No brake lights! Problem solved!

[johnygogo]

Well, I noticed last night when I backed up in front of a window that I didn't have any brake lights!!! God knows how long I've been driving like this and I'm thankful I never got rear ended. I checked all my fuses and they all looked to be fine.

After doing a little research I found out that my brake light switch was done/broken/burnt. I'm righting this just in case it happens to someone and it might help them out. It's located just above the brake the pedal and it cost me $20 to fix. All you have to do is disconect the plug, give it half a turn and pull ou the switch and install the new one. It took me 2 minutes.

GM part# 96874572

Here is a couple of useful links I got my information from. (hope I can do this)

http://www.fixya.com/cars/t1233265-2004 ... lights_not


A picture of the switch and location on page 7.

http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h18.pdf


Hope this helps someone in the future! I sure feel safer with brake lights working now.

[oscare003]

i hate that stupid thing. it broke on me 2wice. at the dealer the first time it cost me $7 2nd time i went it was $12???? wth? anyways yeah its easy 2 replace, just make it where as soon as u tap the pedal the lights come on. also this unlocks the automatic cars shift from park. they shouda made the check tail lamps light in the dash for a warning.

[johnygogo]

I really wish it would indicate something somewhere, I only caught it by luck. If I would of got rear ended it could of been my fault. I guess I'll keep an eye on it from now on, I'll check my brake lights every other month or so.

[oscare003]

^ i kno i caught it by luck 2

[daug1502]

Great info! thanks for the warning.

[AMMsterz]

same prob here! it took an observant motorcyclist to inform me at the traffic light... gotta have it fixed asap!

[paulsaveo]

Last year when my stop switch went bad, I had the opposite effect, my brake lights worked, they just wouldnt turn off, people at work were constantly telling me I left my lights on LOL

[serega12]

If I would of got rear ended it could of been my fault.

They'd have hard time proving it since your tail lights would've been destroyed.

[petrified.rabbit]

actually, lit filaments bend in a crash. so if you get rear ended and the filaments are still straight, the lights weren't on.

[serega12]

There are many scenarios in which my lights would be off and I still could get rear ended. For example if I slow down for obstruction on the road, then start speeding up to the 35 mph speed limit, and the person behind me has been going through songs in their his the while time and is still going 60 mph...