Just this morning when I was driving to work I noticed that my brake lights will not turn off while the headlights and other lights are turned on. I searched and it looks like most peoples issues stem from a problem with the brake light switch. With those issues though the brake lights never turn off.

Mine turn off though when I switch off the lights at the wand behind the steering wheel. It gets weirder though, I was feeling around for the brake light switch by the pedal and what is there has nothing plugged into it. It is not even a switch from the feel of it. I found what I believe to be the brake light connector on the harness tucked up under the dash. Jumping it has no effect on the lights though. Also, even with it like that my brake lights were working yesterday....somehow. Also, the little plastic piece on the pedal that depresses the switch is there and unbroken...

Yesterday I did find some standing water in the driver's side front floor board and I'm unsure where it came from. We had a lot of snow the day before and my car was covered in it. Is it possible that this water is causing my issue? It could be shorting the switch at the fuse box i guess. Everything else on the car worked fine though. I guess once the car dries out completely I will know for sure. Does anyone have any ideas how I should begin troubleshooting this issue?

I am going to go buy a brake light switch from autozone today and put it in. However from what I've done so far above I don't believe that is going to fix it as it is now. Is there a relay somewhere that might need to be replaced? Any help would be appreciated.

Brian

 

I had the same problem and it was because I put the wrong bulb in. Have you changed any of your bulbs recently?

 

I have replaced them about 2 weeks ago, but they were working fine until this morning.

What makes no sense is how the brake lights are turning on with the headlights and rear running lights. There must be a short somewhere bridging the two circuits. I have no clue where though. Intuition would say its shorting at the tail lights, but there is no obvious signs of water leaking there that might cause a short.

 

have you checked if the rubber gromet on the switch broke?if it did you can just make a ball of tape and put it in the switch.

 

From my first post....

 

I want to retract my previous statement about it not being the bulb and thank you for the tip. I was able to check the one that I did not replace once I got off work and it was in fact the wrong type of bulb. I also went to autozone and picked up a new brake light switch and replaced it as well. Everything is working great again. Now I just need to find where my water leak is coming from.

Thanks for the help!