Hello,

Need some help. I just replaced the rear brakes on my 05 and had a real time doing it. After pumping the brakes for about a day (ok, maybe half a day) I finally got a firm pedal and all was good or so I thought. Now my rear brake lights will not shut off while driving. If I lift up on the pedal past the normal stop they will. But when the pedal goes to the normal rest position, they come back on. Also now I hear a loud click when I lift the pedal to get them to shut off coming from near the middle of my dash. Any ideas?

05 model, AWD

 

rkenney, it sounds like you somehow damaged the brake switch under the dash. You will need to replace the switch. May want to just look under the dash and see if the switch happen to fall part way out of its mount.

Just for your information, the power for the lights comes from the fuse box, through the switch under the dash, then splits 3 ways (high mount light, left brake light, and right brake light) and to ground. So, when it comes to this problem, it seems pretty straight forward as to what your problem is.

As for the clicking, what you are probably hearing is the switch activating hard and it is sending a shock through the dash structure and the center console is acting like the drum head and amplifying the clicking of the switch.

 

Hello,

Yeah all you need to do is reset the brake light switch, its really easy to do just remove it then holding body tight in one hand pull the plunger out with the other don't worry you won't break it, then refit and pump pedal couple of times and it will reset itself.

Good luck

 

The click is probably the solinoid in the gear shifter that is activated with the brake pedal.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I appreciate it. Right now the car is parked as it seems the master cylinder went out.

I replaced the rear brake pads and then the wheels all started to lock up when driving. Eventually I'll get everything working again!

Thanks again,
Russ

 

HI GUYS,
I am a new member & have been searching for this exact thread, my rear lights
are permanently on but I now know how to resolve the problem(thanks) but my
main question is....Would this prob have caused the engine management to light
up on the dash??? I have cleared the light with the magic box and after Ive taken
the car for a drive & come back home I switch the engine off but when I switch
the ignition on again the E.M. LIGHT comes back on.Sooooo is the rear brake
light switch the cause or do I have another problem???? Many Thanks In Advance

 

The X-type has a resettable switch, remove the switch by twisting it then pull out the plunger you'll hear it clicking as you do this then replace it into the holder and press the brake pedal it will reset the level on the switch. Hope this helps