brake light problems - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

dzyd · 10-10-2007, 10:52 PM

88 camry le: my brake lights will not work when the brakes are activated. however, they will flash when i set my car alarm so i know the fuse and bulbs are fine.
also, twice while making a sharp right turn the dash brake light came on for a second.

Kingdom934 · 10-11-2007, 12:09 AM

Maybe it could be the switch inside under the dash that doesn't seem to be on when the brakes are pressed?

As for the brake lamp coming on during sharp turns, might want to fill the brake fuild reserve to the 'MAX' line. I remember when I bleeded my brakes, the light was on even when I had just between the 'MIN' and 'MAX' line.

atobe · 10-11-2007, 12:48 PM

yes check your brake switch. it's behind the brake pedal.

dzyd · 10-12-2007, 11:44 AM

im assuming i need to remove the dash to get to the switch. i can see it and get one hand barely on it, but thats about it. how much of a hassle is it going to be to remove the dash? i got a quote to fix the switch- $30 for the switch - $95 for labor.... that seems steep to me. i will do it myself if its not too hard, but i have never messed with the dash before. will i be getting in over my head?

edit: i found a switch at auto zone for $15. should i attempt to do this myself? has anyone replaced a switch themselves? how hard is it?

Kingdom934 · 10-12-2007, 12:36 PM

The Gen2 Manuel should be up for downloading. Let me find the links.

http://www.camrymanuals.com/index.ph...=105&topicid=0

That should do the trick

dzyd · 10-12-2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingdom934

The Gen2 Manuel should be up for downloading. Let me find the links.

http://www.camrymanuals.com/index.ph...=105&topicid=0

That should do the trick

Thanks for the link. This will definately help.

Looks like I will be busy tomarrow.

marc780 · 10-13-2007, 03:55 PM

no its not behind the dash...follow the brake pedal lever up under the dash, press it with you hand and you ought to hear it click. To remove the switch connector, press it in the middle and pull it off. Use a wrench to loosen the locknut (13 or 14 mm probably). Then unscrew it. COUNT THE NUMBER OF TURNS. Install the new one the same number of turns then fine adjust so the brake light comes on the right time. It helps to park near a wall or something that will show the brake lights shining. (Sometimes i use a long stick to press the pedal!) Then tighten the locknut.

dzyd · 10-13-2007, 07:57 PM

OK, all is good now. I just had to remove the dash panel underneath the steering wheel, and even that didnt give me much more room to work with. That switch seems nearly impossible to get a wrench on much less turn the wrench. Anyway, it took me a good couple of hours from begining to end, but I finally got it.
I could tell the switch was bad as soon as I saw it. The button was jammed and would not release. It was obvious that was the problem. I hope to never have to do this again. I had to bust some serious contortionist like moves to reach this thing, and I am six foot tall nearly two hundred pounds.
Anyway, final cost was $15 for the switch at AutoZone, a couple hours of my time, and a sore back. Thanks for all the help from everyone. You made the task much easier and a lot cheaper than what it could have been.