Need help: Brake lights stuck on!!!!
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Need help: Brake lights stuck on!!!!
Hey Guys,
My brake lights are stuck on...i was bleeding my brakes and then when doing the last caliper i noticed the lights were stuck on. I tried turning on/off the car, i also tried disconnecting the battery, but as soon as i connect the battery the lights come on again. Currently the car is in my garage with the negative battery cable disconnected. PLease help if you can, i can't figure out how to fix it...
98' VR6
Terry
My brake lights are stuck on...i was bleeding my brakes and then when doing the last caliper i noticed the lights were stuck on. I tried turning on/off the car, i also tried disconnecting the battery, but as soon as i connect the battery the lights come on again. Currently the car is in my garage with the negative battery cable disconnected. PLease help if you can, i can't figure out how to fix it...
98' VR6
Terry
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Is it possible that the pedal is not coming all the way back up?
What happens if you step on the brake, and then release, and give it an outward tug...do the lights turn off? If that does nothing, maybe the there is a bad switch. I think the A4 has a switch under the dash near the top of the brake lever (you'll probably have to remove the lower panels).
I'm guessing here....
I'm guessing here....
Thread Starter
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Re: Is it possible that the pedal is not coming all the way back up?
Raj,
I tried tugging back on the brake pedal. When I tug the brake lights go off (as you suggested they might). What does this mean? The pedal is broken? I hope it's not something the stealership will have to tend to
Thanks,
Terry
I tried tugging back on the brake pedal. When I tug the brake lights go off (as you suggested they might). What does this mean? The pedal is broken? I hope it's not something the stealership will have to tend to
Thanks,
Terry
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Joined: Jul 2000
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It might mean that the brake light switch needs to be adjusted.
I don't know wht the switch looks like on the A4 or if it is even adjustable. You will have at least one switch that is activated by your brake pedal. I would look to see which one controls the brake lights (Get under a manually push it to see if the brake lights respond)and see if it is adjustable. If it is than adjust it.
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Bad relay...
Lots of a6's have this problem, especially with the reverse lights. The relays are under the steering wheel above and to the left of the pedals. Just remove the lower panel. You can also take it in and have it fixed for free if you're still under warranty.
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I think i've Broken something...(more)
Raj, Dave, and Nick:
I pulled hard on the brake pedal and it snapped back into place. I thought my He-Man like strength had fixed it, but as soon as I pushed the pedal back in (it locked back into a lower position). When I pull it out (a firm tug) it's back up in the normal position (brake lights off), but it's VERY easy to push the pedal in for almost half the brake pedal travel. It feels it's not even connected to the master cylinder or any other hydraulic force. After a couple of inches of pushing it down it snaps back in place. I must have broken something!
Do you think it might be the Master Cylinder? I have a hard time believing that. This is really my sister's car, i'm trying to help her out by saving her money (she needed rotors and pads all around). Her boyfriend suggests I broke the master cylinder upon bleeding (my friend was putting the pedal to the floor when maybe he should have done it half way). I feel something has broken in the pedal itself...however the only thing preventing me from knowing this is the case is that brake pedals are normally the firmest parts in cars...you can stand on these when getting in an accident.
I'd like to thank you all for your help...I'm actually a BMW guy and couldn't receive such attention on bimmer boards without getting flamed. Thanks again.
Terry
I pulled hard on the brake pedal and it snapped back into place. I thought my He-Man like strength had fixed it, but as soon as I pushed the pedal back in (it locked back into a lower position). When I pull it out (a firm tug) it's back up in the normal position (brake lights off), but it's VERY easy to push the pedal in for almost half the brake pedal travel. It feels it's not even connected to the master cylinder or any other hydraulic force. After a couple of inches of pushing it down it snaps back in place. I must have broken something!
Do you think it might be the Master Cylinder? I have a hard time believing that. This is really my sister's car, i'm trying to help her out by saving her money (she needed rotors and pads all around). Her boyfriend suggests I broke the master cylinder upon bleeding (my friend was putting the pedal to the floor when maybe he should have done it half way). I feel something has broken in the pedal itself...however the only thing preventing me from knowing this is the case is that brake pedals are normally the firmest parts in cars...you can stand on these when getting in an accident.
I'd like to thank you all for your help...I'm actually a BMW guy and couldn't receive such attention on bimmer boards without getting flamed. Thanks again.
Terry
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Now you've done it!
j/k :-)
Well, I can press my brake pedal down pretty far before I feel an appreciable amount of resistance (however each subsequent time I pump the brakes, it gets a little firmer). This seems kind of normal. The clicking into and out of position does, but I haven't fiddled with my brake pedal, so ???.
As for your friend bleeding the brakes, sounds fine to me. I don't know if it's possible to push the pedal too far down when bleeding. My only suggestion is to remove the lower dash panels and look around down there. It's probably something mechanical...see if you can find the source of the clicking.
Sorry, I'm not much help here.
Well, I can press my brake pedal down pretty far before I feel an appreciable amount of resistance (however each subsequent time I pump the brakes, it gets a little firmer). This seems kind of normal. The clicking into and out of position does, but I haven't fiddled with my brake pedal, so ???.
As for your friend bleeding the brakes, sounds fine to me. I don't know if it's possible to push the pedal too far down when bleeding. My only suggestion is to remove the lower dash panels and look around down there. It's probably something mechanical...see if you can find the source of the clicking.
Sorry, I'm not much help here.
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Look under the dash...
Pull off the panel below the driner side of the dash and see if you can see anything obvious. Maybe while bleeding the brake pedal was alowed to snap back up too fast and knoced something loose. To remove that lower cover pull of the two rectangular plastic pieces on the front and the two screwa behind them. Then remove the fuse box cover and the 8mm head bolt closest to the hood release handle. Finally there is one more bolt along the bottom edge of the lower cover near the center console.