I'm stumped

[bcradio]

I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this, but I'm having an issue with the wife's car. She drives a 2005 Hyundai Accent. It seems that sometimes when she presses the brakes on her car (about half the time) it does not register to the brake lights. They do not light up but the brakes engage just fine. Also, she cannot shift out of park the times when the lights do not come on. Is there a sensor that might not be registering?

Anybody have any idea what might be causing this and what tools might be needed to fix it?

Please be gentle as this is something I have never heard about in my limited experience.

Thanks for any replies.

 

[sickboy motors inc.]

Check at the upper portion of your brake pedal. Look for a pressure switch. Might be loose.

 

[Reality Sucks]

brake light switch, there may be two of then, make sure your connections are good, if so replace switch ..very commom..located just above brake pedal.

 

[Link-Belt]

Break light switch. Check around the break peddle shaft
There should be a switch that when the break peddle is pressed it pushes a button engaging the break lights. May be loose should be easy to tighten. Let me know how I did and what I won

 

[fourjeepin]

There is a switch that the pedal disengages from when applying the brakes. I've had to adjust it a couple of times in the 20years I've had my CJ. It will be near the top of the pedal, probably just above and behind the swing arm that the pedal attaches to. Should be between the firewall and the pedal.

I was about to post this and did a quick search. Appears to be a rather common issue:
http://www.justanswer.com/car/2ekg0-replace-brake-light-switch-2005-hyundai.html

 

[bcradio]

Thank you guys for the quick replies... If I do need to replace it, is it an entire wire harness or just a clip?

 

[sickboy motors inc.]

Small unit. unplug then work it off the shaft install in the reverse. (I always recommend buying a haynes or chilton manual of your year and make.) Whether you are a mech or not still comes in handy...good luck!

 

[Link-Belt]

Should be just a little switch with a plug in of some sort just replace the switch. I am pretty sure though it just needs to be tightens up. You did say it works some times? Cheapest and easy way is first try tightening where it mounts to the bracket, if that don't work replace the switch, if that don't work then get ready to trace down a short.

 

[bcradio]

Small unit. unplug then work it off the shaft install in the reverse. (I always recommend buying a haynes or chilton manual of your year and make.) Whether you are a mech or not still comes in handy...good luck!

Thanks for the help... Unfortunately I have the factory service manual and it gives absolutely no mention of this other than saying to "disconnect the brake switch connector" when adjusting pedal height

Thanks again everyone. I will have to work on it tomorrow as it just got dark out and the garage is a mess

 

[bcradio]

Should be just a little switch with a plug in of some sort just replace the switch. I am pretty sure though it just needs to be tightens up. You did say it works some times? Cheapest and easy way is first try tightening where it mounts to the bracket, if that don't work replace the switch, if that don't work then get ready to trace down a short.

Yes it does work maybe half the time so I don't think its a fuse or anything. Thanks for all of the detailed help and hopefully it doesn't come to tracing a short in the wire.

 

[sickboy motors inc.]

Bc, if it entails more just hit us up no problems with more suggestions...good luck!

 

[billymade]

Looks like there was a recall on this issue; give you local dealer a call, talk to the service dept. and tell them your vin #, ask if there are any "open" recalls on your particular vehicle. You may just get it fixed for free... let us know how things work out.

http://autos.aol.com/cars-Hyundai-Accent-2005-GLS__4dr_Sedan/recalls/

If not; here is the part you would assume you need. Looks like a inexpensive part but certainly first check with your dealer before repairing it yourself and see if it has a free recall repair in force on your car.

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1....,cf.osb&fp=c34afa3d936562c4&biw=1280&bih=937

 

[bcradio]

Looks like there was a recall on this issue; give you local dealer a call, talk to the service dept. and tell them your vin #, ask if there are any "open" recalls on your particular vehicle. You may just get it fixed for free... let us know how things work out.

http://autos.aol.com/cars-Hyundai-Accent-2005-GLS__4dr_Sedan/recalls/

If not; here is the part you would assume you need. Looks like a inexpensive part but certainly first check with your dealer before repairing it yourself and see if it has a free recall repair in force on your car.

