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Conrizzo
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2016
Posts: 2
Location: El Paso
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 Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 9:09 pm Post subject: Brake lights turn on with ignition.? |
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| Hey guys I need some help. My brake lights randomly decided to turn on with my ignition. Pretty much checked everything and still have no idea what is going on. Does this mean the brake light switch on the master cylinder is bad? |
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KTPhil 
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34013
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2016 10:18 pm Post subject: Re: Brake lights turn on with ignition.? |
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If the brake light switch is bad, you can tell by unplugging the wires and seeing if the lights go off. Then touch them together and see if the come on.
Lots of bum switches out on the market. Check the new ones when installing, and then again a month later. |
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Conrizzo
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2016
Posts: 2
Location: El Paso
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 2:53 pm Post subject: Re: Brake lights turn on with ignition.? |
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| Thanks for getting back.. Well I got a new switch and it's doing the same thing. I unplugged them, touched both wires together and the lights come on. Do you think maybe there is a short somewhere btw the front and back maybe? |
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bluebus86
Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 11075
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: Brake lights turn on with ignition.? |
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| Conrizzo wrote: |
| Thanks for getting back.. Well I got a new switch and it's doing the same thing. I unplugged them, touched both wires together and the lights come on. Do you think maybe there is a short somewhere btw the front and back maybe? |
if by unplugging the switch the lights go out, but plugging in the switch causes the lights to go on (with ingition on and brakes NOT activated) then the probelem is a switch tnat is shorted out internally.
if after unpluging the lights stay on again with ignition on and brakes NOT activated, then you certainly do have a short someplace other than the switch.
and no, this problem does not indicate a bad master cylinder, unless Also you have dragging brakes (ie brakes wont release, master stays presurrized)
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flyboy161
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2009
Posts: 2091
Location: Perry, GA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 8:11 am Post subject: Re: Brake lights turn on with ignition.? |
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| Conrizzo wrote: |
| Thanks for getting back.. Well I got a new switch and it's doing the same thing. I unplugged them, touched both wires together and the lights come on. Do you think maybe there is a short somewhere btw the front and back maybe? |
No. Touching the wires together after they are unplugged should turn the brake lights on.
If the lights come on while connected to the new switch, then you a have a bad new switch. Hey, it happens. Do you have an ohm meter? If so, disconnect the wires and read across the switch. It should not read anything with the brakes not activated. If it does, it's a bad switch. Or as bluebus suggested, you have a master cylinder that is not depressurizing.
Have you adjusted the brake pedal recently?
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