Finally replaced the brake light switch today. Been needing that for a while. I have had intermittent issues with the CHMSL not functioning.
Then I had another driver tell me about a week ago that my brake lights weren’t working!
After fiddling with it, I verified it was indeed working, but I really didn’t have any confidence, and was always checking and verifying the brake lights were actually working.
I had ordered what I thought was the correct part:
But, of course as soon as I looked on the brake pedal, discovered that’s the [parking brake] switch..
No worries.. I ordered the correct part, which will be here in a couple days, OEM AC Delco... for now, I’ll just take this one apart and clean up the contacts...
That bottom one is really corroded and you can see the metal is questionable....
Well, broke out the brake cleaner, and a wire brush, cleaned those contacts up, reassembled, and wedged back in place..
Did I mention that getting to this thing is a back breaker...? Things under the dash are never fun IMHO, but this is particularly painful. Anyway, this little clip is a mf’er:
After reinstalling —minus that clip— I tested the brakes.... nothing.. I had questionable lighting before, now I’ve got nothing. [emoji23][emoji1787]
After checking all fuses, and checking for continuity ahead of the switch, I determined the contacts must have been too far gone, and when I cleaned them up, I must have removed the tiny remaining metal that was actually working..
So, headed to O’reilly for a Standard replacement. All is well..
Now i have an Genuine AC Delco part on the way, as a backup. I’m not likely to break my back again unless it’s necessary..!
But the best part..?
Box 1 of 2 showed up today: