The access to the switch location is so limited with brackets on both sides and below. There is a small opening on the right side where you can see the switch (see photos below), but I am too big to curl up in front of the gas pedal to even see it. To remove the switch, I understand from videos and posts I found that you have to depress the brake pedal to take pressure off, slide the white plastic collar forward on the plunger, and press in the tabs on the right and left. However, the brackets make seem impossible for me to reach the switch - the videos I have seen on this procedure were done on other models where they had much better access from below.
- plug and air hose removed from other unknown switch to access the plug
- looking up from below.jpg (426.16 KiB) Viewed 949 times
- air hose from other unknown switch was removed to access the plug
- back side of switch.jpg (350.06 KiB) Viewed 949 times
- right side look back from gas pedal.jpg (294.72 KiB) Viewed 949 times
- access hole close up.jpg (283.49 KiB) Viewed 949 times
Background:
Sometime in the last three weeks, all three brake lights stopped working. All other rear lights for turn signal, reverse and taillights were working fine. I swapped the brake light bulbs with the still working reverse lights but that didn't change the result. The fuse is clean and intact. So based on advice in other posts, I went looking for the brake light switch.
I understand this switch also serves a purpose for cruise control and for shifting out of park. Since the cruise control and P-shift were working fine, I was confused at how the brake light switch could be bad, but based on the wiring diagram it appears that are two switches in the component.
After a detour looking into another plunger type switch lower on the brake pedal (it has two pins and an air tube - not sure what it's called or what it does), I discovered the actual brake light switch is located higher up above a bracket. I was able to use a screwdriver to lift off one of the tabs on the plug to disconnect it. I used a jumper to connect pins 1 and 2 (the green/yellow and yellow/brown wires per the wiring diagram) and the brake lights came on. So the switch does need to be replaced.