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1....,cf.osb&fp=c34afa3d936562c4&biw=1280&bih=937

Wow thanks for this info... She's going to call the dealer now. I'm glad you mentioned this as I don't want to replace the faulty part with another faulty part by accident.

 

[bcradio]

Bc, if it entails more just hit us up no problems with more suggestions...good luck!

Thanks for your help with this... Hopefully the dealer will get this fixed due to the recall

 

[Rico.]

Thanks for your help with this... Hopefully the dealer will get this fixed due to the recall

You know, I just love threads like this..... For me this is what internet forums are all about.
Sometimes I think people lose sight of the fact that we are just regular blokes (and girls) on
the other end of our posts and can type things that are a bit snide and mean for no reason.

Then we get a post like this and everyone jumps in to help, with no cheap shots or piss
taking posts. Good on everyone who posted, you just renewed my faith a little.

Best of luck with the dealer Mate, let us know how you get on. Cheers.

 

[Gary S]

I don't know about Hyundai, but Ford has a badly engineered brake switch that is almost guaranteed to do exactly this. If you live in a cold climate and drive a Ford made in the past 10 or so years, expect this problem.

 

[bcradio]

Looks like its no dice on the dealer fixing it under the recall. Apparently it isn't an "open" recall currently. Only the 2007 model is still viable to get fixed under recall for the same issue. You'd think if its the same issue that pretty much all the other recalls are under, that it would fall into that category.

Looks like I'll try adjusting it and if that doesn't help I'll replace... at least its an easy fix and not like replacing a steering rack or something.

Thanks again.

 

[Tunger]

Hyundai brake switches are notorious for this, I replace 5-6 a week at work (low volume rural Hyundai dealer.) The switch should be around $6-10 and takes about 5 minutes or less to replace. Good luck.

 

[daveblank]

Looks like its no dice on the dealer fixing it under the recall. Apparently it isn't an "open" recall currently. Only the 2007 model is still viable to get fixed under recall for the same issue. You'd think if its the same issue that pretty much all the other recalls are under, that it would fall into that category.

Looks like I'll try adjusting it and if that doesn't help I'll replace... at least its an easy fix and not like replacing a steering rack or something.

Thanks again.

More than likely 1 of 2 things happened. They switch parts manufactures or, most likely, they determined that there was a fault with just a certain run of the switches. Then they determined what VIN range they were installed on & that's what the recall was on.

Switches fail. I doubt adjusting will work since it intermittently works. If it was out of adjustment, it would be out all the time not just sometimes. Besides, if you spend the time adjusting it & then have yo replace it, you've done the job twice in my book. If it's cheap, replace it.

 

[bcradio]

Thanks everybody for your replies... unfortunately it took more than 5 minutes to do (more like 45 because I removed the trim only to find out I didn't need to). Turns out it just needed adjustment and tightening. The two nuts on either side of the mount were loose and causing it to wiggle a little bit (working sometimes and not working others). I just took it off, adjusted it, and put er back on nice and snug.

Seems to be working great now, but if it does end up going out, it should be much quicker to replace now.

Thanks again...

 

[sickboy motors inc.]

Good deal! Great to hear you got her done! (Sometimes the little jobs are the biggest pain in the you know what...)

 

[rockchucker]

Sometimes it is easier to just take the Front Seat out to get at anything by the Pedals. This way you can just comfortably lay down on your back and get it done instead of fighting the contortionist bug for an hour pissed off trying to figure out how to get in there. 4 Seat Bolts and an Electrical Connector to get the Seat out is the way I go. Of course it all depends on the car but it can save time in certain situations.

Glad you got it fingered out!

 

[muskaman67]

Ya most likely that recall with the brake light switch will be the culprit. I've been having to do the same thing with the toyota camrys and venzas at my job for a similar recall.