Brake lights come on at night?

[matt1975]

Can anyone help with this?

We bought a second hand 2005 1.9 Stylance three weeks ago and it has developed a really weird fault!

At night when the car is locked and the lights are all turned off the brake lights come on. We have had people knocking on the door to tell us that we have left the lights on but we haven't.

When we unlock the car and get in if we press on the brake pedal gently they go off and then with more pressure they go on again. When we take our foot off they come on again. The only way we can stop them from staying on is to prop phone books on the pedal at just the right place to apply light pressure!

We took it to the local dealer but they said that as the fault wasn't happening when we took it there their computer couldn't diagnose the problem.

Any suggestions? Has anyone else experienced this? We can't go on the way we are!

 

[FinerDetails]

sounds like a faulty brake light switch

 

[aceman]

As said it has got to be the brake light switch situated just above the pedal. I also doubt that this kind of fault would ever show up on diagnostics, dealers rely on this far too much.

 

[andycupra]

sure its only at nighttime!!!!! lol

i agree with other comments, faulty brake pedal switch. you may be able to adjust it, im not sure on them.. take a look...

 

[Kris]

Brake light switch fault has come up before on my old my00 leon.

50p later and all was fixed.

 

[Davidfx]

Its a badly adjusted or faulty brake light switch. I do loads of these every year a sits a common VW group problem.

The switch is intermittantly making and breaking, as to why the lights are not always on and mainly noticed by your neighbours at night.

You can either get a new switch or try to re-adjust it.

To remove the switch:

1. Remove the cover above the pedals.
2. Locate switch on top of brake pedal
3. Turn anticlockwise to disengage the switch.

To reset

1. Pull the plunger out of the switch as far as you can
2. Hold the brake pedal down and re -insert the switch twisting to re-lock and engage the switch in the correct position.
3. Release the brake pedal to adjust the plunger back to its correct position.
4. Do a quick test of the brake pedal to see if its a ll working.

 

[Fl@pper]

We took it to the local dealer but they said that as the fault wasn't happening when we took it there their computer couldn't diagnose the problem.

shame they waste time and money training technicians and apprentices then really if the computer cant fix it we are all doomed

i hate the modern motor trade - too damn lazy

no one ever uses any logic or proper brain power anymore - no wonder the trade is dying on its feet

 

[Brummy]

nowt like gettin' yer 'ands dirty