brake light problem
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The brake light on the dash can be on or flicker and this could mean that one tailight is out. (When i dont have a helper and i want to check the brake lights i back up within sight of a large glass window, like a shop window and check them.) It's most likely not the fuse, a fuse is either burned or it isnt, the lights would work or they wouldn't, full stop.
Bulbs can act erratically, they can comeon sometimes and not other times. Often this is caused by corrosion in the bulb socket. The bulb socket can be cleaned with a battery cleaning brush, wire brush or sand paper. If i find a bulb corroded i clean it and use a little dielectric grease in it.
Check the filament, if its broken, replace bulb. (Mind you, it is possible that the filament can look like new and still the bulb wont work.) If the filament is broken, the bulb definitely wont work.
Check things in this order: Change bulbs. Inspect socket for corrosion, clean if necessary; check operation. If no joy, check fuse. (but it is probably ok.)
Then check the brake light switch. Look under the dash with a flashlight, and look at the upper part of the brake pedal and you are sure to see it (image). Check the operation of the brake light switch. Push the pedal in and use your free hand to click the switch off and on. As you'd guess, the brake lights are supposed to go OFF when the button on the switch is IN and they should come ON when the button is OUT. If this is not happening, change the switch.
You didn't say what year your car is. But it probably looks alot like this image from the Camry manuals download in "General Camry Discussion" on this forum
Also, the button on the switch contacts a hard round piece of plastic mounted on a hole in the brake pedal. Check for this piece of plastic, it could be missing or even worn out and need changing. I had this problem with my 88 nissan truck, i just went to the pick-a-part junkyard and got several of them for a couple bucks.
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in my own experience with gen 4 camrys this is also caused by a short in the third brake light
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Not sure what you are saying exactly but a dirty or loose contact switch on the handbrake lever will make the dash light go on and off.........Doomie16 said:
You have to buy your new switch and you will see how it goes in - theres usually a threaded hole in a mounting plate under the dash, for the switch. Its often held in by a lock nut on the switch itself. So if you dont happen to have a person who is contortionist standing around, you have to crawl under the dash with a flashlight and find the switch.
Now disconnect the electrical, usually you push in a tab with your thumb and pull straight out. Now use an open end wrench and loosen the lock nut, then spin the switch out.
Screw your new one in. Dont tighten the lock nut now. Because now its trial and error because you have to adjust the switch just right to come on and go off at the right time by screwing it in and out. A helper person would be nice now, if not, i use a long stick and a wall or something to see the lights.
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