Archived No Brake lights no pass inspection

[blmyachtsales]

Well, got pulled over for not having any brake lights (I had no idea). Needless to say I neglected to get a sticker on time. Tried new bulbs and new fuse though the old ones looked good. Checked posts and found the taillight bars are sometimes at fault so I replaced them... . Still not working. The idiot light for the brakes is not on. Any Ideas. I need to drive by the same cop spot on the way to work tomorrow.

 

[blmyachtsales]

One more thing, I noticed a tiny electromagnet type thing hanging under the column, The pin or plunger gets retracted when the brake pedal is depressed 9like a small shut off solenoid. It gets very hot an looks like it should be somewhere.

 

[rkressg]

There is a Brake Light switch on the top of the brake peddle that goes bad. They are not all that expensive and are relatively easy to change. Just pick one up and change it. It is your most likely culprit.



The contacts on these switches wear out over time, especially if you do a lot of stop and go driving.



-Rich

 

[MoparDave]

The electromagnet type thing you speak of sounds like the brake pedel interlock

 

[bighammer]

One more thing, I noticed a tiny electromagnet type thing hanging under the column, The pin or plunger gets retracted when the brake pedal is depressed 9like a small shut off solenoid. It gets very hot an looks like it should be somewhere.

It's not your brake light switch is it? If it were hanging down, it wouldn't sense you pushing the brake... . and turn on the lights.

 

[GAmes]

It's not your brake light switch is it? If it were hanging down, it wouldn't sense you pushing the brake... . and turn on the lights.

If it was the switch hanging down the brake lights would be on all the time. The pedal turns them off when you take your foot off of it.

 

[RAmy]

if you dont get it fixed right away and see a cop you can use your brake controller to engage the lights also till you figure the problem out

 

[Joe Mc]

When you pick up the new switch it's very tempting to push the button in on it, DON'T, and don't ask how I know that doing this ruins it. . . It comes with a little folded up instruction page in the bag. The first thing the instructions tell you is "do not push the button in, doing so will damage the switch". So tempting . . . %*%$*)#$~!!!

 

[GAmes]

if you dont get it fixed right away and see a cop you can use your brake controller to engage the lights also till you figure the problem out

OK, I'll bite. What kind of brake controller activates the brake lights?

 

[blmyachtsales]

Thanks a bunch guys, turned out to be the bulbs. The two I had (in the package) in the garage were bad (no tsure how long they have been around) bought two new ones and they worked fine. Hind sight 20/20 ya know!



I would still like to know what that electromagnetic thing is for (it's not the brake switch). It is black plastic has a two pole plug attached, the end is cirlular in shape (circle is metal) with the plunger (1/4" or so) in the middle.



Thanks again for all the help. A