and they did.

Thanks for the help!

Post by **jblackburn** » 27 Jan 2011, 08:07

Another satisfied customer

Glad it worked for you!

Post by **Pauloil** » 27 Jan 2011, 08:13

a good way to test bulbs is with the continuity part of any electic meter!
bad bulbs show open

chris k · Post by **chris k** » 27 Jan 2011, 14:10

Just got done replacing the bulbs, and everything is working great. Thanks again!

cY2k · Post by **cY2k** » 26 Mar 2011, 14:13

jblackburn wrote:The contacts on the switch corrode up over time and the lights stop working - as I found out, of course, the day my car went in to be inspected.

Remove the switch from under the dash (you'll have to remove the knee bolster first - single T-25 screw) and pry the connector off. A pocketknife is very helpful. Take a small piece of wire or something and jumper, as you're looking at the plug, the lower left and upper right connector (or vice versa, depending on which way it's facing) and have her check to see if the brake lights are working.

If so, pull apart the switch and scrape and sandpaper (with a small strip of a fine grit - 200 or so) the contacts inside and you should be able to get it working again.

How do you get the switch itself out, though? I just can't for the life of me find a tab or anything that's holding it in?

I'm trying to swap in one from my other car, that I know works, to see if the switch is definitely the issue... but i can't get the bugger out.

Thanks!!!

Post by **jblackburn** » 26 Mar 2011, 14:15

There's plastic tabs on the bottom and top. Squeeze the bottom ones in with a knife/screwdriver and wiggle it downwards, and it'll come right out of the bracket.

stevepcar · Post by **stevepcar** » 01 Oct 2020, 08:35

Excuse me for posting so far after the original, but I have a similar problem. I have got the switch out of its bracket. When you say clean the contacts, do you mean the ones that connect top the wiring or do I need to take it apart further to reach contacts inside the switch itself?

Post by **manovlov** » 05 Oct 2020, 10:27

jblackburn wrote: ↑27 Jan 2011, 08:07 Another satisfied customer

Glad it worked for you!

(Manov, always at the right time !