Any car must have brakes that work correctly. You make an effort to have the brake pads changed and do a system check every so often to ensure everything is functioning properly. People often enquire about the signs of a faulty brake light switch because you have no influence over the switches and sensors in the system.
The difficulty starting the automobile, troubles with the brake lights, problems adjusting the gear selection, and lit dashboard lights are the most typical signs of a faulty brake light switch.
Well, in this article, I’ll be discussing the symptoms of a bad brake light switch.
Contents
What are the symptoms of a bad brake light switch?
Your Brake Lights Don’t Light Up
When you push the brake pedal, your brake lights should illuminate to alert the driver in front of you. The back brake lights won’t turn on if your brake switch isn’t working properly, which presents a serious safety risk because the vehicle behind you won’t be aware that you’re slowing down. Now, this can mean that a brake light bulb in the back has burned out or that your brake light switch is broken. Consider having your car inspected by a mechanic to swiftly identify the problem.
Car Won’t Start
Using the conventional keyed ignition, a broken brake light switch won’t prevent you from starting the vehicle. Driving a car with a push-button start, however, could get you into trouble. You might not be able to start the engine because you have to depress the brake pedal. It won’t start if the system doesn’t detect that you are pressing on the pedal. Many car models with automatic transmissions may also exhibit this.
Brake Lights Stay on Continuously
The brake lights staying on after you turn the car off is one of the most typical signs of a bad brake light switch. This error is brought on by a short, which causes the system to believe you are still depressing the brake pedal. You must never let this situation pass. It causes a parasitic drain on the battery in addition to early wear out of the brake lights.
Bad Cruise Control
If your car has cruise control, a broken or misaligned brake light switch can turn it off. What causes that to occur? The switch for the cruise control and the rear brake lights is frequently shared. Therefore, if the brake lamp switch fails, your cruise control will probably too. This does not imply that the brake light switch issue is the only reason the cruise control malfunctions. A blown fuse in the electronic control module or a malfunctioning speed sensor might also cause it to occur. But it’s better to be safe than sorry in any situation. Therefore, get your brake light switch checked by a repair as well when your cruise control is acting up.
Gear Selector Can’t Be Moved
You must have your foot on the brake pedal in order to shift the gear selector out of Park. You might not be able to move the shifter into a different position if the system isn’t understanding your command. Sadly, this will leave you stuck in your current location. You can resume driving if you can change the switch at the current position.
ABS Warning Light Comes On
When the ABS light on your dashboard illuminates, the anti-lock brake system is malfunctioning. When your ABS warning light flashes, it could mean several things:
- brake fluid is low
- a faulty ABS control module
- faulty brake light switch
Your car’s ABS module receives information from the brake light switch sensor about when you’ve applied the brakes and when it’s time to activate the ABS hydraulic pump. Because of this, there’s a potential that your broken brake light switch is to blame if your ABS warning light illuminates.
Related Article:
- Should you Replace Or Resurface Your Brake Rotor?
- Things to know about brake light switch
- Symptoms Of a Bad Neutral Safety Switch
- Things to know about Neutral safety switch
Conclusion:
One of the most important parts of a car’s braking system, the brake light switch, can malfunction and cause a number of symptoms that are both dangerous and annoying. The failure of the brake lights to illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed is one of these symptoms, increasing the risk of rear-end incidents and reducing other drivers’ visibility. Contrarily, the brake lights can continue to be on all the time even when the brakes are not used, which could be confusing and increase the risk of battery drain. The brake lights may occasionally operate erratically, flashing on and off, which can make it difficult for other drivers to predict your braking movements. One of the most important parts of a car’s braking system, the brake light switch, can malfunction and cause a number of symptoms that are both dangerous and annoying. The failure of the brake lights to illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed is one of these symptoms, increasing the risk of rear-end incidents and reducing other drivers’ visibility. Contrarily, the brake lights can continue to be on all the time even when the brakes are not used, which could be confusing and increase the risk of battery drain. The brake lights may occasionally operate erratically, flashing on and off, which can make it difficult for other drivers to predict your braking movements.
