Brake lights always on 24/7

In My Humble Opinion
1

Car is 2005 Hyundai Elantra hatchback with 115k miles. Brake lights burn constantly even with ignition key in my pocket.

Brakes operate perfectly well; brake fluid level is okay.
If this car has a brake light switch I can’t see it. Bear in mind I am an old guy with a bad back so can’t do many contortions to locate said switch—do current cars even have a break light switch?

Only cure at present involves removing and reattaching battery ground cable as required. Will be at least two weeks before it will be possible to take car to shop.

All ideas/suggestions appreciated.

2

The brake light switch is on the arm that connects to the pedal.
They are generally a real bear to get at unless you are a tiny Cirque du Soleil performer.

3

There should be a switch down there somewhere. It’s obviously stuck in the “On” position.

Find someone with a good back to crawl around down there.

Or, find and yank the fuse. But then you got NO Brake Lights!

4

Something that new… 12 years… Who knows :wink:

Find some little kid or contortionist, for a long time many manufacturers used a make or break switch on the brake pedal arm itself. It was held open, depressing the brake closed the circuit. Look for a simple device with two wires coming out from it, associated with the pedal arm, under the dash, sort of.

5

yeah, the brake light switch is down under the dash, connected to the pedal arm. it’s a “normally closed” switch; the pedal arm pushes on the switch to keep the circuit open, then when you step on the pedal it releases pressure from the switch closing the circuit and lighting the brake lights.

they’re generally tucked up under the dash a bit, and take a bit of contorting/crawling around to reach. if you’ve back problems then best take it to someone. shouldn’t be too much to fix.

6

Thanks for the info re location of switch—given my back problems it might as well be on Jupiter. I’m glad to learn that there “is” a switch; I thought/was afraid it might be some obscure computer glitch.

7

Given my past experience with Hyundai the switch itself is probably manufactured on Jupiter; delivery will be problematic and the price will be astronomical. My dashboard might soon sprout a hand operated toggle switch—

8

I fixed mine by sticking a magnet of the correct thickness on the arm of the pedal. :smiley:

Free, and still working!

9

It’s possible the switch is OK, and the problem is the return spring on the brake pedal. Can you pull the pedal back and make the lights go out?

10

My thought as well.

If it is the switch practice preventative medicine (for your back) and let some grease-monkey replace it. I’ve done it twice in older/roomier cars and it was a bear even then.

11

I’ll try this tomorrow as soon as I can locate an observer.

12

Someone else will definitely perform the repair, whatever it might be.

13

That’s the way to go. Trust me.

14

the return spring is frequently inside the brake master cylinder.

15

Here ya go…

https://www.hyundaipartsdeal.com/genuine/hyundai-switch-assy-stop-lam~93810-3k000.html

…and here’s how to fix it…

16

Or you could back up to a wall or another car and see for yourself.

17

The brake light switch was broken, not stuck in one position. In fact, it was broken into several small pieces. New switch is on order but won’t arrive until Monday July 31.

Thanks to all for inputs.