Brake lights stay on...any thoughts? thanks

[dnino10]

I was just told by my brake lights stay on while driving or when the ignition switch its on, can any one please tell me what is causing it?
Thank you in advance for your help...

[libravcs]

brake light switch failure.

near the top of the brake pedal under the dash

[Ron97M3]

Turn car on and brake lights are on? Brake pedal not pressed!
What happens to lights if brake is pressed ... any change?
What happens if you turn on head lights and press brake?
Any console message about light failures?

Any work on car that might be related ... electrical stuff in trunk?

I would suspect the brake light switch at the brake pedal and hope it was that too.

Otherwise it's perhaps a short providing power to the brake lights in wiring somewhere. This would not be nice.

[dnino10]

Thanks librevcs... i suspected it to be, just wanted some input from you guys.
Ron - Lights stay on as you turn the headlights on, even if you press on the brake pedal as well while the headlights are on...they dont go off at any given scenario.
Thanks guys, i will go down to look at the switch.

[Balthazarr]

Thanks librevcs... i suspected it to be, just wanted some input from you guys.
Ron - Lights stay on as you turn the headlights on, even if you press on the brake pedal as well while the headlights are on...they dont go off at any given scenario.
Thanks guys, i will go down to look at the switch.

Switch is a common failure item.

[Ron97M3]

Switch is a common failure item.

Ever heard of the switch leaving the lights on?

I have experienced the random "Brake Light Failure" message with a bad
pedal switch.

[saint166]

check to see if the plunger on the brake light switch hasnt slipped under your brake pedal . if it has the brake light will stay on

[kindkind]

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/S-mart.cgi?command=add&weight=0.05&itemid=61-31-8-360-417-M85&itemname=Brake%20Light%20Switch%204-pin%20(This%20brand%20has%20a%20red%20locking%20sl eeve)%2C%20E36%20325i%2Fis%2FiC%2C%20323is%2FiC%2C %20328i%2Fis%2FiC%2C%20M3%2C%20Fits%20318i%2Cis%2C ic%20models%20w%2F4-pin%20connector%20Only%20Brand%3A%20Facet&itempric e=20.75&itemquant=1

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...+light+circuit

http://www.geocities.com/karlkarlb/brakeswitch.html

[vicbimmer]

I was just told by my brake lights stay on while driving or when the ignition switch its on, can any one please tell me what is causing it?
Thank you in advance for your help...

The same Happened to me yesterday I solved it Replacing FUSE #9 Brake Lights fuse it was burned !!

[TRM]

Definitely check the witch first as others have mentioned. You can install it wrong or the bracket could even be slightly bent when someone was trying to force it in/out and thus it is contacting all the time now. Should be good to go then.

[alex slim]

I was just told by my brake lights stay on while driving or when the ignition switch its on, can any one please tell me what is causing it?
Thank you in advance for your help...

If your break light is always on ,it could only be these issues for you to check,its very easy ::

1- check fuses # 9 and fuse # 32 if all ok ,then
2- replace your break light switch ,its only like $20 ,if you still have lights on,then
3- check voltage at fuse #7 ,it should read 12 VOLT if it reads less i.e : 5 /6 / 7 or even 2.2 volt or so,then your problem is with your ignition switch.To prove that, jump 12 volt + single wire from battery direct to fuse #7 ,and see if all works good. If not then
4- replace your light control switch,and you should be good to go.

good luck

[NeilM]

@alex slim: Hope you brought your time machine.

[Jensen328Ci]

I was just told by my brake lights stay on while driving or when the ignition switch its on, can any one please tell me what is causing it?
Thank you in advance for your help...

I have the same issue, when I shut the car off and turn it off the brake lights are off, but I hit the brakes and they stay in until I turn the car off again

[TostitoBandito]

As said above, 90% of the time it's the brake light switch which sits under the brake pedal. It's a type of switch which breaks the circuit and turns the lights off when it's pressed, and it sits in such a way that when you aren't pressing on the pedal the switch plunger is fully pressed and "off". Pressing the brake releases the plunger and the lights come on. When the switch fails it fails to its default mode (fully extended) which means the circuit is active and the lights are on. That's deliberate, so that a failure doesn't take out your brake lights.

Anyways, check and/or replace the switch. It's not expensive, though kind of a pain to get to. You can take out the front seat, or stand on your head like I did.

[Jensen328Ci]

Alright Guys! Back. After I replaced the brake light switch, I found a second brand new one in the glove box. Also I checked all my fuses.
Any other ideas?
Might help that apparently I have a secondary ground somewhere(based on my research its in the trunk behind the talight)
Thanks in advance y'all.